Understanding DBA Requirements
Arizona does not require registering a DBA. Requirements to register a DBA in Arizona may change from county to county. Usually, the registration requires:
- Name and business address
- The proposed DBA name
- The general business purpose
- The date of first use of the DBA in Arizona
- For corporations and LLCs, proof of their incorporation is necessary for filing a DBA in Arizona
- Signatures of the applicant or members/officers of the entity
- The DBA application must be notarized, the appropriate fee must be paid
Registration lets the company use the trade name to open bank accounts, enter contracts, and otherwise use the trade name as an official business name. Corporations and Limited Liability Companies won’t typically register a fictitious name. Some will file for a DBA if they have another business or brand name they want to operate under their corporate/LLC umbrella.
Benefits of Registering a Trade Name
A trade name is an Arizona DBA. Registering an Arizona DBA allows a sole proprietor to use a business name that better fits their products or services. While registering a DBA in Arizona doesn’t prevent other businesses from using the name, it does keep other businesses from registering the same name.
DBA names in Arizona must follow state-wide naming guidelines, including being unique. Before you commit to a name, it is important to check that it is available for use. By registering the name, you are securing it for yourself and making it harder for someone else to use it. The ability to open a business bank account is a benefit. You are unable to use your personal bank account to issue or receive checks under your business name.
Registering Your DBA
Registering an Arizona DBA, known as a trade name, is a simple process that you complete with the Secretary of State. You can hire a professional service such as LegalZoom to file your DBA for you. Their packages start at $99 (plus state fees).
The filing price for routine processing is $10, and the processing time is normally 2-3 weeks. For an extra $25, expedited processing is available for orders that need to be processed within 24-48 hours.
Filing a DBA (doing business as) name is the easiest way to register your business name in Arizona. Registering an Arizona DBA (Trade Name) can be very useful, however, it’s important to note that a DBA doesn’t provide the legal benefits and protections that operating under a formal business structure like an LLC or Corporation does.
In Arizona, you technically don’t need to file your fictitious business statement with the Secretary of State. However, it’s considered an acceptable business practice and will reserve your trade name, keeping others from registering it.
Step 2: Create an Arizona DBA. Your Arizona trade name can be registered with the Secretary of State online. You will need to provide the following information:
- Name and classification of the entity registering the trade name
- The nature of the company
Registration for Out-of-State Businesses
Do I need to register my out of state business in Arizona? Your business must register with the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) before engaging in any taxable commercial activity in the state of Arizona for the purposes of transaction privilege tax (TPT) and withholding. When you purchase an established firm, you must register the business with the appropriate authorities.
Businesses located outside of Arizona that engage in sales or other business activities within the state are still required to register for a Sales Tax Permit.
Non-profit organizations may be exempt from Sales Tax in Arizona under certain circumstances. Find out how to qualify your LLC to conduct business in Arizona. If you own a company that was founded in a state other than Arizona, you must qualify or register it in Arizona in order to conduct business there.
When to register to collect sales tax in Arizona. Every state has rules about when a company is required to pay sales tax. These are called sales tax nexus rules.
Depending on your business’s nature, you may need to secure state and local licenses and permits to operate legally in Arizona. The business license fee in Arizona costs $50 – $300 which can be paid in the Arizona Secretary of State.
Is AZ business friendly? The Arizona Commerce Authority’s Business Licensing page can help you determine if your Arizona business needs an occupational license or permit, and which agency to contact about applying for the license.
Starting an LLC has never been easier. We’ll go through the process of getting your new LLC off the ground in the state of Arizona. Below are some of the steps you’ll need to take in order to start a business based on your needs.