Arkansas offers a business environment that can support accessibility and growth with its low incorporating costs, predictable tax structure, and simple compliance requirements. The state has a graduated corporate tax rate, and its top marginal tax rate of 4.3% is one of the lowest in the US. The state also offers incentive programs for businesses that create jobs or invest in new assets. Incorporation in Arkansas can suit a one-person startup as easily as a growing manufacturer or a fintech that’s expanding into the region.

Below, we’ll explain how to incorporate in Arkansas, including filing articles of incorporation and meeting ongoing state requirements.

What’s in this article?

• What does it mean to incorporate a business in Arkansas?
  
• What are the advantages of forming a corporation in Arkansas?
  
• What are the legal requirements to incorporate in Arkansas?
  
• How much does it cost to incorporate in Arkansas?
  
• What are the steps to incorporate your business in Arkansas?
  
• How Stripe Atlas can help
  

What does it mean to incorporate a business in Arkansas?

Incorporating means transforming your business into a distinct legal entity that’s separate from you. You must submit articles of incorporation to the secretary of state online via Arkansas’s online filing platform or by mail. Once the filing is approved, your corporation legally exists and will do so until you formally dissolve it.

Here’s what changes when you incorporate your business:

• Legal separation: The corporation becomes its own legal entity. It can own property, sign contracts, and take on debt in its name.

• Limited liability: Incorporation provides you limited liability, which protects your personal assets from most business-related liabilities. As long as you stay compliant, the corporation’s debts and legal problems won’t affect your personal home or savings.

• Formal obligations: Arkansas corporations are required to maintain corporate records, file annual franchise tax reports, and follow standard governance practices such as bylaw adoption and director appointment.

The filing process for an Arkansas limited liability company (LLC) is similar to incorporation, but it requires different forms.

What are the advantages of forming a corporation in Arkansas?

If you choose to form a corporation in Arkansas, your business gets a defined legal identity and access to a range of structural and financial tools you can’t get as a sole proprietor or partnership.

Here are the benefits of incorporation in Arkansas:

• A stable structure: Corporations don’t dissolve when a founder leaves, and they don’t depend on a single owner’s presence. The continuity can make the business more credible to customers, banks, and potential partners. This structure also makes it easier to transfer ownership.

• Easier access to funding: Corporations can issue stock to founders or outside investors, which makes it easier to bring in outside funding. Equity distribution creates options for growth, employee ownership, or early-stage funding.

• Flexible tax options: Businesses that incorporate in Arkansas start as C corporations (C corps) by default, which means the business pays taxes on its profits and shareholders pay tax on dividends. But your business can elect S corporation (S corp) status with the IRS if it is eligible. S corps pass on income to the owners’ personal returns to avoid double taxation.

• State-level incentives that reward growth: Arkansas offers income tax credits, sales tax reductions, and job creation incentives for qualifying corporations, especially businesses that might invest in equipment, facilities, or payroll. Arkansas incentive programs such as Advantage Arkansas and ArkPlus can reduce your tax burden if your business qualifies.

• Fewer complications if you stay local: If you plan to operate primarily in Arkansas, incorporating in the state keeps compliance straightforward. You avoid the extra filings and fees that come with registering as a foreign corporation.

What are the legal requirements to incorporate in Arkansas?

Arkansas outlines specific requirements for business formation and compliance. These are the conditions your business must meet:

• A lawful purpose: Every corporation in Arkansas must be formed for a lawful business purpose. The state allows broad purpose statements (e.g., “to engage in any lawful business activity for which corporations might be organized in Arkansas”). That flexibility keeps your options open as your business develops.

• An incorporator who’s at least 21: Arkansas law requires at least 1 incorporator (the person who signs and submits the articles of incorporation) to be 21 or older. If a founder is younger than 21, an adult can execute the filing on their behalf. Incorporators don’t have to be shareholders or officers later; they simply handle the legal formation.

• A registered agent with an Arkansas address: Every Arkansas corporation must maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. This agent receives legal notices, service of process, and official mail from the secretary of state.

• Bylaws and board organization: Arkansas requires every corporation to adopt bylaws, the internal rules that govern how your board, officers, and shareholders operate. The board of directors must formally adopt the bylaws at its first meeting. The initial board must include at least three directors—unless there are fewer than three shareholders.

How much does it cost to incorporate in Arkansas?

You don’t need substantial savings to start a corporation in Arkansas. The state keeps its filing fees low and its ongoing costs predictable. This makes it one of the more affordable states for incorporation.

These are the costs associated with incorporation:

You might spend about $100–$300 per year for a registered agent service if you don’t want to list a personal address. Legal or incorporation services can add a few hundred dollars more, but these are conveniences, not state requirements.

