A business entity is a formal business structure such as a limited partnership, limited liability company (LLC) or corporation. Business entities are created by registering in the state. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are not considered business entities.
Starting a Business in Arizona
To start a business entity in Arizona, you need to register the business with the Arizona Corporation Commission. You can do it yourself, or use a lawyer or a third-party business registration service. If you have identified a working name for your business but are not ready to submit your business registration documents, you can submit a 120-day name reservation request through the Arizona Corporation Commission website. The application fee is $45.
After you register your business with the Arizona Corporation Commission, you will need to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for tax purposes.
Forming an LLC in Arizona
Like other business entities, to form an LLC in Arizona, you must first confirm that the name is available by conducting a business entity search. You will then register the business with the Arizona Corporation Commission. When registering an LLC, it must include the words “Limited Liability Company” or “Limited Company” or the abbreviation “LLC”, “LC”, “LC” or “LLC”
An Arizona LLC can do business under a trade name or a DBA (doing business) name, which you can register for an additional $10.
You will also need to appoint a legal representative — also known as a registered representative — who is designated to receive state and federal legal documents on behalf of the LLC. The legal representative must be an Arizona resident with a physical address in the state, or a corporation or LLC authorized to do business in Arizona. If the legal representative is not in Arizona, they must have a place of business in Arizona.
Finally, the LLC must file its Articles of Association and Legal Agent Acceptance Form with the Arizona Corporation Commission. The Articles of Association can be submitted online or completed and mailed. The application fee is $50.