The Arizona Articles of Organization is the legal document you file with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to create your limited liability company, and any one or more “organizers” can sign and file it under A.R.S. § 29-3201. It is the single piece of paper that turns your idea into a real, legal business that shields your personal assets from company debts.
Filing this form wrong is the fastest way to slow down your launch. The ACC rejects filings every day for small, fixable reasons like a missing attachment or a P.O. Box where a street address belongs. In fact, the official Form L010 warns in bold that your filing will be rejected if you forget the management structure attachment, and the L010i instructions say the same about a missing statutory agent acceptance. This guide walks you through every box so you get it right the first time.
Here is what you will learn:
- 📝 How to fill out each numbered field on Form L010 (Rev. 10/2020) line by line, in plain English.
- 🏠 Why your statutory agent needs a real Arizona street address and not a P.O. Box.
- 📎 Which attachments must ride along with your Articles so they are not rejected on day one.
- 📰 When Arizona’s newspaper publication rule applies to you and when you are exempt.
- 💵 What it costs, how fast each filing channel is, and what proof to keep after you file.
What the Articles of Organization Is and Who Must File It
The Articles of Organization is the formation document for every Arizona LLC. One or more “organizers” sign it and file it with the Arizona Corporation Commission, and once the Commission approves it, your LLC legally exists under A.R.S. § 29-3201. The organizer does not have to be a member or manager of the LLC, so a paralegal, attorney, or formation service can sign on your behalf.
You must file this form if you want to run a business as an Arizona LLC instead of as a sole proprietor or partnership. The LLC structure exists to separate you from your business, so that a lawsuit or debt against the company does not reach your house, your car, or your savings. Without the filing, you have no LLC and no liability shield, no matter what you call your business on a sign or a website.
The form is short, but four players sit behind it. The organizer signs it. The Arizona Corporation Commission receives and approves it. The statute A.R.S. § 29-3201 requires it. And the statutory agent stands by to receive lawsuit papers after formation. Each one connects to the next: the statute forces you to name an agent, the agent must accept in writing, and the Commission checks all of it before your LLC is born.
There are two flavors of this form. A regular LLC is for most businesses, while a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) is for state-licensed professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants. The naming rules differ for each, which is the first decision you make in Number 1. A common misconception is that filing the Articles also handles your taxes and licenses, but it does not. You still need an EIN from the IRS, and you may need a Transaction Privilege Tax license from the Arizona Department of Revenue.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open the form. Missing even one item can stall your filing, because the ACC examines the whole package at once and rejects anything incomplete. Spending fifteen minutes here saves you a rejection letter and a second wait in line.
- Your exact LLC name. It must contain “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “L.C.,” or “LC,” and it cannot contain “association,” “corporation,” or “incorporated.” If it is missing, the examiner cannot register the name.
- A statutory agent’s full legal name. This is the person or entity that accepts legal papers; without it, the form has no valid agent and is rejected.
- An Arizona physical street address for the agent. A P.O. Box is not allowed here, and a missing or invalid address can lead to administrative dissolution under A.R.S. § 29-3708.
- A mailing address for the agent. This one can be a P.O. Box, and it is where the Commission sends official notices.
- Your principal business address. This is the LLC’s main address, and it does not have to be in Arizona.
- Your management choice. Decide if the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed, because each path needs a different attachment.
- The completed structure attachment. Either the Manager Structure Attachment (Form L040) or the Member Structure Attachment (Form L041); the Articles are rejected without it.
- The signed Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002). If this is not in the ACC system when your Articles are examined, the filing is rejected.
- Your filing fee payment. The fee is $50, and all fees are nonrefundable under A.R.S. § 29-3213, so get the amount right.
- A Cover Sheet. Every document submitted to the ACC should include a cover sheet.
If any item is missing when you submit, the Commission will send a notice that more information or fees are needed. You then have 30 days to fix it, and if you do, your LLC is treated as formed on the date you first delivered the Articles.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official form is Form L010, Articles of Organization, and it carries the version number L010.007 with a revision date of 10/2020 printed at the bottom of each page. Always confirm you have this version, because filing an outdated form can cause a rejection.
