If you’ve chosen to organize your business as a limited liability company in Arizona, there are a number of steps you must take to launch your new enterprise. The Articles of Incorporation is one of the first – and most important – legal documents you must prepare and file with the Arizona Corporation Commission for approval.
All states require new corporations to file Articles of Incorporation with the appropriate state authority. Although the requirements vary from state to state, Articles of Incorporation for a limited liability company generally serve the same purpose in all jurisdictions:
- Create the corporation
- Set forth the corporation’s basic purpose
- Establish a corporate unique name (and prevent confusion with other company’ names)
- Identify key members and a Statutory Agent
- Provide who will manage the limited liability company
Like most states, Arizona gives prospective business owners access to a downloadable Articles of Incorporation form for LLCs found on the Arizona Corporation Commission website. However, new business owners should be mindful, that the choices outlined above are very important decisions that involve much more than filling out an online form or two. Significant tax implications and long-term business planning issues are just two of the decisions that require the help of an experienced business attorney. In fact, the Arizona Corporation Commission’s website advises potential business owners to consult with an attorney before completing any of the forms available on its website.
Articles of Incorporation: Required Information
The Arizona Articles of Incorporation for a limited liability company form is a three-to-five page document that requires business owners to submit rudimentary information about their corporate entity. This form requires the following information about your business:
Name of the LLC
Giving your corporation a name may seem like a straightforward exercise, but it’s very important to secure the exact name for your new business. Your business name must be unique – otherwise, the state will reject your Articles of Incorporation. You can check the availability of your desired business name on the Arizona Corporation Commission’s name search database.
Character of the Business
Include a very brief, general statement describing your company’s purpose.
Management
Will this limited liability company be managed by its owners (the members) or is a manager being hired for that purpose. Often start-ups are member-managed companies.
Arizona Known Place of Business
This is the corporation’s principal place of business – in other words, where the business conducts its daily operations, sales, and/or functions. Also, the form requires you to list whether the known place of business is the same as the address of the Statutory Agent.
Key Member’s Names and Addresses
As the heading suggests, listing the name and business address of every member who owns a certain minimum percentage threshold is required. For a limited liability company, you will provide the contact information for the members.
Statutory Agent
A Statutory Agent is an individual, attorney, or third-party authorized to accept official communications on a corporation’s behalf. In most cases, communications are limited to mail; specifically, Statutory Agents receive lawsuits, subpoenas, and other court documents on behalf of the corporations they serve.
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