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Created May 2026 · Reviewed and verified October 2026 Side-by-Side

Arizona vs Colorado: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)

Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Arizona and Colorado — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.

Arizona
Cheaper LLC
Colorado
Cheaper Divorce
Colorado
Higher SC Limit

LLC Formation Costs: Arizona vs Colorado

Arizona
Colorado

Filing Fee

$50
$50

It's a tie

Annual Report

$0 WIN
$10

Arizona is cheaper here

Publication Cost

$100
$0 WIN

Colorado is cheaper here

Franchise Tax

$0
$0

It's a tie

Est. Year-1 Total

$150
$50 WIN

Colorado is cheaper here

Arizona: Arizona requires three consecutive newspaper publications within 60 days of approval if your statutory agent is outside Maricopa or Pima county (A.R.S. § 29-3201).

Colorado: Colorado processes instantly online — but online filing is required.

Arizona: No annual report fee — one of the lowest ongoing costs in the US.

Colorado: Only $10/year annual report — one of the lowest ongoing costs in the US.

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Small Claims Court: Arizona vs Colorado

Arizona
Colorado

Max Claim Limit

$5,000
$7,500 WIN

Colorado is cheaper here

Min Filing Fee

$30 WIN
$31

Arizona is cheaper here

Contract SOL

6 yrs WIN
3 yrs

Arizona is cheaper here

Divorce Filing Costs: Arizona vs Colorado

Arizona
Colorado

Filing Fee

$349
$260 WIN

Colorado is cheaper here

Sheriff Service

$25 WIN
$50

Arizona is cheaper here

Children Surcharge

$0
$0

It's a tie

Notary Fees: Arizona vs Colorado

Arizona
Colorado

Acknowledgment

$10
$15

Jurat

$10
$15

RON Fee

$10
$25

Which of These Fits Your Situation?

Self-serve templates and guides, instant download, no attorney needed.

Small Claims Demand Letter Template
Small Claims

HTML, Word (.docx), instant download

LLC Operating Agreement Template
LLC Formation

HTML, Word (.docx), instant download

Uncontested Divorce Checklist & Forms Guide
Divorce

HTML, Word (.docx), instant download

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All Legal Costs in Arizona
Full breakdown: LLC, divorce, small claims & notary
All Legal Costs in Colorado
Full breakdown: LLC, divorce, small claims & notary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arizona or Colorado cheaper to form an LLC?
Arizona is cheaper to form an LLC — $50 vs $50. However, consider the full first-year cost including annual report fees and publication requirements: Arizona year-1 total is $150 vs Colorado at $50.
What is the LLC filing fee in Arizona vs Colorado?
The LLC filing fee is $50 in Arizona vs $50 in Colorado. In addition to the one-time filing fee, Arizona has no annual report fee and Colorado charges a $10 annual report fee.
Which state is better for a small business — Arizona or Colorado?
For most small businesses operating in one state, form your LLC in the state where you actually do business. If you operate in Arizona, form there — registering in Colorado and then foreign-qualifying in Arizona means paying fees to both states. The "form in a cheaper state" strategy mainly benefits online businesses with no physical location.
How do divorce filing fees compare between Arizona and Colorado?
Colorado has lower divorce filing fees — $260 vs $349. Both states also charge for service of process ($25 in Arizona, $50 in Colorado). You can only file divorce in a state where you or your spouse meets the residency requirement.
What is the small claims limit in Arizona vs Colorado?
The small claims limit is $5,000 in Arizona vs $7,500 in Colorado. Colorado allows you to sue for more money without going to regular civil court. Filing fees are $30 in Arizona and $31 in Colorado.

Our mission is to educate. We give everyone the most accurate, complete legal cost information available online, free.

Keeping it accurate takes real work. Fees change across all 50 states and 530+ counties, so we check every official source monthly and review every state each quarter.

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