You can fill out the form two ways. The faster path is the online filing system at the eCorp portal, where you create an account and complete the Articles, the attachments, and the Statutory Agent Acceptance on screen. The other path is the printable PDF, which you download, fill out by hand or by typing, print, sign, and mail or hand-deliver.
You should also download the companion documents the same day. The L010i instructions explain every field, and the LLC Forms page hosts the Manager Structure Attachment (L040), the Member Structure Attachment (L041), the Statutory Agent Acceptance (M002), and the Cover Sheet. Grabbing all of these at once means you will not stop halfway to hunt for a missing attachment.
A common misconception is that the eCorp portal and the paper form are different filings. They are not. They are two doors into the same document, and both create your LLC the same way under the same statute. Pick whichever channel fits your comfort level, but know that online filings move through the queue faster.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form L010 Line by Line
The form has two pages and seven numbered items. Work through them in order, because the answer to one box (like the statutory agent’s street address) feeds into a later box (like the principal address). Use all capital letters where the form expects names and addresses, and never leave a required blank empty.
Number 1: Entity Type
This box asks one simple question: is your business a regular LLC or a professional LLC? You check exactly one box, never both. Most filers check Limited Liability Company; only state-licensed professionals check Professional Limited Liability Company.
To answer it, look at whether your work requires a state license that calls for a PLLC. Maria Lopez, who runs a house-cleaning business, checks the Limited Liability Company box. Dr. Ravi Patel, a dentist, checks the Professional Limited Liability Company box because his license demands it.
A nuance here is real estate. If you are a licensed real estate agent or broker, the instructions tell you to check with the Arizona Department of Real Estate before you form a PLLC. The most common mistake is checking PLLC when you do not need it, which forces a different naming rule and can trigger a rejection if your name does not match. A misconception people hold is that a PLLC gives more protection than an LLC, but it does not; it simply meets a licensing board’s requirement.
Number 2: Entity Name
This box asks for the exact, full legal name of your LLC, including spelling, punctuation, and a required identifier. You type the name precisely as you want it to appear in state records, ending with “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “L.C.,” or “LC.”
The name must follow A.R.S. § 29-3112, which means it cannot contain “association,” “corporation,” “incorporated,” or their abbreviations. Maria Lopez writes DESERT SHINE CLEANING LLC. A nuance is that certain words like “Bank,” “Trust,” “Credit Union,” and “Deposit” need prior written approval from the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions before the name can be registered.
The most common mistake is leaving out the LLC identifier entirely, which gets the name rejected because it no longer signals limited liability to the public. Another trap is choosing a name already in use, so check availability on the eCorp portal first. A misconception is that filing the Articles also reserves the name as a trademark, but it does not; trademark protection is a separate process, and an identical registered trade name may require its owner to be listed in your document.
Number 3: Professional LLC Services
This box appears for one reason only: if you checked Professional Limited Liability Company in Number 1, you must describe the professional service the company will provide. If you formed a regular LLC, you skip this box entirely.
You answer it with a short, plain description of the licensed service. Dr. Ravi Patel writes DENTISTRY. An accountant writes ACCOUNTING, and a law firm writes LAW FIRM or LEGAL SERVICES, just as the form’s own examples suggest.
A nuance is that PLLCs are governed by A.R.S. §§ 29-4102 through 29-4108, and your licensing board, not the ACC, decides whether you may or must form one. The most common mistake is leaving this box blank after checking PLLC, which guarantees a rejection because the form is internally inconsistent. A misconception is that you can list several unrelated services here; you should describe only the professional service your license covers.
Number 4.1: Statutory Agent Name and Street Address
This is the most important box on the form. It asks for the name and Arizona street address of the person or entity that will receive lawsuit papers and official notices for your LLC, as required by A.R.S. § 29-3115. You list either an individual or an entity, never both on the same line.
