Most people searching for an Arizona Secretary of State business search actually need the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). The ACC, not the Secretary of State, registers corporations and LLCs, and its free Search for a Business tool in the Arizona Business Center (the system that replaced eCorp) is where you check whether a name is taken.
Your name must be distinguishable from every existing business name and trade name on file. You can hold it for 120 days with a $10 name reservation. DBAs are handled at the county level, and the Arizona Secretary of State separately registers trade names.
Updated October 2026.
Go to:
Best LLC Formation Services in Arizona (2026)
Our ranked picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Arizona are below, starting with Mainstay Filing. Each entry lists the yearly price and what the service covers.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | AZ Registered Agent.org | Arizona registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Arizona Registered Agent.co | Arizona registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Arizona. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. AZ Registered Agent.org
AZ Registered Agent.org is a Arizona registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Arizona Registered Agent.co
Arizona Registered Agent.co is a Arizona registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Arizona name search facts at a glance
| What you need to know | Arizona (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Who registers LLCs and corporations | Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division |
| Where to search | Arizona Business Center: Search for a Business (free; old eCorp links redirect here) |
| Name reservation | $10 ($45 expedited); holds the name 120 days; not renewable |
| Articles of Organization (LLC) | $50 regular, $85 expedited |
| Name change (Articles of Amendment) | $25 |
| DBA filings | Handled at the county level (for example, the Maricopa County Recorder) |
| State trade name registration | Optional, with the Arizona Secretary of State; active for 5 years |
| LLC annual report | None required by the ACC |
ACC fees are from the LLC fee schedule revised March 2026. Mainstay Filing’s Arizona LLC cost page totals the full startup cost.
How to search Arizona business names step by step
The Arizona Business Center holds the records for every corporation, LLC and other entity registered with the ACC. Use it like this:
- Open the search. Go to the ACC’s Search for a Business page. Bookmarked ecorp.azcc.gov links now forward to the Arizona Business Center.
- Enter the core of the name. Skip the ending (LLC, Inc.) and search the words that make your name distinctive, such as “Saguaro Peak” rather than “Saguaro Peak Roofing, L.L.C.”
- Try variations. Search plurals, alternate spellings, numbers written as digits and as words, and versions with and without spaces.
- Open close matches. Each record shows the entity’s details and status. Active entities and current reservations block a name that isn’t distinguishable from yours.
- Check trade names separately. The ACC FAQ says names must also be distinguishable from existing trade names, which live in the Secretary of State’s records, not the ACC’s.
Even a clean result is only a preliminary check. ACC examiners decide availability when they review your filing.
Arizona business name rules
According to the ACC’s Business Services FAQs, a business name must be distinguishable from all other existing business names or trade names, and the required identifier depends on the entity type.
- LLCs: the name must include an LLC identifier, such as “limited liability company,” “limited company,” “L.L.C.,” “L.C.,” “LLC” or “LC” (A.R.S. § 29-3112).
- Corporations: the name must include a corporate word such as “association,” “bank,” “company,” “corporation,” “limited” or “incorporated,” or an abbreviation of one of them (A.R.S. § 10-401).
- Consent exception: under A.R.S. § 10-401, a corporation can use a name that isn’t distinguishable if the other entity gives written consent or a court judgment establishes the right to use it.
- Distinguishable, not just different: changing only the entity ending, punctuation or an article like “the” is unlikely to make a name distinguishable.
- Regulated words: names suggesting banking, insurance or another licensed activity can trigger review by the relevant regulator, so confirm you’re allowed to use them.
If your first choice is taken, Namechk’s business name generator can produce fresh ideas to run back through the ACC search.
Reserving a name with the Arizona Corporation Commission
A name reservation is optional in Arizona. The ACC FAQ describes it as a way to hold a name for up to 120 days while you prepare your filing; you don’t need one to form a business.
| Reservation detail | Arizona rule |
|---|---|
| Fee | $10 regular; $45 expedited |
| Duration | Up to 120 days |
| Renewable? | No |
| Who can file | Any person |
| Cancel or transfer | $10 each (Notice of Cancellation or Notice of Transfer) |
| Where to file | Arizona Business Center online, or by mail |
Because a reservation can’t be renewed, time it for when you are close to filing Articles of Organization or Incorporation.
