A Trade name allows a business to register its name for public record. It is like a doing business as (“DBA”) name but is not legally required for business practice. A trade name is considered intellectual property.
Arizona Trade Name Information:
In Arizona, a Trade name can be filed with the Arizona Secretary of State for a $10 filing fee. The trade name in Arizona lasts for 5 years from the date of receipt. The form can be easily completed online using the Arizona Business One Stop portal, a secure network that requires no in-person interaction. The Arizona Secretary of State Office strongly suggests that applicants perform extensive, independent research before registering a trade name. This is because you cannot register an already registered name or a name that is similar. The Secretary of State has a database that allows you to view all registered trade names. We suggest always searching the database to see if the name is occupied or available to be filed.
Arizona Trade Name Registering:
A Trade Name requires:
Name to be registered
Owner Name
Nature of the business
Contact information
This is because they want to ensure that your business and filing are accurate. When filing, you are required to provide the owner’s name. This means an LLC, PLLC, or Corporation that is listed with the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Trade Name Misconceptions
A misconception that many have is that a Trade name will grant exclusive rights to a business name, but that is incorrect.
Registering a trade name does not affect a company’s or person’s rights to use the name in their business operation.
This also is not how you create a business. If you want to file a corporation or LLC, you must file with the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Trade Name Processing
Once a trade name is filed, it will take 2-3 weeks for a review to be conducted and a decision to be made. If you wish to expedite your application, you may include an additional $25 fee, reducing the processing time to 2 to 3 days. This review process ensures that your application is thoroughly examined, and any issues are promptly addressed. It also expedites processing if you are rushing to register your trade name.
Upon review, the email provided within the filing will receive the determination. A determination to be Approved or Denied. You will receive a denial letter indicating the reason for denial if denied. Once approved, you will receive a payment request requiring you to pay online. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with the application summary and the certificate of legal proof of the trade name registration for the State of Arizona.
For additional information or forms, you may visit the Arizona Secretary of State’s Website at https://azsos.gov/business/tntm.
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