How To Register My Business In Arizona

How to Register a Business Proper noun in Arizona

Registering a business organisation name in Arizona is done when you class your business entity (LLC or corporation) with the country. You must beginning choose your business structure, then practise a business name search to ensure proper name availability. Afterward, you must form your entity with your business proper noun with the country. Some businesses may also adopt to simply register a DBA. Follow our step-by-step instructions and read our FAQs to go started.

How to Register a Business Name in Arizona

Cull a Concern Structure
Check Name Availablity
Course Your Business concern With the State of Arizona

Graphic showing how to register your business name in Arizona.

Last Updated: 2022-03-04

Step i: Choose a Business concern Structure

Recommended: We typically recommend forming an LLC for most entrepreneurs considering this structure comes with personal asset protection, has no double taxation, and is pretty easy to maintain.

If you would like to apply a service, read our guide on the all-time LLC formation services.

Sole Proprietorships and Full general Partnerships

By default, sole proprietorships operate as the aforementioned proper noun as the owner while general partnerships must include the surnames of all the partners.

To use a different name to conduct business, the business owner(due south) must file for an Arizona trade name — likewise ordinarily referred to as a doing business equally (DBA) name.

Step 2: Check Name Availability

When registering a business concern proper name, it's important to make sure it'due south unique and no ane else in your state formed a visitor with it or has command of it online as a domain name.

Domain Name Search

We strongly recommend that you as well check to see if your concern proper noun is available every bit a web domain (URL). Even if you don't programme to create a business website today, you may desire to purchase the web address to preclude others from acquiring that domain proper noun. If the web domain is available and then it's probable the name will also exist available in a business search.

Discover a Domain Now

Arizona Business Name Search

Next, search the Arizona Secretary of State's eCorp business organisation entity search tool. This is an important step in the process because your filing will be denied if you try to file for a name already in use.

Search requirements can vary depending on your business needs. For example, a unique and available proper name is required to:

File for formal business structures like LLCs and corporations.
File a DBA name for whatever business structure.

A land-level name search isn't required for informal business structures like sole proprietorships or general partnerships in Arizona. But, if you decide to register a trade name or DBA name, you'll need to search the database to see if your desired name is unique and available.

Step three: Form Your Business With the State of Arizona

Once you have selected your business structure and proper name, you will need to file your formation documents with the state, which volition register your business with the state of Arizona.

To register your Arizona LLC, you'll need to file the Articles of Organization with the Arizona Corporation Commission. You lot can use online, by mail, or in person. Read our Grade an LLC in Arizona guide for details.

Or employ a professional person service like ZenBusiness or LegalZoom to class your LLC for y'all.

To register your Arizona corporation, you'll demand to file the Manufactures of Incorporation with the Arizona Corporation Commission. Read our Form an Arizona Corporation guide to learn more.

Boosted Considerations

Protect Your Business Name With a Trademark (Optional)

One time y'all ostend the availability of your business proper noun and secure it, you can choose to utilise for a trademark for your business. This typically costs around $225 to $400 plus any chaser fees as well equally a renewal fee every 10 years.

While this price can be high for a kickoff-upwards or fledgling business, it volition give your company brand nationwide protection backed by federal law. That means if others attempt to do business with the aforementioned — or a like — proper noun as yours, you'll have legal precedent on your side. For nearly small businesses, this actually isn't necessary unless they are thinking of going national.

How to Change the Name of an Arizona Concern

Changing the name of a business in Arizona tin be washed in two ways: past filing for a trade name or by submitting an amendment to the legal proper noun of an existing business.

The first method, filing for a trade name (also known as a DBA name), is the easiest way to operate your business using a dissimilar name without needing to change its legal name.

A DBA name is the only way for sole proprietorships and general partnerships to accept a different business name. It's as well the easiest method for LLCs and corporations to follow because it allows them to avert filing an amendment or complicating their business operations while enabling them to operate with brand names that don't include the necessary LLC or Inc. suffix required in a legal name.

If you lot desire to change the legal name of your LLC or corporation, however, filing an amendment to the legal name of an existing business organization is your best option. Here are links to forms for both options:

Manufactures of Subpoena for LLCs
Articles of Amendment for corporations

Both must be mailed with the $25 filing fee.

How much does it price to fix an LLC in Arizona?

Starting an LLC in Arizona tin can exist done online, in person, or by mail through the Arizona Corporation Commision and costs $50.

Does Arizona require a business license?

The country of Arizona doesn't issue or require a state-specific business license. However, your city or county most likely requires licensing that volition vary based on your location.

If you lot plan to sell products or engage in specific services that require information technology, you'll also need a Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license before you brainstorm operating your business organisation.

How much does an Arizona business organisation license price?

Arizona business organization licensing costs and requirements vary based on your metropolis and county. We recommend reaching out to your local government about pocket-size business licensing requirements in your expanse.

Do I need a business license to sell online in Arizona?

If you programme to reform an online business that sells goods or services, you'll most likely need to obtain a Transaction Privilege Taxation (TPT) license. However, there are exemptions for some product sales. You lot also may need boosted licensing issued by your city or canton.

How long does it take to form an LLC in Arizona?

It typically takes betwixt 22-27 concern days to process LLC documents in Arizona. For additional steps towards establishing your business organisation, follow the steps in our total Arizona LLC guide, to form your LLC efficiently without the worry of missing crucial steps in the formation process.

How practice I create my own LLC?

To form your own LLC in Arizona you must file Articles of Organization with the Arizona Corporation Commission. This officially creates your Arizona LLC.

What is an Arizona Certificate of Adept Standing?

An Arizona Certificate of Good Standing is a verification that your LLC was legally formed and properly maintained. You tin asking this certificate online for $45 through the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Arizona Business concern Resources