Arkansas lesson 3 of 6
File the Certificate of Organization
The document that creates an Arkansas LLC is the Certificate of Organization, Form LL-01, filed with the Secretary of State's Business and Commercial Services division. It costs $45 online or $50 on paper.
What the form asks for
The Certificate of Organization covers the LLC's name, its registered agent's name and Arkansas street address, the principal office address, and whether the LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed. A general purpose clause is sufficient without itemizing every planned activity.
- Members and managers are not required to be listed individually on the Certificate
- The organizer filing the document does not need to be an owner
- Franchise Tax Registration information is collected alongside Form LL-01 so the Secretary of State can send future franchise tax notices to the correct contact
Fee and filing route
The standard filing fee is $45 through the Secretary of State's online filing system, or $50 if you file the paper form by mail or in person. Filing online is both cheaper and faster, since paper filings must be mailed to Little Rock and processed manually.
After approval
Keep your filed Certificate of Organization and the filing number the Secretary of State assigns, since Arkansas DFA registration and your bank will both reference it. Arkansas does not require an operating agreement to be filed with the state, but adopting one internally is what actually sets out ownership, voting and distributions rather than relying on the default rules in Arkansas's Uniform Limited Liability Company Act.
Key takeaways
- Form LL-01 costs $45 online or $50 on paper, filed with the Secretary of State.
- Filing online is cheaper and faster than mailing a paper Certificate.
- An operating agreement is not filed with the state but is worth adopting internally.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to live in Arkansas to form an Arkansas LLC?
No. There is no residency requirement for members or managers. Only the registered agent must meet Arkansas's residency or authorization requirements.
Is an operating agreement required in Arkansas?
It is not filed with the Secretary of State, but it is the internal document that governs ownership, voting and distributions, and banks commonly ask to see one when you open an account.
Official sources
Or let us file your Arkansas LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Certificate of Organization (Form LL-01), act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team