How to search Arkansas records
- Enter partial names. The search returns everything that contains your words, which catches close variations.
- Look at the franchise tax status line on the detail page. Revoked charters in Arkansas are usually caused by unpaid franchise tax.
- Fictitious names are filed with the Secretary of State too, so search those before choosing a trade name.
Open the official Arkansas search
Arkansas SOS, corporation and LLC search
Arkansas Secretary of State Entity Search
The Arkansas Secretary of State entity search is run by the Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services through its Corporation Search. Related queries such as "Secretary of State Arkansas business search" reach the same free database. Search by name first, then reopen the record by its filing number so you are reading one exact entity. The step-by-step instructions above walk through the screens.
Arkansas Entity Search
An entity search of the Arkansas business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Because Arkansas expects an annual franchise tax report yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Arkansas Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "Arkansas Secretary of State corporation search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
Arkansas LLC Search
Run the Arkansas LLC search with the exact name, then note the filing number. Forming an Arkansas LLC costs $45 and the annual franchise tax report is $150. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
Arkansas Business Name Search
An Arkansas business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Arkansas lets you hold a name for 120 days for $22.50 (online price). The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names.
Arkansas Business License Search
An Arkansas entity record is not a business license. Licenses come from the state board for a regulated trade or from the city or county where the business operates, so check those separately. The business verification checklist lists which official records to pull and in what order.
Franchise tax lives with the Secretary of State
In most states, a franchise tax goes to the revenue department. Arkansas routes it through the Secretary of State, which is why the corporation search shows franchise tax status on the same record as the entity details. For LLCs the tax is a flat $150 a year, due May 1, so the cheap $45 online formation fee is only the opening cost.
Arkansas filing facts
| Record number | Filing number |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $45. Online Certificate of Organization ($50 on paper). |
| Recurring filing | Annual franchise tax report, $150, yearly |
| Due | May 1. LLCs pay a flat $150 franchise tax. |
| Name reservation | $22.50 for 120 days. Online price. |
| Agency phone | 501-682-3409 |
What an Arkansas LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $45 | $0 | $45 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $150 | $150 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $150 | $150 |
| Three-year state total | $345 | ||
Reading a revoked charter
When an Arkansas company stops paying franchise tax, the Secretary of State revokes its charter. That status looks alarming, but it is usually reversible: paying the tax, penalty and interest restores the entity. Treat a revoked record as a company in financial or administrative trouble rather than a dead one, and confirm with the state before you rely on it either way. Arkansas also registers fictitious names with the Secretary of State for corporations and LLCs, so a brand you see on a storefront can often be traced to its legal owner from the same search; see DBA for how that differs from states that file trade names with counties. If you want Arkansas data in bulk, the state sells it through a paid Information Network of Arkansas subscription, described in data downloads by state.
Budgeting for an Arkansas LLC
A single-member Arkansas LLC formed online costs $45 in year one. From the next year it owes the $150 franchise tax every May 1, so over three years the state receives $345, most of it in franchise tax rather than filing fees. Filing late adds a penalty and interest, and a revoked charter must be reinstated before the LLC can get a certificate of good standing. If you need a clean certificate for a bank loan, file the franchise tax report before you apply.
How Arkansas compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $45 | $150 | Yearly | $22.50 |
| Missouri | $50 | $0 | None | $25 |
| Tennessee | $300 | $300 | Yearly | $20 |
| Louisiana | $125 | $35 | Yearly | $25 |
Before you rely on an Arkansas result
- Franchise tax reports for LLCs are due May 1 each year; late filings add a penalty plus interest.
- A charter revoked for unpaid franchise tax can generally be reinstated by paying what is owed.
Bulk Arkansas business data
Sold by the state. Format: CSV/XML. Corporation Bulk Data Download needs a paid Information Network of Arkansas subscription; price shown after sign-up. Official source
Searching beyond Arkansas
Registries next to Arkansas: Missouri business search, Tennessee business search, Louisiana business search.
Arkansas business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Arkansas?
The state filing fee is $45. Online Certificate of Organization ($50 on paper). Keeping the LLC on file then averages $150 a year in state fees.
When is the Arkansas annual report due?
Arkansas calls it the annual franchise tax report. It costs $150, it is filed yearly, and it is due May 1. LLCs pay a flat $150 franchise tax.
Can I reserve a business name in Arkansas?
Yes. A name reservation costs $22.50 and holds the name for 120 days. Online price.
What happens if an Arkansas LLC does not pay franchise tax?
The Secretary of State revokes its charter. The LLC can usually be reinstated by paying the $150 tax plus penalty and interest.
Is the Arkansas business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Corporation Search costs nothing. The Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services. Its business line is 501-682-3409, and its free search is the Corporation Search.
What number identifies a business in Arkansas?
Arkansas assigns each entity a filing number. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all Arkansas businesses?
Only by buying it. Corporation Bulk Data Download needs a paid Information Network of Arkansas subscription; price shown after sign-up.
Sources
- Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services
- Arkansas corporation search
- Arkansas bulk data source
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