To answer it, write the agent’s full legal name, then a physical or street address in Arizona directly beneath. Maria Lopez names herself as agent and writes 742 W MONROE ST, PHOENIX, AZ 85007. If the agent is an entity, you can add a contact name on the “Attention” line, and that name becomes part of the address but does not change who the agent is.
The hard rule is that this address cannot be a P.O. Box; it must be a real street address where a person can be served in person. An individual agent must be a permanent, full-time Arizona resident, and an LLC cannot be its own agent. The most common mistake is entering a P.O. Box, which gets the filing rejected, and letting the agent’s address lapse later can lead to administrative dissolution under A.R.S. § 29-3708. A misconception is that the agent must be a lawyer or a paid service, but you, a member, or a trusted Arizona friend can serve.
Number 4.2: Statutory Agent Mailing Address
This box asks for the statutory agent’s mailing address, which is where the Commission mails official notices. Unlike Number 4.1, this address can be a P.O. Box or a personal mailbox.
You complete every blank that is not marked optional. If the mailing address is the same as the street address in 4.1, you check the box that says “same as physical/street address” and move on. Maria Lopez checks that box because she uses one address for both.
A nuance is that if the agent is an individual, this mailing address must still be in Arizona. This address is public and viewable on the internet, so do not use one you want kept private. The most common mistake is leaving it blank when it differs from the street address, which can stall the filing, and a misconception is that the Commission will email you instead; official notices go to this mailing address, so an old address means you miss important deadlines.
Number 4.3: Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002)
This box is a reminder, not a fill-in field. It tells you that the Statutory Agent Acceptance, Form M002, must be submitted along with your Articles. The agent signs M002 to confirm, in writing, that they agree to serve.
You handle this by completing and submitting Form M002 at the same time as the Articles, ideally in the same package. Maria Lopez, acting as her own agent, signs M002 herself; if her agent were an entity, an authorized agent of that entity would sign it.
A nuance is that the agent can file M002 independently through the eCorp portal before the Articles arrive. The most common and most painful mistake is forgetting M002 entirely, because if no acceptance is in the ACC system when the Articles are examined, the Articles are rejected outright. A misconception is that naming someone in Number 4.1 is enough; it is not, because the law requires the agent’s own written consent.
Number 5: Principal Address
This box asks for the LLC’s principal address, the main address of the business itself. Number 5.1 asks a yes-or-no question: is the principal address the same as the statutory agent’s street address?
If yes, you check “Yes,” skip to Number 6, and leave 5.2 blank. If no, you check “No” and fill in the full principal address in Number 5.2, completing every blank that is not optional and adding a mailing address too. Maria Lopez checks Yes because she works from the same Phoenix address.
A key nuance is that the principal address does not have to be in Arizona, which helps out-of-state owners. James Carter, who lives in San Diego, checks “No” and writes his California office address in 5.2. The most common mistake is checking “Yes” but still typing an address in 5.2, which creates a conflict, and a misconception is that this address is private; it is public on the internet, and letting it lapse can lead to administrative dissolution under A.R.S. § 29-3708.
Number 6: Manager-Managed LLC
This box is one of two management choices, and you complete Number 6 or Number 7, never both. You check Number 6 if one or more managers will run the company while members stay passive, like investors.
If you check it, you must complete and attach only the Manager Structure Attachment (Form L040), which lists both the managers and any member who owns 20% or more. James Carter checks Number 6 because he hired a local manager to run daily operations while he invests from California.
A nuance is that a manager-managed LLC works like a corporation, where managers act like directors and members act like shareholders, under A.R.S. § 29-3301. The most common mistake is checking the box but forgetting the L040 attachment, which the form states in bold will get the filing rejected. A misconception is that you can check both 6 and 7 to “keep options open,” but selecting both invalidates the form.
Number 7: Member-Managed LLC
This is the other management choice. You check Number 7 if all members will run the company together, which is the default for most small LLCs where the owners do the work themselves.
