Verify Your Business Name With an Arizona Business Name Search

A lot goes into setting up an Arizona company. Besides developing a foolproof business plan, you must choose the right name for your organization.

But selecting a memorable name relevant to your trade isn’t the only consideration here. Your name also can't overlap with another business name in the state.

Our Arizona business name search can help prevent this by scanning the Arizona Secretary of State database to determine whether your desired name is available. Here’s how to use our free software:

1. Type in your desired business name

2. Enter your name, email address, and business location

3. Click the blue “Submit” button

Once you provide the requested information, we'll get back to you within one business hour to reveal whether the name is available. If so, we’ll show you how to reserve your name and keep others from claiming it.

Let’s first check out the conventions you should follow when naming your Arizona organization and what makes an entity search so beneficial.

Key Takeaways

• A business name search helps prevent legal issues associated with using the same or similar names as other Arizona organizations.

• Your business name must not contain words or phrases that may make others confuse your LLC or corporation with a differently structured organization.

• The best way to check your desired name availability is to use a business name search tool.

• A business name reservation should follow your name search, as well as registering a domain name and filing a DBA, depending on your needs.

Arizona’s Business Name Conventions

Being too picky can sometimes be your arch-enemy in the business world, but not when naming your organization. You must take your time to select the right name for your Arizona LLC or Arizona corporation and ensure it follows the strict rules set by the Arizona Secretary of State.

Here are the conventions you should be aware of when naming your new business entity, depending on your structure:

• A limited liability company (LLC) must have the words “limited company” or limited liability company in the business name, or an abbreviation (LLC, LC, L.L.C., and L.C.).

• A professional limited liability company must have “professional limited liability company” in the business name, or abbreviation (PLLC, PLC, P.L.L.C, and P.L.C.).

• All limited liability companies (LLCs) can not have “incorporated,” “corporation,” or “association” in the business entity name.

• A for-profit corporation must have “company,” “corporation,” “incorporated,” or “association” in your business name, or an abbreviation (corp. and Inc.).

• A professional corporation must have “professional corporation,” “professional association,” or “chartered” in the business name, or an abbreviation (PC, SC, PA, P.C., S.C., and P.A.).

• A non-profit corporation must have “non-profit corporation” in the name.

• All corporations must not have limited liability company, limited company, or abbreviations that denote this structure in the entity name.

It’s also worth noting that your business name must not contain the names of Arizona governmental organizations. For instance, you won’t be able to launch your enterprise if your entity has the same or similar name as the State Mine Inspector or the IRS. The Arizona Corporation Commission (AZCC.GOV) can provide more information about naming conventions.[1]

Benefits of an Arizona Entity Search

You might be in a hurry to set up your LLC. After all, the sooner you get the company underway, the sooner you reap the benefits of your hard work. It might even be tempting to skip an Arizona business entity search, but this is ill-advised.

Here are the reasons you should always run your business name and entity number through an advanced search tool.

No Risk of Overlaps

Trademark infringement can ruin your chances of getting your business off the ground. For instance, a lawsuit is virtually inevitable if a business owner finds you using the same or similar name as their organization. Hence, use a search platform to choose your Arizona business name wisely.

Guaranteed Good Standing With the Secretary of State

It doesn’t look good in the eyes of the Arizona Secretary of State for a company to lose a lawsuit. That’s exactly what can happen if you use another company’s name as your own. You should always run a desired name through a convenient search tool.

Automatic Process

No one wants to dig through records manually, which is time-consuming and prone to error. Tools like our business name search are 100% accurate and automatic, and we do all the searching on your behalf for free.

Smooth Business Setup

The last thing you want is to face setbacks even before you launch your company. Unfortunately, this can happen unless you name your entity according to Arizona guidelines. A business name search lowers the risk of these setbacks, enabling you to start your operations with a clean slate.

Next Steps

Checking whether your name is available is the first name-related task on your schedule. Let’s see what comes after your Arizona business name lookup.

