We earn commissions if you shop through the links below. Read more
Written by: Coralee Bechteler
Coralee is a business writer with experience in administrative services, education, and software testing.
Edited by: David Lepeska
David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.
Published on August 16, 2022
Updated on October 2, 2023
If you’re starting an LLC in Arkansas, the business entity formation process is one of the first and most important hurdles. This step can be terribly complex and time-consuming, which is why many entrepreneurs turn to professional formation services.
But which are the best LLC formation services in Arkansas? This article takes a closer look, stepping into an entrepreneur’s shoes, to help you choose the service that puts you on the road to success.
Here we summarize our top picks of business formation services in Arkansas.
Best Value
Best Registered Agent Service
Best Turnaround Time
Best for Small Budget
Best Support for Small Business Owners
Best for Ensuring Compliance
Arkansas LLCs have various options when considering business formation services. The Starter plan from ZenBusiness is $0 plus Arkansas state fees, covering business name availability search and LLC formation with full support.
The Pro plan, priced at $199 plus state fees, includes the Starter plan services, an operating agreement template tailored for Arkansas, an EIN, annual compliance service, and rush filing.
The Premium plan, at $349 plus state fees, encompasses all the benefits of the Pro plan, adding a business document template library, domain name, website, and email.
ZenBusiness emerges as our top choice for Arkansas LLC formation due to its affordable base service, which covers LLC filing with a 100% accuracy guarantee starting at just $0 plus the state’s fees.
Furthermore, ZenBusiness operates as a Public Benefit Corporation. This implies they function as a profit-driven company but also champion community-focused goals akin to nonprofit entities.
Besides Arkansas LLC formation, ZenBusiness offers a variety of supplementary services, including registered agent provisions and essential business tools. However, potential clients should note that opting for these additional services might increase costs.
ZenBusiness offers valuable services for budding entrepreneurs. While registered agent services are an add-on, their excellent customer support, user-friendly site, and positive reviews make them a top choice.
Northwest’s package, priced at $39 plus Arkansas state fees, provides comprehensive services for Arkansas LLCs, which includes business formation, complimentary registered agent services for the initial year, a business address specific to Arkansas, an operating agreement tailored for the state, along with a few additional perks.
This package stands out as exceptional value, especially considering it encompasses registered agent services and an Arkansas-specific operating agreement, both of which are of paramount importance. However, it’s noteworthy that even if one opts out of the registered agent services, the full package price remains unchanged.
Northwest Registered Agent, as suggested by their name, is primarily recognized for their registered agent services in Arkansas and beyond. When functioning as a registered agent, they are reputed for their more individualized customer assistance and prompt correspondence notifications.
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent because of their transparent pricing, outstanding customer service, and a commitment to maintaining your privacy. They pride themselves on personalizing their approach to meeting your registered agent needs, which are their specialty.
For just the Arkansas state fees, Swyft Filings’ Basic package provides a comprehensive service, including the verification of your company name specific to Arkansas, preparation of the Certificate tailored for the state, and document submission to the state authorities. Clients will also receive online access to their official documents and are guaranteed lifetime customer support.
For those needing more, there’s the Standard package at $199 plus Arkansas state fees. This package encompasses all features of the Basic plan and further includes a custom operating agreement suited for Arkansas businesses, along with a federal tax ID or EIN. Furthermore, clients will benefit from custom banking resolution services and custom organizational minutes – essential for orchestrating your inaugural meeting as an Arkansas LLC.
Swyft Filings’ Premium package combines everything from the Standard package but adds the convenience of expedited filing. Subscribers to this package also gain access to a comprehensive business document library, timely compliance notifications, and a unique business domain name with an accompanying website. Also, the package offers a digital LLC kit: this features a digital company “seal,” a specialized ledger for documenting transfers of ownership, and personalized ownership certificates. You can avail of the Premium package at $299 plus the state’s filing fees.
Swyft Filings offers fast processing but doesn’t include registered agent services in their packages, making additions somewhat costly. However, they provide good value overall and strong customer support.
The Silver package, for just the state fees, provides Arkansas LLCs with the preparation and filing of the Certificate of Organization tailored to Arkansas regulations. The package also offers unlimited name searches within the state and complimentary registered agent services for the initial year.
For businesses needing a more comprehensive solution, the Gold package, priced at $199, encompasses all features of the Silver package. Added benefits include an operating agreement template specific to Arkansas, lifetime company alerts, and a business tax consultation. With lifetime company alerts, Incfile ensures you are timely reminded of any reporting due dates in line with Arkansas state regulations.
Moreover, the Gold package from Incfile grants an EIN tax ID number and assists with the submission of IRS Form 2553, empowering Arkansas LLCs to enjoy the tax advantages of an S corporation. Additional perks include banking resolution services, aid in establishing a business bank account, access to a bespoke online dashboard, and unlimited support over the phone and email.
