How to Register a Business in Arizona: Corporation Commission Guide (2026)
If your company was formed in another state and now has employees, an office or regular business in Arizona, you register with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), not the Secretary of State. LLCs file a Foreign Registration Statement; corporations file an Application for Authority to Transact Business. Here is what it costs, what you need, and what comes after.
Arizona at a glance
Item | Arizona |
|---|---|
Filing | Foreign Registration Statement (LLCs) or Application for Authority (corporations) |
Where | Arizona Corporation Commission, online through Arizona eCorp or by mail |
State fee | $175 for corporations, $150 for LLCs; add $35 to expedite |
Typical processing | 1–2 weeks |
You'll need | A certificate of good standing from your home state, dated within 60 days |
Registered agent | Required (Arizona calls it a statutory agent), with an Arizona address |
Ongoing filing | Corporations: annual report ($45). LLCs: no annual report |
Do you need to register in Arizona?
You generally need to register if your company is "doing business" in Arizona, for example if you:
Have an office, store or warehouse in Arizona
Employ people who live and work in Arizona
Regularly sell to, or provide services for, Arizona customers
Activities that usually don't count on their own include holding a bank account in Arizona, holding internal meetings there, and isolated one-off transactions. If you're unsure, check with your attorney or book a call with us.
Hiring a remote employee in Arizona always means opening Arizona payroll tax accounts, even when Secretary of State registration isn't required. See the payroll section below.
How to register, step by step
Get a certificate of good standing from your home state. Arizona won't accept one dated more than 60 days before filing.
Choose an Arizona statutory agent. See the rules below.
File with the Arizona Corporation Commission. Corporations pay $175 and LLCs $150. Expedited processing costs an extra $35, with next-day, same-day and two-hour options available for more.
Save your approval and ACC entity number. You'll need them for payroll and tax registrations.
Registered agent rules in Arizona
Arizona calls the registered agent a statutory agent. It can be an Arizona resident or a business authorized to act as an agent in Arizona, and it must accept the appointment in writing. Your company can't be its own statutory agent.
Using an employee as your agent is allowed, but it means legal papers go to one person's home, and they're lost if that person leaves. A commercial registered agent avoids that. Every AbstractOps plan includes registered agent service.
Annual reports: corporations only
Arizona corporations file an annual report every year, due by the anniversary of the date they registered. The fee is $45.
Arizona LLCs don't file annual reports, but they must keep a valid statutory agent on file. Companies that let their agent lapse can have their registration revoked.
Arizona payroll accounts
If you have employees in Arizona, you'll also need:
One joint registration (Form JT-1) for state income tax withholding with the Arizona Department of Revenue and unemployment insurance with the Department of Economic Security.
Our Arizona payroll tax registration guide walks through the details.
Arizona registration FAQ
How much does it cost to register a foreign LLC or corporation in Arizona?
$150 for an LLC or $175 for a corporation. Expedited processing costs an extra $35.
How long does Arizona take?
Typically 1–2 weeks.
Does Arizona require a certificate of good standing?
Yes, dated within 60 days of filing.
Do Arizona LLCs file an annual report?
No. Only corporations file an annual report ($45).
Let us handle Arizona for you
AbstractOps files your Arizona registration, acts as your registered agent, opens your payroll accounts and tracks your annual filings, from $250 per state per year. Start a 7-day free trial or book a 15-minute call.
This guide is for general information and isn't tax or legal advice. Fees and rules change; confirm current requirements with the Arizona Corporation Commission.