Explained · Arkansas
3 Best LLC Services in Arkansas (2026): What You Get
The essentials
- Fee to file
- $45, at filing only
- Later years
- $150 annually
- Registered agent
- Mandatory
- Our recommendations
- Mainstay Filing, Arkansas Registered Agent.co then AR Registered Agent.org
Our Arkansas recommendations
Best first. See how we pick for the reasoning.1. Mainstay Filing: best for paperwork taken off your hands
$199 per year ($244 at signup including the state fee)
Why Mainstay Filing? The franchise tax report is built into its $199 annual price alongside formation and the registered agent.
The extra $200 compared with Arkansas Registered Agent.co covers jobs you would otherwise do yourself.
The Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report is filed for you, and the $150 the state charges is passed through at cost.
Includes
- Formation, filed by Mainstay
- Registered agent for the whole year
- Franchise tax report handled when due
- The EIN application
- Official fees at cost
Points in its favor
- $199 at renewal
- EIN application is part of the package
- $199 a year, all included
Where it falls short
- From year two it costs $100 a year more than Arkansas Registered Agent.co
2. Arkansas Registered Agent.co: best for staying in one state
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, state fee extra
Arkansas Registered Agent.co takes the second slot: you pay $199 at the start with the first agent year included and $99 annually after that.
Plan to file the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report yourself.
Includes
- The LLC, filed for you
- No agent charge in year one
Points in its favor
- Includes a first year of agent service
- The agent renews at $99
- $199 to get started
Where it falls short
- Nothing in the price touches the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report
- The EIN add-on is $99
3. AR Registered Agent.org: best for one-state companies
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, state fee extra
AR Registered Agent.org takes the third slot: you pay $199 at the start with the first agent year included and $99 annually after that.
Plan to file the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report yourself.
It charges exactly what Arkansas Registered Agent.co charges; either would serve you well.
Includes
- The LLC, filed for you
- No agent charge in year one
Points in its favor
- $199 to get started
- Includes a first year of agent service
- The agent renews at $99
Where it falls short
- Nothing in the price touches the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report
- The EIN add-on is $99
How they stack up
| # | Pick | Year one | Year two on | Total, 3 years | What you get | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Formation, filed by Mainstay; registered agent for the whole year; franchise tax report handled when due | See Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Arkansas Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | The LLC, filed for you; no agent charge in year one | See Arkansas Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | AR Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | The LLC, filed for you; no agent charge in year one | See AR Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
The questions, one by one
How much money should I set aside?
Set aside $45 for the state and $199 for a service.
By the end of year three the state will have taken $345. sos.arkansas.gov, confirmed October 2026
Where does the formation paperwork go?
A single filing forms the LLC: the Certificate of Organization for Limited Liability Company (Form LL-01), sent to the Arkansas Secretary of State.
Legal basis: Ark. Code Ann. § 4-38-201. Expected processing: most filings within two business days of receipt. sos.arkansas.gov, confirmed October 2026
Does the state insist on a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: an individual or a business entity serving as agent in Arkansas. The company can also name a position inside it, such as its manager, whose holder then receives papers.
arkleg.state.ar.us, confirmed October 2026
What keeps the LLC active?
Keep up with the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report each year ($150). According to the state, it is due May 1, which is easy to miss.
Late reports cost $25 more.
sos.arkansas.gov, confirmed October 2026
Am I allowed to file on my own?
Yes. Doing it yourself costs only the state's fees, $345 over three years.
Hiring one adds $397 to $597 across three years.
What put number one on top?
The deciding factor is how much work the price handles (28% of the weight), where Mainstay Filing is strongest.
What three years cost carries 34% and how much work the price handles carries 28%. Three smaller criteria decide close calls.
A lower bill at Arkansas Registered Agent.co still leaves the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report to you.
Checklist for Arkansas, with sources
| Requirement | Fee or rule | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| State charge to form | $45 | sos.arkansas.gov, confirmed October 2026 |
| Registered agent | Mandatory | arkleg.state.ar.us, confirmed October 2026 |
| Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report | $150 every year | sos.arkansas.gov, confirmed October 2026 |
| State fees across three years | $345 | Sum of the figures above |
Other things people ask
How fast does the state process it?
Most filings within two business days of receipt.
Is the EIN covered?
It is part of the Mainstay Filing price, while Arkansas Registered Agent.co bills $99 and AR Registered Agent.org bills $99.
Does the state charge for late filing?
The late fee is $25.
What is the three-year price of each?
Mainstay Filing comes to $597; Arkansas Registered Agent.co comes to $397; AR Registered Agent.org comes to $397 in service fees alone.
How do you know these fees?
Official schedules for state fees, company pricing for service fees, and every figure carries a date.
Which company ranks first in Arkansas?
Mainstay Filing is on top because one yearly price of $199 handles the filing, serves as the registered agent and files the franchise tax report, and it renews at $199; Arkansas Registered Agent.co and AR Registered Agent.org follow.
Official sources and price pages
- Arkansas yearly filing: Franchise tax via sos.arkansas.gov, as of October 2026
- Arkansas yearly filing: Franchise tax via sos.arkansas.gov, as of October 2026
- Arkansas report due date via sos.arkansas.gov, as of August 2026
- Ark via arkleg.state.ar.us, as of August 2026
- Arkansas formation fee: Filing fee via sos.arkansas.gov, as of October 2026
- Arkansas registered agent statute via arkleg.state.ar.us, as of October 2026
- Processing, official source via sos.arkansas.gov, as of October 2026
- Mainstay Filing Arkansas service page, read November 13, 2026
- Arkansas Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026
- AR Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026