SOS Business Search

Arkansas Secretary of State office — contact & fees

Updated August 2026

Quick Answer

The Arkansas Secretary of State's Business and Commercial Services (BCS) Division registers corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and nonprofits; processes franchise tax filings; and maintains the state's business entity records. Walk-in services are available at the Little Rock office during business hours.

Open Official Arkansas Business & Commercial Services Division Portal ↗

Office contact

BCS Division address
Victory Building, 1401 W. Capitol Avenue, Suite 250, Little Rock, AR 72201
Northwest Arkansas office
Today's Bank Building, 300 North College, Suite 201F, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone (local)
(501) 682-3409
Phone (toll-free)
(888) 233-0325
Office hours
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central Time

Annual franchise tax — all entities

Arkansas does not use traditional annual report filings. Instead, all registered domestic and foreign corporations and LLCs pay an annual franchise tax to the Secretary of State. The tax rate varies by entity — it is calculated based on authorized shares or net assets depending on the formula chosen. Filing is done online at sos-franchise.ark.org. Entities that dissolve must file a Final Franchise Tax Report alongside their Articles/Statement of Dissolution; the minimum for that final report is $150.

Entity formation and filing fees

Arkansas offers a roughly 10% online filing discount on most formation documents. Paper fees apply to mail and walk-in submissions. All fees below are from the BCS official fee schedule PDFs, confirmed from the live SOS website August 2026. Verify current amounts at sos.arkansas.gov — Forms and Fees before filing.

LLC — Certificate of Organization

Paper fee / Online fee
$50 paper / $45 online

For-Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation

Paper fee / Online fee
$50 paper / $45 online

Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation

Paper fee / Online fee
$50 paper / $45 online

Foreign Corporation — Certificate of Authority

Paper fee / Online fee
$300 paper (not available online)

Foreign LLC — Statement of Authority

Paper fee / Online fee
$300 paper (not available online)

Name reservation

Paper fee / Online fee
$25 paper / $22.50 online

Certificate of Existence (good standing)

Paper fee / Online fee
$15 (online or paper)

Document copy (per page)

Paper fee / Online fee
$0.50

Certified copy surcharge (per document)

Paper fee / Online fee
$5.00

UCC filing, notary, and apostille services

The Business & Commercial Services Division also runs UCC filing, notary commissions, and document authentication:

  • UCC search and filing — free online search; a certified search certificate costs $10 per debtor name.
  • Notary public commissions — a $20 state application fee, plus a separate county fee that varies by county.
  • Apostilles and authentications — $10 per document for an apostille, $5 per document for a certification.

Source: Arkansas Secretary of State Business & Commercial Services Division (sos.arkansas.gov).

Key Arkansas state licensing agencies

Arkansas Secretary of State — Business and Commercial Services

What it covers
Entity formation, franchise tax, registered agent filings, fictitious names

Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration — Revenue Division

What it covers
State sales tax identification number (required before making taxable sales)

Arkansas Division of Workforce Services

What it covers
Unemployment insurance tax employer registration, required once an employer has employees

Industry boards and commissions

What it covers
State licenses for regulated professions: real estate, contractors, healthcare, and others — contact the relevant board for the specific profession

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Arkansas require annual reports for LLCs and corporations?

No. Arkansas doesn't use traditional annual reports — instead, all registered domestic and foreign corporations and LLCs pay an annual franchise tax to the Secretary of State, calculated based on authorized shares or net assets, filed at sos-franchise.ark.org.

What does it cost to dissolve a business in Arkansas?

A dissolving entity must file a Final Franchise Tax Report along with its Articles or Statement of Dissolution. The minimum fee for that final report is $150.

Is it cheaper to file Arkansas business formation documents online?

Yes, Arkansas offers roughly a 10% discount for online filing on most formation documents. For example, an LLC Certificate of Organization costs $50 by paper but $45 online.

Compare Other States

Entity search rules, fees, and offices are set state by state. These are the states closest to Arkansas — useful if you're comparing how a neighboring state runs the same process.

Helpful Guides

What Is a Registered Agent, and Who Can Be One?

Every LLC and corporation is required to name one — here's what the job actually involves and who's eligible.

Certificate of Good Standing: What It Is and How to Get One

A one-page proof that your LLC or corporation is current with the state — what it's for, what it costs, and how to request one.

How to Dissolve an LLC: The State Filing Process, Step by Step

Closing an LLC the right way means more than just walking away — here's the filing sequence every state expects.

LLC vs. Corporation: Which Structure Fits Your Business?

Both are formed with the same state office — the real differences show up in taxes, ownership, and how much paperwork you're signing up for.

Articles of Incorporation vs. Articles of Organization: What's the Difference?

Both documents create a legal business entity with the state — the difference comes down to which type of entity you're forming.

How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC? Formation Fees by State

State filing fees for forming an LLC range from under $50 to $500 — see the base cost in your state and how it compares to forming a corporation.

LLC Annual Report Fees and Deadlines by State

Every state has its own rules for keeping an LLC in good standing — see your state's report frequency, fee, and due date at a glance.

Business License Search: What It Covers and How to Check

Registering an entity with the state isn't the same as holding a license to operate it — here's where licenses actually come from.

UCC Filing Search: How to Check for Liens on a Business

Uniform Commercial Code filings show which lenders have a claim on a company's assets — here's how to search them and what the results mean.