If you check it, you complete and attach only the Member Structure Attachment (Form L041), which lists every member. Maria Lopez, the sole owner who does the cleaning herself, checks Number 7 and lists herself as the only member.
A nuance worth knowing: in a two-member, member-managed LLC with no operating agreement, both members must agree on every decision, because a tie can never form a majority under A.R.S. § 29-3301. The most common mistake is omitting the L041 attachment, which causes an automatic rejection. A misconception is that “member-managed” forces you to share control; a single member can be the only member and the only person in charge.
Signature and Verification
The final block is the organizer’s signature. The organizer signs, prints their name, and fills in the date, certifying under penalty of law that everything in the document and its attachments is true.
To answer it, sign on the signature line, print your name beneath, and write the date as MM/DD/YYYY. Maria Lopez signs, prints MARIA LOPEZ, and writes 06/03/2026. Online filers sign electronically through the eCorp portal.
A nuance is the optional delayed effective date: you may set a future start date, but it cannot be later than the 90th day after the Commission receives the Articles. The most common mistake is an unsigned form, which the ACC cannot accept, and a misconception is that the organizer must be an owner; the organizer can be anyone, including a hired filer, and need not be a member or manager.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common filers walked through the form from start to finish. Each shows what they enter in the most important sections.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez, single-member cleaning LLC in Maricopa County (publication-exempt)
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Number 1, Entity Type | Checks Limited Liability Company |
| Number 2, Entity Name | DESERT SHINE CLEANING LLC |
| Number 3, PLLC Services | Left blank (not a PLLC) |
| Number 4.1, Agent Name and Street Address | MARIA LOPEZ, 742 W MONROE ST, PHOENIX, AZ 85007 |
| Number 4.2, Agent Mailing Address | Checks same as physical/street address |
| Number 4.3, M002 Acceptance | Signs and attaches Form M002 |
| Number 5.1, Principal Address | Checks Yes |
| Number 7, Member-Managed | Checks Number 7, attaches Form L041 listing herself |
| Signature | Signs, prints MARIA LOPEZ, dates 06/03/2026 |
Because her agent’s street address is in Maricopa County, her notice is published automatically on the ACC website, so she skips the newspaper.
Scenario 2: Green Valley Builders, multi-member manager-managed LLC in Cochise County (publication required)
| Form Section | What the Organizer Enters |
|---|---|
| Number 1, Entity Type | Checks Limited Liability Company |
| Number 2, Entity Name | GREEN VALLEY BUILDERS LLC |
| Number 4.1, Agent Name and Street Address | TOM REYES, 110 N HASKELL AVE, WILLCOX, AZ 85643 |
| Number 4.2, Agent Mailing Address | PO BOX 88, WILLCOX, AZ 85644 |
| Number 4.3, M002 Acceptance | Tom Reyes signs and attaches Form M002 |
| Number 5.1, Principal Address | Checks Yes |
| Number 6, Manager-Managed | Checks Number 6, attaches Form L040 with managers and 20%+ members |
| Signature | Organizer signs, prints name, dates the form |
| After approval | Publishes notice in a Cochise County newspaper |
Because the agent’s street address sits in Cochise County, outside Maricopa and Pima, the LLC must publish a newspaper notice after the ACC approves the filing.
Scenario 3: James Carter, out-of-state owner with an Arizona PLLC
| Form Section | What James Enters |
|---|---|
| Number 1, Entity Type | Checks Professional Limited Liability Company |
| Number 2, Entity Name | CARTER PHYSICAL THERAPY PLLC |
| Number 3, PLLC Services | PHYSICAL THERAPY |
| Number 4.1, Agent Name and Street Address | AZ AGENT SERVICES LLC, 1300 E INDIAN SCHOOL RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014 |
| Number 4.2, Agent Mailing Address | Same Phoenix street address |
| Number 4.3, M002 Acceptance | Authorized agent of the entity signs M002 |
| Number 5.1, Principal Address | Checks No, then lists his San Diego, CA office in 5.2 |
| Number 6, Manager-Managed | Checks Number 6, attaches Form L040 |
| Signature | Signs as organizer, prints JAMES CARTER, dates the form |
His principal address can be in California, but his statutory agent’s street address must be in Arizona, which his commercial agent provides.
