By Fernando Berrocal

The Articles of Incorporation (AoI) are filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to begin the process of forming your startup in Arizona. After that, you'll need to receive an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), create and approve company bylaws, have an organizational meeting, and apply for any necessary licenses and permissions.

Why Incorporate Your Business with a Arizona Registered Agent LLC?

It might be difficult to incorporate in Arizona. It's not rocket science, but it's also not a walk in the park. It's a good thing we know the ins and outs of the Arizona incorporation procedure.

Incorporating Service in Arizona Registered Agent LLC

You have to prepare and file the Articles of Incorporation, provide one full year of statutory service, and provide on-point customer service to your clients when you choose Arizona Registered LLC to start your startup in Arizona. You have to obtain the following things:

• Custom corporate bylaws.
• Shareholder certificate made to order.
• You will get your Certificate of Incorporation through email.
• To manage your filings, you'll need access to your client account.

Forming a Startup in Arizona: A Do It Yourself Guide

In Arizona, forming a startup is a multi-step procedure that starts with filing the Articles of Incorporation. You'll also need to file a cover sheet, a statutory agent acceptance form, and a certificate of disclosure with the ACC to incorporate your startup.

‍

‍

You must publish a Notice of Incorporation, obtain an EIN for federal tax purposes, develop bylaws, conduct an organization meeting, and apply for any needed permissions or licenses once your organization is formed.

Complete the Articles of Incorporation

Completing the Articles of Incorporation is the first step in incorporating a startup in Arizona. This list of guidelines will walk you through the process of completing this for a "For-Profit (Business) Corporation."

1. Pick a Name: All Arizona businesses must have a name on file with the ACC that is distinct from any other legal entity. You could believe you've come up with the perfect name for your startup, but it's a good idea to double-check on the ACC website to see whether it's already taken. Your organization name must include one of the following words or abbreviations in addition to being unique: Association or Assn., Company or Co., Corporation or Corp., Incorporated or Inc., or Limited or Ltd.

2. Describe the importance of the business information: A concise description of what your startup performs is required under Section 4 of the AoI (named "Character of Business"). You can change the description afterward, but you must provide a short first description.

3. Information should be shared: You must include information regarding your startup's stock structure in Section 4 of the AoC. A startup in Arizona is needed to have at least one share. While listing the par value of the shares is not needed, you should mention the class and series of the shares that you are authorizing.

4. Determine the Known Business Location: Information about the startup’s known place of business (KPB) is required under Section 6 of the AoI. A physical address in Arizona is required for the KPS. It is acceptable for this address to be the same as that of the Statutory Agent. You can attach the Director Attachment form, which is accessible on the ACC Corporation Forms Division Forms website under the “Corporation Forms” section if you require more space to list additional directors.

Publication of a Formation Notice.

You must post a Notice of Formation within sixty days of incorporation unless you are in Maricopa or Pina counties. Your startup will be administratively dissolved if you do not post this notification.

The Notice of Publication must be published in a newspaper circulated in the county of incorporation for three weeks in a row. It must include the company name, the ACC filing number, and the name and address of the statutory agent. Additional publication instructions will be included in the ACC's corporation permission letter. Contact the authorized publications listed with the ACC to compare prices for publication costs. 

The publication will send an Affidavit of Publication when the Notice of Incorporation has been published for three weeks in a row. Although it is not required by law to submit this Affidavit with the ACC, it is a good idea to do so to ensure that evidence of compliance is maintained on file. The recording of the affidavit is free.

Creating Bylaws

In Arizona, the adoption of the first bylaws is needed for corporations. The bylaws detail how the startup should be run, including information on the board of directors, stock structure, shareholders, conflicts of interest, corporate officials, how the bylaws should be modified, and the time and place of shareholder meetings. These bylaws are usually approved by the startup during its annual meeting.

Holding an Organization Meeting

The inaugural meetings of all incorporators and the board of directors of a startup are known as organization meetings. The following items are usually on the agenda of an organization meeting:

• Keeping track of attendance
• The Articles of Incorporation are presented.
• The Board of Directors is elected.
• Stock certificates are presented.
• The bylaws are being adopted.

Obtaining the Necessary Permits and Licenses

You must apply for and get a transaction privilege tax license from the Arizona Department of Revenue. In Arizona, the TPT is a tax on vendors. Most counties have their taxes collected by the Arizona Department of Revenue, however certain cities in Arizona collect them on their own.

TPT licenses are only good for one year and must be renewed every year. Renewal fees vary by jurisdiction. To learn more about TPT or to file your TPT, go to the Arizona Department of Revenue's website.

Are you ready to bring your startup to the next level? Apply to MassLight’s next batch. MassLight supplies capital and a dedicated tech team. We take equity in return. Have questions? Refer to our FAQ page.

‍

‍

‍