Form Your Arkansas C Corporation
Build an investor-ready company in the Natural State with one of the lowest incorporation fees in the country, stock you can issue, and a structure venture capital requires
Filed in Arkansas
The Natural State · AR
- State filing fee$45
- Processing timeSame day to 2 business days online; 5-10 business days by mail
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual reportFranchise tax 0.3% of capital stock, min $150/yr — due Annual report due May 1st
- State tax rate4.3% corporate income tax
Form your Arkansas C-Corp — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Arkansas C-Corp
Free formation means you pay only the $45 state filing fee. All core services are included at no extra charge.
Articles of Incorporation filing
We prepare and submit your Articles of Incorporation to the Arkansas Secretary of State.
Registered agent
Required in Arkansas — we act as your agent for the first year.
EIN from the IRS
Your federal Tax ID — required to open a US business bank account and file taxes.
Corporate bylaws
Professionally drafted corporate bylaws — defines ownership, voting, and profit splits.
Benefits of forming an C-Corp in Arkansas
Arkansas pairs one of the lowest incorporation fees in the country ($45) with a low cost of living and a central US location, giving C Corporations an affordable launchpad for stock-funded growth. With major headquarters like Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt anchoring the state, founders gain a stable, business-friendly base to build a board, issue equity, and court institutional investors.
File Articles of Incorporation with one of the lowest state fees in the country at just $45
The structure venture capitalists and institutional investors require — issue stock and maintain a clean cap table
Raise capital through priced equity rounds, SAFEs, and convertible notes
Perpetual existence — the corporation survives changes in ownership and the departure of any founder
Issue multiple classes of stock to founders, employees, and investors with equity-based incentives
Section 1202 Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) benefits may apply to early shareholders
Low cost of living and central US location keep operating expenses down
Fast online filing — same day to 2 business days through the Arkansas Secretary of State
Key features of a Arkansas C-Corp
- Among the lowest incorporation fees in the nation at $45
- Quick processing — online filings clear in same day to 2 business days
- Stock issuance and a formal board structure built for outside investment
- Perpetual existence independent of any individual shareholder
- Franchise tax assessed on capital stock at 0.3%, with a $150 annual floor
Major industries in Arkansas
Form your Arkansas C-Corp in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes Same day to 2 business days online; 5-10 business days by mail.
- 01
Choose Your Corporation Name
Your name must include a corporate designator such as 'Corporation,' 'Incorporated,' 'Company,' or an abbreviation like 'Corp.' or 'Inc.' Verify availability through the Arkansas Secretary of State's business name database.
- 02
Appoint a Registered Agent
Arkansas requires every corporation to designate a registered agent with a physical street address in the state to receive legal and official documents on the corporation's behalf.
- 03
File Articles of Incorporation
Submit your Articles of Incorporation to the Arkansas Secretary of State, listing your authorized shares and incorporator. The filing fee is $45, one of the lowest in the country, and online filing is available.
- 04
Adopt Bylaws and Appoint Directors
Hold an organizational meeting to adopt corporate bylaws, appoint your board of directors, issue stock to founders, and record initial minutes — the governance backbone investors expect.
- 05
Obtain an EIN and Hold 83(b) in Mind
Apply for a free EIN from the IRS to open a bank account and hire. Founders receiving restricted stock should file an 83(b) election with the IRS within 30 days of issuance.
- 06
File the Annual Franchise Tax Report
Arkansas corporations file an annual franchise tax report by May 1st. The tax is 0.3% of the value of outstanding capital stock, with a $150 annual minimum.
Arkansas C-Corp costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Arkansas C-Corp requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Arkansas C-Corp in 2026.
- File Articles of Incorporation with the Arkansas Secretary of State ($45 fee)
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Arkansas address
- Adopt corporate bylaws and appoint a board of directors (minimum one)
- Issue stock to shareholders and maintain a cap table and stock ledger
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS
- File an annual franchise tax report by May 1st (0.3% of capital stock, $150 minimum)
- Obtain necessary state and local business licenses and permits
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation
- Filing agency
- Arkansas Secretary of State
- Registered agent
- Required
- Corporate bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $25 (120 days)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $45 Arkansas state filing fee and nothing more for the Starter plan. Optional plans add registered agent, EIN, corporate bylaws, and compliance.