How to File the Completed Form
You can file through three channels, and each one ends at the same Examination Section of the Arizona Corporation Commission. Choose the channel that fits your speed and payment needs.
- Online (eCorp portal). File at the eCorp portal. The filing fee is $50, you pay by credit card (Visa or MasterCard), and online filings move through the queue fastest. Keep your emailed confirmation and the approved file-stamped Articles as proof.
- By mail. Mail the Cover Sheet, Articles, structure attachment, M002, and payment to the Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division – Examination Section, 1300 W. Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona 85007. Pay by check or money order made out to “Arizona Corporation Commission” with no abbreviations; credit cards are not accepted by mail. Keep a copy of everything and your mailing receipt.
- In person. Deliver the same package to the same Phoenix address. In person you may pay by credit card, check, money order, or cash (Phoenix office only, no bills larger than $20). Ask for a stamped copy as your proof of filing.
For faster handling, add the expedite fee of $35 on top of the $50 filing fee, per A.R.S. § 29-3213. Accelerated tiers cost more: Next Day Service is an extra $100, Same Day Service is an extra $200, and Two-Hour Service is an extra $400. All fees are nonrefundable, and current processing times are posted each Monday on the eCorp portal.
A plain-English note on the fee statute: A.R.S. § 29-3213 sets these charges and makes them nonrefundable. If you ignore it and underpay, the Commission holds your filing until you pay the rest. For example, if James Carter pays only $50 but requests expedite, the ACC waits for the missing $35 before processing. A misconception is that paying expedite guarantees instant approval; it speeds the queue, but a flawed filing is still rejected.
What Happens After You File
Once the ACC examines and approves your Articles, your LLC is officially formed. If you set no delayed date, formation occurs on the date the Articles were delivered, as long as all requirements and fees were met. You then receive an approval letter from the Commission.
That approval letter is your trigger for publication. Arizona is one of only three states with a publication rule, and you must not publish until the Commission approves the Articles. If your statutory agent’s street address is in Maricopa or Pima County, the ACC publishes the notice automatically on its website, and you do nothing. If it is anywhere else, you must publish a notice in an approved newspaper in that county, and the approval letter explains how.
After publication, finish the rest of your setup. Get an EIN from the IRS so you can open a bank account and hire workers, and check whether you need a Transaction Privilege Tax license from the Arizona Department of Revenue. You should also write an operating agreement, which Arizona does not require and does not accept for filing, but which controls how your LLC runs. Remember that you must keep a valid statutory agent and principal address on file at all times, or risk administrative dissolution under A.R.S. § 29-3708.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Using a P.O. Box for the statutory agent’s street address in Number 4.1, which gets the filing rejected.
- Forgetting the Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002), which causes an automatic rejection at examination.
- Omitting the Manager (L040) or Member (L041) Structure Attachment, which the form states in bold will be rejected.
- Checking both Number 6 and Number 7, which makes the management section invalid.
- Leaving out the LLC identifier like “LLC” in the name, which fails the naming rule and is rejected.
- Using a banned word such as “corporation” or “incorporated” in the name, which the examiner will not register.
- Checking PLLC in Number 1 but leaving the service description in Number 3 blank, which makes the form inconsistent.
- Naming the LLC itself as its own statutory agent, which the law does not allow.
- Checking “Yes” in 5.1 but still typing an address in 5.2, which creates a conflicting principal address.
- Submitting an unsigned form, which the ACC cannot accept under penalty of law.
- Publishing the newspaper notice before approval, which wastes money because the notice may not count.
- Paying by credit card through the mail, which the ACC rejects since mailed payments must be check or money order.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do confirm you have Form L010 Rev. 10/2020, because an outdated version can be rejected.
