Natalie Cusson is a small business owner with over 15 years experience in the creative arts. She's worked on ad campaigns for many trusted brands such as Nike, Subaru, Polaris, Red Bull and Progressive Insurance, just to name a few. Beyond her profes.
Natalie Cusson Small Business WriterNatalie Cusson is a small business owner with over 15 years experience in the creative arts. She's worked on ad campaigns for many trusted brands such as Nike, Subaru, Polaris, Red Bull and Progressive Insurance, just to name a few. Beyond her profes.
Written By Natalie Cusson Small Business WriterNatalie Cusson is a small business owner with over 15 years experience in the creative arts. She's worked on ad campaigns for many trusted brands such as Nike, Subaru, Polaris, Red Bull and Progressive Insurance, just to name a few. Beyond her profes.
Natalie Cusson Small Business WriterNatalie Cusson is a small business owner with over 15 years experience in the creative arts. She's worked on ad campaigns for many trusted brands such as Nike, Subaru, Polaris, Red Bull and Progressive Insurance, just to name a few. Beyond her profes.
Small Business Writer Brette Sember, J.D. contributorBrette Sember is a retired attorney who has been writing and editing law and legal topics for more than 25 years. She is the author of more than 40 books, is a nationally recognized expert on divorce and family law and has a depth of experience that.
Brette Sember, J.D. contributorBrette Sember is a retired attorney who has been writing and editing law and legal topics for more than 25 years. She is the author of more than 40 books, is a nationally recognized expert on divorce and family law and has a depth of experience that.
Brette Sember, J.D. contributorBrette Sember is a retired attorney who has been writing and editing law and legal topics for more than 25 years. She is the author of more than 40 books, is a nationally recognized expert on divorce and family law and has a depth of experience that.
Brette Sember, J.D. contributorBrette Sember is a retired attorney who has been writing and editing law and legal topics for more than 25 years. She is the author of more than 40 books, is a nationally recognized expert on divorce and family law and has a depth of experience that.
Updated: Jun 18, 2024, 7:12am
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Arizona is well known for being one of the best states to do business. You may be ready for takeoff, but starting a business involves many crucial steps, such as obtaining an Arizona business license. In this article, we’ll break down the three basic types of business licenses in the State of Arizona. This guide will help you determine what category your business falls into and what licenses and permits may be required so you can run your business legally.
There is no general business license in the state of Arizona or one type of license that applies for all businesses. However, most towns or cities in which a business operates does require licensing. Although not everyone will need a business license – the type of business you operate, the nature of your business, and your location will determine the licensing requirements to operate.
Arizona business license search is a great tool to help determine if you need a license as well as how to register your business.
In general, there are primarily three basic types of business licenses in Arizona: Transaction Privilege (Sales) Tax (TPT), Business and Regulatory (professional/special). If your business falls into one or more of these categories then you must apply for the required licenses.
To better serve you when starting a new business, the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) is available to help business owners maintain tax and licensing compliance. If you need help determining licensing, you may contact License Compliance at LicenseCompliance@azdor.gov.
To offload the business license preparation process, we have listed six important steps to determine what licenses, permits and tax registrations your business may require in the State of Arizona.
Here’s how to get a business license in Arizona in six steps:
If you plan on operating a business in the state of Arizona, you will likely need some form of license to operate, but license and registration requirements are not all the same. The Arizona Commerce Authority Small Business Checklist can help you determine which, if any, licenses you need. You may need a license if:
Click on the state below to get started.
Every application is a little different but you can expect to provide the following information
when applying for licenses and permits:
If you plan on selling a product or engaging in a service subject to TPT (transaction privilege tax), you will need to obtain a TPT license. This is generally known as a seller’s permit in some states. To obtain a TPT license, you will need to visit the Department of Revenue. You must obtain a TPT license for each location at which business is conducted. Some taxable business activities include:
Each city/town in Arizona has its own rules regarding business requirements and they may require specific permits and licenses for your business. It is necessary to check with the city/town your business is located in to see if there are any zoning restrictions such as where you can locate your business and what improvements you can make to an existing property.
Some local common licenses and permits include:
Check with state agencies directly or review the Arizona Business One Stop page to determine if you need state licenses for your business. You should also check with your county office to comply with its necessary licensure and permits. Some examples include:
If your business activities are regulated by a federal agency, you’ll need to obtain a federal license or permit. Fees and requirements depend on the nature of the business and the agency issuing the license or permit. Some examples include:
Click to get started.
The price of a business license or permit can vary depending on the type of license, business location, processing fees and recurring fees.
Phoenix charges an application fee from $24 up to $1,665 and a license/permit fee between $10 and $360, depending on the type of business. On the other hand, the city of Flagstaff requires a general business license for each permanent business location in the city, unless you are exempt. The fee is $8 and paid to the city of Flagstaff.
The state cost for each new TPT license/location is $12 plus any applicable city fees. This fee also applies when there is a change in business location or a program city is added or a reprint is requested. There is no additional cost to cancel or reinstate a license. If the ownership of your business changes, the TPT license is not transferable.
Keep in mind, most all licenses do expire after a period of time and will need to be renewed annually. In general, there’s a wide variety of permits and licenses to keep track of.
Every business should check with the Arizona Commerce Authority, Town Clerk, County Clerk and local chamber of commerce to get more information regarding their specific business licensing.
You must complete the application form for each agency or local office and submit it to them directly as per their specific instructions. For example, the TPT license can be submitted in three ways (online, in person or mailed to the address on the form).
You must notify every office that has issued a license to determine their procedures for name changes. For example, you must notify the Department of Revenue in writing by completing the Business Account Update (Form 10193) in addition to submitting payment with the form. The form is available on www.azdor.gov in the Forms section for Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT).
License and Registration
AZDOR
1600 W. Monroe St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
It usually takes no more than seven business days for you to receive your business license once it has been processed by the state of Arizona. You will receive the license via the email address you used to request the license unless other arrangements have been made. You can then print out the business license and post it in a conspicuous place in your business if it is open to the public.
You can run a business as a sole proprietorship (just you) or general partnership (you and one or more partners) instead of forming a business entity like an LLC or corporation. However, sole proprietorships and partnerships may still need to register DBAs and obtain business licenses from government agencies. Learn more about the differences between a sole proprietorship and an LLC.
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Small Business WriterNatalie Cusson is a small business owner with over 15 years experience in the creative arts. She's worked on ad campaigns for many trusted brands such as Nike, Subaru, Polaris, Red Bull and Progressive Insurance, just to name a few. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Natalie is driven by her love for writing and research, and is committed to maintaining a growth mindset. Not only is she passionate about learning and growing, she believes in embracing a healthy lifestyle.
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