The cost to form an LLC for a Mesa business starts with the $50 Arizona filing fee. Add annual fees, a registered agent, and local Mesa business taxes below.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Arizona charges a $50 filing fee to form an LLC, with no annual report fee (a franchise/margin tax filing may apply). Arizona adopted a flat income tax rate of 2.5% starting in 2023, making it one of the lowest flat-rate income tax states in the nation.
| Cost Item | Amount | When Due |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Filing Fee | $50 | One-time at formation |
| State franchise / margin tax | Only above revenue threshold | Annually |
| Registered Agent Service | $49 to $300/year | Annually |
| Local Mesa Business License / Tax | Varies by industry | Annually |
| Operating Agreement | $0 to $500 | One-time (recommended) |
| EIN (Federal Tax ID) | Free | One-time (IRS.gov) |
Arizona cities do not levy a local business income tax. Mesa requires a Transaction Privilege (sales) Tax license for most businesses that sell goods or certain services; plan for that and any industry permit on top of the Arizona LLC filing fee.
Mesa is the third-largest city in Arizona and a major part of the Phoenix metro, with a diverse economy spanning aerospace and defense, healthcare, higher education, tourism, and a growing technology and manufacturing base in the southeast Valley.
| Local Metric | Mesa (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 510,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Maricopa County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 95 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $20.50/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $41.50/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $15.15/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $1,350/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,700/month |
| Median home price | $430,000 |
| Median household income | $72,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 8.3% |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.55% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
The LLC filing fee is set by Arizona at $50, since LLCs are formed at the state level. You also need a registered agent (about $49 to $300/year), and any local Mesa business license or tax. Arizona cities do not levy a local business income tax. Mesa requires a Transaction Privilege (sales) Tax license for most businesses that sell goods or certain services; plan for that and any industry permit on top of the Arizona LLC filing fee.
Arizona cities do not levy a local business income tax. Mesa requires a Transaction Privilege (sales) Tax license for most businesses that sell goods or certain services; plan for that and any industry permit on top of the Arizona LLC filing fee.
Plan for the state franchise/margin tax if applicable, registered agent renewal (about $49/year), and any local Mesa business license or tax. The calculator above totals these for you.
LLCs are registered with the Arizona Department of Revenue at the state level, not the city. You then comply with local Mesa requirements such as a business license, zoning, and any city business tax. There is no separate city-level LLC filing.
If your business actually operates in Mesa, forming in Arizona is usually simplest. Forming in Delaware or Wyoming while operating in Mesa typically forces you to register as a foreign LLC in Arizona anyway, paying fees in both states.