Determine Your Business Structure
Determining the type of business you open is one of the first decisions you will make. Explore different options such as: home-based businesses, online businesses, or franchise businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration provides in-depth resources to conduct business-type research at www.sba.gov.
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Register Your Business Name
​Registering a business name in Arizona is a simple process. The type of business structure you choose will determine where and how you must register your company name. The three places to register your business name, depending on how your company is organized, are:
The Secretary of State's Office issues certificates of business or trade name for a small fee. The Secretary of State's Office is located at: 14 N. 18th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85007 Ph: (602) 542-6187
The Secretary of State's Office
Maricopa County Recorder's Office
The Maricopa County Recorder's Office issues a certificate of fictitious name, primarily for "Doing Business As" (DBA) titles. This requires filling out a simple form that can be obtained from a stationery or legal forms store. However, this certificate does not protect the business name under the copyrights law. An attorney can advise you regarding business name and trademark protection. The Maricopa County Recorder's Office is located at: 111 S. Third Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85003 Ph: (602) 506-3535
Arizona Corporation Commission
The Arizona Corporation Commission is where you need to go if plan to establish a corporation or limited Liability company. The Arizona Corporation Commission is located at: 1300 W. Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 85007 Ph: (602) 542-3135 www.azcc.gov
The Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks provides information about obtaining a federal trademark for your company name if you plan on conducting business outside the state; information may be obtained by writing the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks,
by calling (800)786-9199 during normal business hours, wwwuspto.gov