- Do submit M002 and the structure attachment in the same package, since missing either triggers rejection.
- Do use a real Arizona street address for your agent, because legal papers must be served in person there.
- Do check name availability on the eCorp portal first, so you do not pick a taken name.
- Do keep your stamped or emailed approval, because it is your proof of formation and your publication trigger.
- Do update your agent and address whenever they change, to avoid administrative dissolution.
Don’t:
- Don’t use a P.O. Box in Number 4.1, because the street-address rule is strict.
- Don’t publish your notice before the ACC approves the Articles, since the instructions forbid it.
- Don’t check both management boxes, because only one structure is allowed.
- Don’t assume the filing handles taxes or licenses, since those are separate steps.
- Don’t mail cash or a check from a non-U.S. bank, because the ACC will not accept either.
- Don’t skip the operating agreement, even though the state does not require it, because statutes will otherwise control your LLC.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
| Filing on Your Own (Pro Se) | Filing With a Service or Attorney |
|---|---|
| Saves money, since you pay only the $50 state fee | Costs more, because you add a service or legal fee |
| Gives you full control over every entry on the form | Saves your time, as a pro handles the paperwork |
| Teaches you how your own business is structured | Lowers rejection risk, since pros know the common traps |
| Works well for a simple single-member LLC | Helps with complex multi-member or PLLC filings |
| Lets you file the same day through eCorp | Provides a commercial statutory agent address for privacy |
A quick “why” on each side: filing yourself is cheapest and fine for a straightforward LLC, while professional help is worth it when your structure is complex, you need an Arizona agent address, or you cannot risk a rejection delaying your launch.
FAQs
Do I have to file the Articles of Organization to have an Arizona LLC?
Yes. Your LLC does not legally exist until the Arizona Corporation Commission approves your Articles of Organization under A.R.S. § 29-3201, no matter what name you use publicly.
Can I be my own statutory agent?
Yes. You can serve as your own agent if you are a permanent, full-time Arizona resident with a real Arizona street address, but your LLC cannot be its own agent.
Do I write a P.O. Box in the statutory agent street address box (Number 4.1)?
No. Number 4.1 requires a physical street address in Arizona; a P.O. Box belongs only in the mailing address box, Number 4.2, where it is allowed.
Do I check both Number 6 and Number 7 for management?
No. You complete Number 6 or Number 7, never both, and you must attach only the matching structure form, or the filing is rejected.
Do I fill out Number 3 if I am forming a regular LLC?
No. Number 3 is only for a Professional LLC; if you checked Limited Liability Company in Number 1, you leave the service description blank.
Do I need to attach Form M002 with my Articles?
Yes. The Statutory Agent Acceptance, Form M002, must be in the ACC system when the Articles are examined, or the Articles will be rejected.
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper?
No. Not always; if your statutory agent’s street address is in Maricopa or Pima County, the ACC publishes the notice for you automatically online.
Is the $50 filing fee refundable if my filing is rejected?
No. All fees are nonrefundable under A.R.S. § 29-3213, so double-check your form before you pay and submit.
Can my principal address be outside Arizona?
Yes. The principal address in Number 5 does not have to be in Arizona, which helps out-of-state owners, though your statutory agent’s street address must be in Arizona.
Does the organizer who signs have to be an owner of the LLC?
No. The organizer can be anyone, including a hired filer or attorney, and does not have to be a member or manager of the LLC.
Can I set a future start date for my LLC?
Yes. You may choose a delayed effective date, but it cannot be later than the 90th day after the Commission receives your Articles.
Do I need an operating agreement to file?
No. Arizona does not require an operating agreement and will not accept one for filing, but having one is wise because it controls how your LLC runs.
Can I pay by credit card if I file by mail?
No. Mailed filings must be paid by check or money order; credit cards are accepted only for in-person or online filings.
Will filing the Articles also get me an EIN and a tax license?
No. The Articles only form the LLC; you get an EIN from the IRS and a TPT license from the Arizona Department of Revenue separately.
Related reading
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