In total, an Arkansas corporation can launch for $50 in required fees, then budget $150 annually to stay compliant.

What are the steps to incorporate your business in Arkansas?

The incorporation process is a clear, state-defined sequence. Following these steps in the right order keeps you compliant and saves you from unnecessary amendments or fees later:

Choose a compliant name

Your corporation’s name must be unique in Arkansas and include a designator such as “Corporation,” “Incorporated,” “Company,” “Limited,” or an abbreviation of those terms (e.g., “Corp.,” “Inc.,” “Co.,” “Ltd.”). Check availability through the Arkansas secretary of state’s name search tool. If the name is available but you’re not ready to file, you can reserve it.

Decide how you’ll be taxed

All US corporations begin as C corps. If you prefer pass-through taxation, you can later elect S corp status if eligible by filing IRS Form 2553. This decision affects how profits are taxed and not how you form the entity, so you can incorporate first, then file the election within the IRS window.

Appoint a registered agent

You can serve as your own agent if you have an Arkansas address. But you can hire a registered agent service instead to keep your personal address off the public record.

File your articles of incorporation

Your articles of incorporation must include:

• Your corporation’s name and registered office

• Registered agent’s name and address

• Incorporator’s name and address

• Number and par value of authorized shares (at least one share)

• Purpose statement (general or specific)

It’s optional to include the names of initial directors and your intended duration (most choose “perpetual”).

Once your articles are filed and approved, the Arkansas business formation process is complete. The secretary of state will issue confirmation of your incorporation and mark your business’s official start date as a legal Arkansas corporation.

Create bylaws and hold your organizational meeting

Arkansas law requires corporations to create bylaws, which define how decisions are made, directors are elected, and stock is issued. You’ll also need to hold an organizational meeting to adopt bylaws, appoint officers, or elect a board of directors if they weren’t named in the articles of incorporation.

Register for state taxes and licenses

Depending on your business type, you might need to register with the Department of Finance and Administration for sales tax, employer withholding, or unemployment insurance. Some industries also require local permits or licenses.

File your annual franchise tax report

Every Arkansas corporation must file an annual franchise tax report by May 1. You can file the report online, which makes the process quicker and ensures your business stays in good standing.

How Stripe Atlas can help

Stripe Atlas sets up your company's legal foundations so you can fundraise, open a bank account and accept payments within two business days from anywhere in the world.

Join 75K+ companies incorporated using Atlas, including startups backed by top investors like Y Combinator, a16z and General Catalyst.

Applying to Atlas

Applying to form a company with Atlas takes less than 10 minutes. You'll choose your company structure, instantly confirm whether your company name is available and add up to four co-founders. You'll also decide how to split equity, reserve a pool of equity for future investors and employees, appoint officers and then e-sign all your documents. Any co-founders will receive emails inviting them to e-sign their documents, too.

Accepting payments and banking before your EIN arrives

After forming your company, Atlas files for your Employer Identification Number (EIN). Founders with a US Social Security number, address and mobile phone number are eligible for IRS expedited processing, whilst others will receive standard processing, which can take a little longer. Additionally, Atlas enables pre-EIN payments and banking, so you can start accepting payments and making transactions before your EIN arrives.

Cashless founder stock purchase

Founders can purchase initial shares using their intellectual property (e.g. copyrights or patents) instead of cash, with proof of purchase stored in your Atlas Dashboard. Your IP must be valued at $100 or less to use this feature; if you own IP above that value, consult a lawyer before proceeding.

Automatic 83(b) tax election filing

Founders can file an 83(b) tax election to reduce personal Income taxes. Atlas will file it for you – whether you are a US or non-US founder – with USPS Certified Mail and tracking. You'll receive a signed 83(b) election and proof of filing directly in your Stripe Dashboard.

World-class company legal documents

Atlas provides all the legal documents you need to start running your company. Atlas C corp documents are built in collaboration with Cooley, one of the world's leading venture capital law firms. These documents are designed to help you fundraise immediately and ensure your company is legally protected, covering aspects like ownership structure, equity distribution and tax compliance.

A free year of Stripe Payments, plus $50K in partner credits and discounts

Atlas collaborates with top-tier partners to give founders exclusive discounts and credits. These include discounts on essential tools for engineering, tax, finance, compliance and operations from industry leaders like AWS, Carta and Perplexity. We also provide you with your required Delaware registered agent for free in your first year. Plus, as an Atlas user, you'll access additional Stripe benefits, including up to a year of free payment processing for up to $100K in payment volume.

Learn more about how Atlas can help you set up your new business quickly and easily or get started today.