Arizona Corporation Commission

How Much Does a Corporation Cost in Arizona?

Forming a corporation in Arizona means filing the Articles of Incorporation (Form C010) with the Arizona Corporation Commission. The calculator below separates official government fees from estimates, and fixed costs from variable ones.

Entity type

LLC Corporation

An S corporation is a federal tax election, not a state entity type — both LLCs and corporations may qualify for it.

Registered agent

Act as my own agent — $0Generally allowed if you have an in-state address and are available during business hoursHire a service — about $200/yrMarket estimate (typically $100–$300/yr), not a state fee

Processing speed

Publication required: Arizona law requires new Corporations to publish a formation notice. It's included below as an estimated required third-party cost — paid to newspapers, not the state.

First-year government fees — Arizona Corporation

$60

First-year estimated total: $120–$360Includes the labeled estimates and optional services below

Official state fees

Articles of Incorporation filing fee$60

Estimates — not charged by the state

Publication (legally required, paid to newspapers)Estimated required third-party cost$60–$300

Ongoing fixed fees

Annual report feeDue each year on the anniversary of incorporation, beginning the year after formation$45 / yr

≈ $45/yr annualized for comparison — actual payment schedule shown above.

Five-year outlook

Fixed government fees (5 yrs)$240

Estimated total (5 yrs)$300–$540

Educational estimate based on official fee schedules verified July 12, 2026 — not legal or tax advice. Fees, rules, and processing times change; confirm with the state or a qualified professional before relying on them.

The numbers behind this page

Every figure comes from the typed data record for Arizona, verified July 12, 2026 against the sources listed at the bottom of this page.

Formation fees — Arizona Corporation
Fee	Amount	Schedule	Type
Articles of Incorporation filing fee	$60	One-time	Official state fee

† Partially verified — corroborated but not confirmed on a machine-readable official page.

Recurring & conditional obligations — Arizona Corporation
Fee	Amount	Schedule	Type
Annual report fee	$45	AnnualDue each year on the anniversary of incorporation, beginning the year after formation	Official state fee

Filing process & processing times

File online through the Commission's eCorp portal or by mail.

Processing options for Arizona Corporation filings
Option	Typical turnaround	Added fee	Notes
Standard processing	10–15 business days	None	Regular processing times vary with volume; the Commission posts current dates
Expedited processing	3–5 business days	$35

Processing times are estimates based on currently available official guidance and change with filing volume — they are not guaranteed.

Publication requirement

Arizona requires new corporations to publish notice of formation. Expect roughly $60–$300, paid to newspapers rather than the state. Notice must be published in an approved newspaper in the county of the statutory agent's address for three consecutive publications within 60 days of filing. Businesses whose statutory agent address is in Maricopa or Pima County are exempt — the Commission's own online publication satisfies the requirement at no cost, so most Phoenix- and Tucson-area filers pay nothing.

Estimate methodology: Typical quoted rates from approved Arizona county newspapers for the required three consecutive publications.

Registered agent costs

Every Arizona Corporationmust continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical in-state address. Acting as your own agent costs $0 where you meet the state's eligibility rules; commercial services typically run $100–$300 per year. The calculator uses $200 — the midpoint of that range — when you choose a hired service.

Midpoint of the typical advertised price range for national commercial registered-agent services as of July 2026 (e.g. Northwest Registered Agent $125/yr, ZenBusiness $199/yr, LegalZoom $249/yr). Budget providers advertise below this range and premium corporate-service firms above it. Serving as your own agent costs $0 where you meet state eligibility rules.

Worth knowing about Arizona

Arizona LLCs file no annual report at all — one of the lowest ongoing-cost states.
The publication requirement only applies when the statutory agent's address is outside Maricopa and Pima counties; inside them, the Commission publishes online for free.

Arizona Corporation cost FAQs

How much does it cost to start a corporation in Arizona?

The Arizona Corporation Commission charges $60 to file the Articles of Incorporation (Form C010). That figure excludes optional services and any variable taxes, which depend on your circumstances.

What are the ongoing costs of a corporation in Arizona?

Arizona corporations generally must pay the annual report fee of $45 per year (due each year on the anniversary of incorporation, beginning the year after formation).

How long does it take to form a corporation in Arizona?

Standard processing generally takes about 10–15 business days. Expedited options are available: expedited processing for $35. Processing times change with filing volume, so confirm current turnaround with the state before relying on a date.

Do I need a registered agent for a corporation in Arizona?

Yes. Every Arizona corporation must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state to receive legal and official mail. You can generally act as your own agent at no cost if you meet the state's eligibility rules, or hire a commercial service — typically $100–$300 per year. Whether serving as your own agent is practical depends on your circumstances, including privacy and availability during business hours.

Does Arizona require corporations to publish a notice of formation?

Yes — Arizona law requires new corporations to publish notice of formation. Publication is paid to newspapers, not the state, and typically runs $60–$300 depending on the county. Notice must be published in an approved newspaper in the county of the statutory agent's address for three consecutive publications within 60 days of filing. Businesses whose statutory agent address is in Maricopa or Pima County are exempt — the Commission's own online publication satisfies the requirement at no cost, so most Phoenix- and Tucson-area filers pay nothing. Because this cost varies by county and newspaper, it appears as an estimated required third-party cost, separate from official state fees.

What this page doesn't cover

Federal, state, and local taxes beyond the fixed fees shown — income-dependent taxes are listed as variable obligations and never included in exact totals.
Business licenses, local permits, industry-specific registrations, and DBA filings.
Attorney, accountant, or filing-service fees beyond the labeled registered-agent estimate.
Whether a corporation — or Arizona — is the right choice for your situation. FormedIn provides general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice, and nothing here recommends an entity type or formation state for any specific person.

Fees, rules, deadlines, and processing times change. Confirm current requirements with the Arizona Corporation Commission and consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or tax professional about your specific circumstances.

Sources

Arizona data last verified July 12, 2026.

Fee Schedule — Corporations— Arizona Corporation CommissionOfficialaccessed July 12, 2026
Business Services FAQs— Arizona Corporation CommissionOfficialaccessed July 12, 2026
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost? 2026 Guide— RegisteredAgentCost.comaccessed July 12, 2026
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost?— ZenBusinessaccessed July 12, 2026