How to Check Corporation Name Availability in Arizona


Before you form a corporation, you’ll need to complete a business name search using the Arizona eCorp Business Entity Search tool on the state’s Corporation Commission website to check if your corporation name is available.

We'll show you how to check corporation name availability in Arizona in this guide.

Recommended: You’ll want to secure your website domain name as soon as possible. Check GoDaddy to make sure it’s available.

Woman doing an Arizona corporation name search on her computer.

Arizona Corporation Name Search

The Arizona Corporation Commission requires all business names to be distinguishable from other business entities in the state. So, you’ll want to search and make sure no other businesses in the state are already using your name.

It is also useful to see if your corporation name is available as a web domain (URL).

SKIP AHEAD:

  1. How to Register a Corporation Name in Arizona
  2. Arizona Corporation Name Requirements
  3. Arizona Corporation Name Search FAQ

How to Search Available Arizona Corporation Names

Once you know your corporation name meets Arizona business name guidelines, make sure it’s available by using the Arizona eCorp Business Entity Search tool.

Want to learn more about corporations? Check out our What Is a Corporation guide to get started.

How to Check Available Domain Names

When deciding on a name for your corporation, you should make sure that a similar or exact domain name is available. A matching URL will help potential customers find your corporation faster.

Find a Domain Now

How to Register a Corporation Name in Arizona

Register Your Name

A corporation name is officially registered when you file your Arizona Articles of Incorporation. You can hire a professional service to form a corporation for you or start a corporation yourself.

Ready to register your corporation name? Use our Form a Corporation guide to get started.

If you want to register a DBA in Arizona, known as a trade name, that’s a separate process that requires filing a separate form with the Corporation Commission.

Reserve Your Name

While not required, you have the option to reserve your corporation name in Arizona for up to 120 days before you register it. This prevents other businesses from registering your name until you are ready to register it yourself. 

Name reservations can be filed online or via hard copy with the Arizona Corporation Commission. The filing fee is $45 online and $10 via hard copy.

Need Help Forming Your Corporation? ZenBusiness will get you started.

Arizona Corporation Name Requirements

Key Guidelines

Arizona has official requirements for its corporation names.

The name must contain the word “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated,” or “limited” or an abbreviation of one of these terms.

There are also restricted words, such as “FBI” or “Treasury,” that you cannot use in order to keep your LLC from sounding like an official institution.

Arizona also requires permission from the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions to use the following words: 

  • bank; banker; banking; banc; banco; banque; credit union; deposit; savings association; building association; savings and loan association; building and loan association; savings bank; thrift; trust; and trust company.

For more information, check out the Arizona state statute on corporation names.

Distinguishability

Your name must be distinguishable from all other Arizona business names. In Arizona, a distinguishable name is one that is substantively different from all other existing or reserved business names in the state.

The following differences make a name distinguishable in Arizona:

  • Prepositions and conjunctions
  • Words in a different order
  • Words spelled differently or creatively
  • Abbreviations and unabbreviated versions of words
  • The symbols %, $, +, =, @ and their corresponding words
  • Roman numerals and words representing numbers
  • The presence of the word “Arizona”
  • Plural form of words
  • Untranslated non-English words

The following differences do NOT make a name distinguishable in Arizona:

  • Business entity identifiers (such as Corp., LLP, etc.)
  • Spaces between words
  • Punctuation
  • Case of letters
  • Ampersand (&) versus "and"
  • Arabic numerals and words representing these numerals
  • Articles "a", "an" and "the"

If your corporation name isn’t distinguishable, your Articles of Incorporation filing will likely be rejected.

What if my corporation name is already taken? Our AI-powered corporation name generator will give you thousands of new ideas. 

For a list of brainstorming tips, check out our guide to naming your business.

Arizona Corporation Name Search FAQ

How do I check if a corporation name is taken in Arizona?

You can use the Arizona eCorp Business Entity Search tool to see if your business name is available.

Learn more about business entity name availability in the Arizona Corporation Name Search section.

Should I name my corporation after myself?

While there’s no rule against naming a corporation after yourself, most experts advise against doing this. 

One of the benefits of starting a corporation is the ability to choose a different name for your business, which can make it sound more professional.

To explore other naming options, use our free AI-powered business name generator.

What words can’t be used in an Arizona corporation name?

Business names generally can’t include words that imply the company is a banking or financial institution or that it’s affiliated with a local, state, or federal government agency.

Additionally, Arizona requires permission from Arizona Department of Financial Institutions to use the following words: bank; banker; banking; banc; banco; banque; credit union; deposit; savings association; building association; savings and loan association; building and loan association; savings bank; thrift; trust; and trust company.

Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Arizona Corporation Name Requirements section.

Should I use a business name generator?

If you’re having trouble choosing a name for your corporation, a corporation name generator can help you come up with some ideas.

Do I have to include ‘corporation’ in my name?

Arizona corporation names must contain the word “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated,” or “limited” or an abbreviation of one of these terms.

Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Arizona Corporation Name Requirements section.

Do I need to renew my business name in Arizona?

Arizona doesn't require corporations to renew their legal name, but Arizona DBAs, or trade names, must be renewed every five years.

You can renew your trade name online. The filing fee is $10.

Can my business name be different from my corporation name in Arizona?

Some companies choose to operate under a name that’s different from their legal name. This can either be called a “doing business as” (DBA) name or trade name in Arizona. 

In Arizona, trade names for corporations are filed with the Corporation Commission.

Learn more about trade names with our Arizona DBA guide.

Does my corporation need a DBA name?

Your corporation doesn’t need a DBA name unless it plans to do business under a name other than its legal name. Learn more with our Arizona DBA guide.