Start a Business in Arizona

Every step to start a business in Arizona, in order, with the agency, form and fee for each one.

Checked against official sources on October 30, 2026

General information, not legal or tax advice. Requirements vary and change, so confirm current instructions with the official source before you act, and ask a CPA or attorney about your situation.

What's different in Arizona

Arizona LLCs file no annual report. Corporations do, every year, and a for-profit corporation that files late starts paying a penalty every month. Source
A new LLC or corporation may have to publish its approval in a local newspaper within 60 days. It depends on the county: your statutory agent's address for an LLC, your known place of business for a corporation. The Corporation Commission's approval letter tells you whether you must. Source
Arizona's sales tax is the transaction privilege tax (TPT), a tax on the seller for doing business here. It covers some services as well as goods, and the license renews every year by January 1. Source
The state issues no general business license. Business and occupational licenses come from your city or town, or the county outside city limits. Source
Every Arizona employer must run each new hire through E-Verify, the federal work eligibility check, and keep the record for as long as the employee works for you or three years, whichever is longer. Source
Every LLC and corporation must keep a statutory agent in Arizona at all times. One that lapses can be administratively dissolved. Source

The steps

Define your business
Turn the idea into one sentence, a place to operate and a name worth checking.
Pick an entity
Sole proprietorship, LLC or corporation, and what an S-corp election changes.
Register your business
LLCs and corporations file with the state. Sole proprietors may only need to register a business name.
Get your tax IDs
Your free EIN from the IRS, plus the state registrations that apply to you.
Licenses and permits
What your state requires, and how to find the city and county ones.
Bank account and bookkeeping
Keep business money separate from day one.
Get online
A domain, a website, an email address and a phone number people can find.
Fund it
Your own money, friends and family, SBA-backed loans and state programs.
Find your first customers
What should exist before you send anyone your link.
Stay compliant
The yearly filings, taxes and renewals, with their due dates.

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