Complete Your Name Reservation

Name reservation is just as paramount to your LLC as your Arizona business name search. After verifying your name availability with the Arizona Corporation Commission, you’ll want to prevent others from taking your name. That’s where business name reservation comes into play.

Although this seems like more red tape, that’s not the case. The process is relatively straightforward.

1. Head to Arizona’s eCorp website and create an account

2. Use the on-screen prompts to submit your reservation

3. Pay a $10 state filing fee

Mail filing is another option; however, it usually takes longer and is more expensive than the first method at $35. If you decide to go ahead with this route, take the following steps:

1. Download and fill out your Application to Reserve Limited Liability Company Name

2. Complete a Cover Sheet, which is subject to a $10 fee

3. Send the Application, Cover Sheet, and payment for the $35 state fee to following address:

Arizona Corporation Commission

Corporations Division

1300 W. Washington St.

Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Choose a Domain Name

If your business name is available, choosing your domain name for your future business website is another critical stage. You can gain a lot from a well-thought-out domain name, including:

• Higher brand awareness

• Increased audience engagement

• Better online visibility

• Improved control over your internet content

• Easier reach of the target market

• Elevated credibility

Now that you know why it makes sense to get a domain name, let’s see what you should keep in mind when selecting one for your Arizona business:

• Add keywords relevant to your industry

• Rely on the good-old .com extension

• Try to use similar wording as your business name

• Avoid numbers and hyphens

• Don’t exceed the 63-character threshold

These aren’t official rules, but following them can help you make headway online.

Consider a DBA

Don't hit the panic button if your desired business name is unavailable after conducting your Arizona Secretary of State business search. You can use a different name for your Arizona LLC — a DBA.

A DBA (doing business as) is the pseudonym you use if you don’t operate under your registered name. It’s also referred to as a fictitious business name or trade name. Having one is a good idea if your bank needs it to set up your bank account or if you wish to separate private assets from company assets.[3]

Filing a DBA in Arizona is simple:

1. Head to the Secretary of State website and find the “Online Trade Names and Trademark Filing” menu

2. Follow the instructions to complete your application and wait for the staff to review your submission

3. Pay a state filing fee

4. Forward the trade name certificate emailed to you by the state to the following address:

Secretary of State

Attn: Trade Name/Trademark

1700 W. Washington St., Fl. 7

Phoenix, AZ 85007-2808

File Your LLC Online

The story doesn’t end with your Arizona business entity search and business name reservation. Your LLC filings are yet to come, and there’s no reason to handle these yourself.

Outsource the work to Swyft Filings. We can help you get your organization underway in record time. Let us handle your Arizona Corporation Commission paperwork and communicate with the Arizona Secretary of State, giving you more time to focus on strategic operations.

FAQs

How do I check if an LLC name is available in Arizona?

You can check if your LLC name is available in Arizona by navigating to Swyft Filings' free business name search. The tool requires basic information only and provides fast results.

What is a “doing business as” name?

A DBA is a pseudonym used by companies that don’t operate under the name in their articles of organization.

How do I find a business with a fictitious name in Arizona?

You can look up businesses with fictitious names in Arizona on the Secretary of State’s website.

How do I look up a corporation in Arizona?

Swyft Filings has a user-friendly tool to look up any Arizona corporation and other entity types, including limited partnerships. You can also use the Arizona Secretary of State database to get more information, such as a company's address and registered agent name (statutory agent name).

How much does an Arizona business entity search cost?

Swyft Filings offers a business name search service for free.

How can I find a person’s address for a business in Arizona?

Entrepreneurs can find a person’s business address in Arizona with the Arizona Corporation Commission’s entity search tool.

Bibliography

1. Arizona Corporation Commission. “Corporation and LLC Name Requirements and Arizona Corporation Commission Naming Standards.” Accessed May 24, 2023.

2. Department of Justice. “Reporting Intellectual Property Crime.” Accessed May 24, 2023.

3. Arizona Secretary of State. “Trade Names and Trademarks.” Accessed May 24, 2023.