The Platinum package, available for $299, amalgamates all the offerings of the Gold package and further accelerates the filing process. Arkansas businesses opting for this plan also secure a business domain name and email. An invaluable inclusion for budding entrepreneurs is access to business contract templates tailored for the Arkansas market. These contracts, numbering over 20 and meticulously crafted and vetted by legal professionals, are a significant asset for any new business in the state.
Incfile provides substantial value, especially with their Silver package that costs only state fees and includes a year of registered agent service. For first-time entrepreneurs looking to save, Incfile stands out in the competition.
MyCorporation’s service packages cater to various needs for those looking to establish an LLC in Arkansas. Their Basic plan, at $99 plus state fees, covers the essentials of business formation, offering a name availability search relevant to your state and online document storage.
The Standard plan encompasses all the features of the Basic plan and adds the convenience of annual report filing tailored to your LLC’s requirements. It comes at an annual fee of $124 (in addition to state fees).
With the Deluxe plan, which costs $224 (plus state fees), clients also get the annual report filing and registered agent services, ensuring compliance and representation for your business.
Finally, the Premium plan‘s standout feature is the “MaintainMyBiz” service, designed to facilitate consistent and effective business management. MyCorporation’s Premium plan is $324 plus Arkansas filing fees.
However, it’s essential to note a peculiar practice by MyCorporation. They seem to mark up state fees, leading to an additional profit margin. This strategy is relatively rare in the business formation industry.
Beyond their core packages, MyCorporation offers an array of supplementary services for added charges. Some of these services stand out in the market, such as unemployment insurance and tax withholding registration, which might not be readily available with other business formation service providers.
We put MyCorporation on the list because of the extensive list of services they offer, although we are not a fan of the marked-up state fees that are not disclosed. They have, however, been in business for a long time and have a good Trustpilot rating.
Harbor Compliance does not bundle the offerings into business formation service packages but provides individual a la carte services tailored to Arkansas entrepreneurs. Forming an Arkansas LLC costs $99 in addition to state fees. LLCs from Bear State can then selectively add services, such as registered agent, annual report filing, and EIN.
Registered agent service for Arkansas businesses is $99 annually ($50 off if you pay for five years upfront, $100 off if you pay for 10). Annual report filing is $175 plus filing fees each year. You’ll get $250 off if you purchase ten years’ worth of annual report filing. EIN acquisition starts at $99.
Harbor Compliance also has business license management tools and a variety of other services to cater to the needs of businesses in Arkansas.
Compared to many competitors, they stand out with their quick processing and competitively priced registered agent services.
Harbor Compliance provides extensive services, including comprehensive annual compliance and business license guidance, surpassing competitors. Though on the pricier side, they cater to most needs of new business owners.
A business formation service handles the business formation process for you, making it nearly seamless while offering additional services that can make life easier for a new business owner. Whether you’re forming a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation, a business formation service takes care of all the red tape, freeing you up to focus on growing your business.
With so many business formation services to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which is best for you. There are four essential elements that can help you make your decision.
Each service offers various products and services, and their plans are all designed differently. You may need some services but not others, so you need to choose the service that offers everything you need. For example, only some of the providers offer annual report filing.
If it’s important to you to get that task off your plate, you’ll want a service that offers that feature. Another feature you might need is a digital dashboard where you can always access your business formation documents.
You’ll want to choose a service that has everything you need to make starting and running your business as easy as possible.
Of course, you’ll want to get the best value for your money!
Compare the cost of each service for everything you need. The price can really add up when you start adding extras, so be careful not to go too far. You also want to get good value and great customer service, so if you’re considering the cheapest service, check the reviews to see how people felt about it.
Business formation turnaround times vary with each service, so if you’re in a hurry to get your business up and running, you’ll want to look for the quickest service. You don’t want your order to sit in an office for too long before your paperwork gets filed with the state. Some services differentiate themselves with fast turnaround times, so if they also offer good value, that might be your best choice.
One good way to learn about the quality of anything you’re buying is to listen to what people are saying about it. When we review services we look at Better Business Bureau ratings and reviews, as well as TrustPilot reviews. You should look at both positive and negative reviews to find out what people love about the service and about issues customers have encountered.
Remember that fake reviews are common, so you’ll have to take some of the reviews with a grain of salt.
As an entrepreneurial advisory site, we take our responsibilities seriously. We understand that countless entrepreneurs, and potential entrepreneurs, rely on our judgments and insights, particularly when it comes to creating their business.
As a result, our writers do their utmost to gain a comprehensive understanding of the services offered and the actual customer experience. In nearly every case, we:
Thanks to this full immersion in the actual customer experience, our reviewers are able to provide the most complete and insightful analysis of various LLC formation services.
Published on June 30, 2022
If you’re thinking of forming a limited liability company (LLC), you should know that in Arkansas, you will need a registered agent to handle allo ...
Read Now
Published on June 14, 2022
In Arkansas, as in most states, the primary step in creating a limited liability company (LLC) is to file a certificate of organization with thestat ...
Read Now
No thanks, I don't want to stay up to date on industry trends and news.
Comments