Starter
- Articles of Incorporation filing
- Name availability check
- Digital document delivery
- Formation status tracking
Booster
- Everything in Starter
- Registered agent (required in Arkansas)
- EIN / Federal Tax ID
- Expedited processing (1–2 days)
- Corporate bylaws
- Priority support
- Kicker Voice — 3-day free trial
- Kicker Pay — free for 15 days
Founder
- Everything in Booster
- Business mailing address
- Bookkeeping — 3 months free
- Dedicated account manager
- Rush processing
- Kicker Voice — 6-day free trial
- Kicker Pay — free for 30 days
Kicker
- Everything in Founder
- ITIN filing & preparation
- Same-day priority processing
- 2nd year annual filing $0
- Kicker Voice 12-day + Kicker Pay 60 days free
Compare all plans on our pricing page.
Arkansas C-Corp questions, answered
Common questions about forming an C-Corp in Arkansas. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How much does it cost to incorporate a C Corporation in Arkansas?
Arkansas charges just $45 to file your Articles of Incorporation, one of the lowest state fees in the country. You will also owe an annual franchise tax of 0.3% of capital stock (minimum $150 per year) and should budget for a registered agent if you use a service.
How long does it take to form an Arkansas C Corporation?
Online filings with the Arkansas Secretary of State are typically processed in same day to 2 business days, while mail filings take roughly 5-10 business days. Online filing is already the fastest route — Arkansas does not offer a separate paid expedite tier.
What is the franchise tax for an Arkansas corporation?
Arkansas corporations pay an annual franchise tax of 0.3% of the value of their outstanding capital stock, with a minimum of $150 per year. The franchise tax report and payment are due by May 1st each year, filed with the Arkansas Secretary of State.
How is a C Corporation taxed?
A C Corporation pays the flat 21% federal corporate income tax on its profits, plus Arkansas's 4.3% state corporate income tax. Profits distributed as dividends are taxed again on shareholders' personal returns — the 'double taxation' that defines the C Corp, and the trade-off for its investor-ready structure.
Why choose a C Corporation over an LLC in Arkansas?
A C Corporation is the structure venture capitalists and institutional investors require. It lets you issue stock and maintain a cap table, raise priced rounds and SAFEs, grant equity to employees, and operate under a board of directors and bylaws with perpetual existence — features an LLC cannot cleanly provide.
What is an 83(b) election and when do I file it?
An 83(b) election lets founders and employees with restricted stock pay tax on its value at issuance rather than as it vests, which can sharply reduce future tax. You must file it directly with the IRS within 30 days of receiving the restricted stock — the deadline is strict and cannot be extended.
Can my Arkansas C Corporation qualify for QSBS benefits?
Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) benefits under Section 1202 may apply to shareholders of an eligible C Corporation, potentially excluding gain on a future sale. QSBS rules changed in 2025, so eligibility and the specific benefits depend on current law — consult a tax advisor about how Section 1202 applies to your situation.
Does my Arkansas corporation need to file a BOI report with FinCEN?
Under FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule, US domestic corporations and US persons are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting. Only entities formed outside the US that register to do business in a US state are still required to file.
Arkansas government filing resources
Filing fees for common C-Corp services
Official Arkansas state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
$25.00 fee reserves the name for 120 days for all entity types.
Two ways to obtain: (1) order a Certificate of Existence through the Records Request Form for $15.00 (records-request fee schedule states 'Certificates are $25.00 each…
Learn morePlain copies are $0.50 per page.
$10.00 per document for an Apostille (documents used in Hague Convention countries).
Official DFA page states a $50.00 sales-tax permit fee paid electronically upon submission, for in-state / physical-presence businesses.
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Arkansas C-Corp
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Arkansas C-Corp?
Formation is free — you pay only the $45 Arkansas state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in Same day to 2 business days online; 5-10 business days by mail.
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