Check trademarks, domains and social media names
A clear ACC search tells you the name is open for an Arizona entity. It says nothing about federal trademarks or online availability. Search the USPTO trademark database for registered or pending marks in your industry before you invest in signage or branding.
Then check the web. Namechk shows in a single search whether the matching domain and social handles (Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube and more) are free. If the .com is taken, the domain name generator suggests close alternatives.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
How DBAs (trade names) work in Arizona
Arizona spreads business names across three places. The ACC handles legal entity names and states that it does not register or recognize DBAs. DBA filings themselves are handled locally at the county level, and the Arizona Secretary of State separately registers trade names.
- Where to register: Arizona Secretary of State, Trade Names and Trademarks.
- Term: a trade name registration stays active for five years, according to the ACC FAQ, and carries certain legal rights.
- County filing: DBAs are recorded at the county level; the ACC FAQ gives the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office as an example. Check your own county recorder for its process and fee.
- Is it required? Arizona doesn’t require every business to register a trade name, but banks and payment processors often ask for proof before accepting payments under a DBA.
Check the Secretary of State’s trade name page for the current filing fee and online filing before you submit.
Next steps after your Arizona name search
Once you’ve confirmed the name, you can form the business. Our Arizona LLC guide and the ACC’s 10 steps to starting a business cover the details.
- File Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation in the Arizona Business Center. The LLC filing fee is $50, or $85 expedited.
- Appoint a statutory agent. Arizona calls its registered agent a statutory agent, and every entity needs one with an Arizona address. Mainstay Filing includes this service in its formation package; our Arizona registered agent guide has the rules.
- Watch for a publication notice. Depending on the county where the business or statutory agent is located, certain documents must be published in a newspaper or posted to the ACC database. The ACC tells you by letter after approval.
- Get an EIN and state tax licenses. The Arizona start-a-business guide lists what’s typically required.
FAQs
Does the Arizona Secretary of State handle business entity searches?
No. The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) registers corporations and LLCs, so its Arizona Business Center is where you search entity names. The Arizona Secretary of State handles trade names and trademarks. If you want to check both entity names and trade names, search the ACC’s Search for a Business tool and the Secretary of State’s trade name records.
What happened to Arizona eCorp?
The Arizona Corporation Commission replaced eCorp with the Arizona Business Center. Old ecorp.azcc.gov entity search links now redirect to the new site at arizonabusinesscenter.azcc.gov, where you can search for a business, file documents such as Articles of Organization and reserve a name. The search remains free and needs no account.
How much does an Arizona name reservation cost?
Reserving a name with the Arizona Corporation Commission costs $10 with regular processing or $45 expedited, according to the ACC’s LLC fee schedule revised March 2026. The reservation holds the name for up to 120 days and cannot be renewed. It’s optional, so you can skip it if you’re ready to file your Articles right away.
How do I register a DBA in Arizona?
Arizona DBAs are handled at the county level, for example by recording the name with the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office; the Arizona Corporation Commission does not register DBAs. Separately, the Arizona Secretary of State offers trade name registration, which stays active for five years. Check the current fees before filing.
Does an Arizona LLC name need to include LLC?
Yes. Under A.R.S. § 29-3112, an Arizona LLC name must include an identifier such as limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., L.C., LLC or LC. The name must also be distinguishable from existing business names and trade names on file, so run an ACC business search before you file.
Is a name available if the Arizona search shows no match?
Probably, but not certainly. The search is a preliminary check, and ACC examiners make the final availability decision when they review your filing. A name can also clash with a trade name at the Secretary of State or a federal trademark. Check those sources, then reserve the name or file your Articles promptly.
CHK_ YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW
Use our engine to quickly check your content right now!
Disclosure: We may earn a commission from services recommended on this page.
