Registering a DBA in Arizona
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Benefits of a DBA in Arizona
- A Doing Business As (DBA) trade name allows businesses in Arizona to operate under a different name than their legal name. This is beneficial for sole proprietors and partnerships who want their business name to not include the owners’ names. Some reasons for getting a DBA include: allowing for a separate business bank account and giving your business name more flexibility.
- An LLC can register as many DBA names as needed to operate their business.
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Registration Process for a DBA in Arizona
- To register a trade name in Arizona, you file an online Trade Name Application with the Secretary of State and pay a $10 registration fee. Registration is good for 5 years. The filing process typically takes 2-3 weeks, or you can pay $25 extra for expedited 24-48 hour processing.
- The first step is to check the Secretary of State database to make sure the name you want is available. Arizona DBAs can’t contain legal entity designations like "LLC" or "Corp". It’s recommended you also check domain name availability before filing to get exclusive rights to that business name.
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Liability and Protection
- While a DBA gives you a separate business name, it does not provide liability protection like forming an LLC or corporation would. However, both sole proprietors and legal entities can file for a DBA. Your personal assets will not be shielded from liability with just a DBA.
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DBA Fees and Processing Time
- The filing fee for a DBA in Arizona is $10 for normal processing, which takes 2-3 weeks. Expedited 24-48 hour processing is available for an additional $25 fee. Trade name registration lasts 5 years and is renewable.