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Plain CharterLLC questions, short answers.

Short answers · Arkansas

3 Best LLC Services in Arkansas (2026), Plainly Answered

Asked who to hire in Arkansas in 2026, we'd say Mainstay Filing ($199), AR Registered Agent.org ($199) and Arkansas Registered Agent.co ($199), in that order. On top of the $45 filing fee, the services cost $397 to $597 over three years.

By the Plain Charter editorial team ·

Quick answer

State filing fee
$45, one time
What recurs
$150 every year
Registered agent
Must have one
Who we'd use
Mainstay Filing, AR Registered Agent.org then Arkansas Registered Agent.co

Who we'd hire in Arkansas

Best first, by our stated criteria.
1First choice

1. Mainstay Filing: best for having the franchise tax report filed for you

Annual price $199, renewal price $199, state fee extra

We put Mainstay Filing at the top because you pay $199 a year and the formation, the registered agent and the franchise tax report are handled.

Yes, AR Registered Agent.org saves $200 across three years. We still put the fuller service first.

It handles each Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report, adding just the $150 the state charges.

The price covers

  • The formation filing
  • Registered agent year-round
  • Franchise tax report prepared and filed
  • Applying for your EIN
  • State fee passed through

Upsides

  • $199 yearly, all in
  • EIN step covered
  • Year two costs $199

What to weigh

  • A $100 yearly premium over AR Registered Agent.org
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Arkansas only

2. AR Registered Agent.org: best for staying in one state

$199 plus state fees; renewal $99

AR Registered Agent.org comes second: it costs $199 up front with the first agent year, then $99 each year after.

The Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report is not in its price, so you file that yourself.

The price covers

  • The Arkansas formation filing
  • Year-one agent

Upsides

  • $99 a year after that
  • First agent year in the price
  • $199 to form

What to weigh

  • Your own Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report to file
  • EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit AR Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Arkansas only

3. Arkansas Registered Agent.co: best for single-state companies

$199 plus state fees; renewal $99

Arkansas Registered Agent.co comes third: it costs $199 up front with the first agent year, then $99 each year after.

The Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report is not in its price, so you file that yourself.

It charges the same as AR Registered Agent.org; the order between them is a close call.

The price covers

  • The Arkansas formation filing
  • Year-one agent

Upsides

  • $199 to form
  • First agent year in the price
  • $99 a year after that

What to weigh

  • Your own Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report to file
  • EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit Arkansas Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

How the picks compare

#CompanyYear 1Each year afterThree-year totalWhat it covers
1Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597the formation filing; Registered agent year-round; franchise tax report prepared and filedVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2AR Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397The Arkansas formation filing; Year-one agentVisit AR Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Arkansas Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397The Arkansas formation filing; Year-one agentVisit Arkansas Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Company prices on November 12, 2026, before state fees.

Common questions

How much should I budget to form it?

Filing yourself costs $45. With a service, add $199.

By year three you will have paid the state $345. October 2026 · sos.arkansas.gov

Which form creates the LLC?

The Arkansas Secretary of State accepts the Certificate of Organization for Limited Liability Company (Form LL-01), and that filing creates the LLC.

See Ark. Code Ann. § 4-38-201. Typical turnaround: most filings within two business days of receipt. October 2026 · sos.arkansas.gov

Must the LLC name 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.

October 2026 · arkleg.state.ar.us

What does it cost to keep the LLC?

The Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report, once a year, at $150 each time. It is due May 1.

A late report costs $25 extra.

October 2026 · sos.arkansas.gov

Can I handle it on my own?

Yes. Filing yourself leaves only the state's fees, $345 over three years.

The services charge $397 to $597 across three years for that work.

Why these three?

Because of what the price takes off your plate: Mainstay Filing does best there, and it counts for 30%.

Three-year cost counts for 35% and what the price takes off your plate for 30%; the other three criteria are smaller.

Put plainly: you never have to remember the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report, and that is worth more to us than a smaller bill.

See how we rank

Arkansas rules at a glance

RuleAnswerSource
Fee to form$45October 2026 · sos.arkansas.gov
Registered agentMust have oneOctober 2026 · arkleg.state.ar.us
Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report$150 every yearOctober 2026 · sos.arkansas.gov
State fees, first three years$345Computed from the rows
Three-year state total = filing + reports in years 2 and 3 + any minimum tax; variable costs are not added.

A few more questions

How long does the state take?

Most filings within two business days of receipt.

Who handles the EIN?

With Mainstay Filing it is part of the price; AR Registered Agent.org bills $99 and Arkansas Registered Agent.co bills $99.

What if the report is late?

Arkansas adds $25.

What is the three-year cost of each?

Mainstay Filing $597, AR Registered Agent.org $397 and Arkansas Registered Agent.co $397, plus state fees.

What sources do you use?

Official schedules for state fees, company pricing for service fees, all dated on this page.

Which one should I hire in Arkansas?

We rank Mainstay Filing first on what the price takes off your plate, with AR Registered Agent.org and Arkansas Registered Agent.co behind it.

Where these answers come from

  1. October 2026: Arkansas yearly filing: Franchise tax, sos.arkansas.gov
  2. October 2026: Arkansas yearly filing: Franchise tax, sos.arkansas.gov
  3. August 2026: Arkansas report due date, sos.arkansas.gov
  4. August 2026: Ark, arkleg.state.ar.us
  5. October 2026: Arkansas formation fee: Filing fee, sos.arkansas.gov
  6. October 2026: Arkansas registered agent statute, arkleg.state.ar.us
  7. October 2026: Processing, official source, sos.arkansas.gov
  8. Mainstay Filing Arkansas service page (prices on November 12, 2026)
  9. AR Registered Agent.org pricing page (prices on November 12, 2026)
  10. Arkansas Registered Agent.co pricing page (prices on November 12, 2026)