Arizona vs Texas: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Arizona and Texas — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Arizona vs Texas
| Metric | Arizona | Texas | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $50 | $300 | Arizona |
| Annual Report | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Publication Cost | $100 | $0 | Texas |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $150 | $300 | Arizona |
Filing Fee
Arizona is cheaper here
Annual Report
It's a tie
Publication Cost
Texas is cheaper here
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
Arizona 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).
Texas: Texas has no annual report fee, but foreign qualification costs $750. The $300 formation fee is offset by zero ongoing costs for most small LLCs.
Arizona: No annual report fee — one of the lowest ongoing costs in the US.
Texas: No state income tax, no annual report fee, massive economy — one of the best states for small businesses.
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Small Claims Court: Arizona vs Texas
| Metric | Arizona | Texas | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $5,000 | $20,000 | Texas |
| Min Filing Fee | $30 | $54 | Arizona |
| Contract SOL | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | Arizona |
Max Claim Limit
Texas is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
Arizona is cheaper here
Contract SOL
Arizona is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Arizona vs Texas
| Metric | Arizona | Texas | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $349 | $300 | Texas |
| Sheriff Service | $25 | $75 | Arizona |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $20 | Arizona |
Filing Fee
Texas is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
Arizona is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
Arizona is cheaper here
Notary Fees: Arizona vs Texas
| Metric | Arizona | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $10 | $10 |
| Jurat | $10 | $10 |
| RON Fee | $10 | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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