Plan for Phoenix, AZ
Starting a Business in Phoenix: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist
A step-by-step plan to open a business in Phoenix: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.
Your businessThe plan below updates as you change these.
Permits and registrations specific to Phoenix, AZ
Sales tax permitTransaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license
City of PhoenixHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Maricopa CountyHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Local licenses and permits to obtain
- Obtain City of Phoenix transaction privilege (sales) tax license · City of Phoenix Finance Department, Tax Compliance and Education (city)
- File Maricopa County business personal property return · Maricopa County Assessor (county)
- Get and renew the Maricopa County food establishment health permit · Maricopa County Environmental Services Department (county)
Register with these Arizona agencies
- Form the business: Arizona Corporation Commission
- Register for state taxes: Arizona Department of Revenue
- Register as an employer: Arizona Department of Economic Security
Startup sequence and prerequisites in Phoenix
Based on your selections, this plan has 31 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.
Do these first
- Maintain a registered agent in Arizona
- File formation documents with the Arizona Corporation Commission
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Then, once those are done
- LLC publication requirement (Arizona) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Register for unemployment insurance (Arizona) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Register for state income tax withholding (Arizona) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license (Arizona) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Register for locally administered sales tax (Arizona) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Register for and file Arizona entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Notify residents and regulators of a data breach within 45 days (Arizona) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- City TPT license / business license — Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain food service establishment / health permit — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Ensure certified food protection manager on staff — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Phoenix — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain City of Phoenix transaction privilege (sales) tax license — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Report new hires to the Arizona new hire directory — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Carry workers' compensation insurance (Arizona) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Display required federal labor law posters — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Complete Form I-9 for each new hire — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Display required Arizona workplace notices — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Provide paid sick leave (Arizona) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Government fees
No fee amounts are known for this plan yet.
Total incomplete: some fees unknown
30 of 31 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 1 step with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule. Fees that depend on your situation: File wage reports and pay unemployment insurance contributions (Arizona).
File formationOct 24, 2026in 7 days
Ready to operateDec 31, 2026in 75 days
Opening dateNot setAdd a target opening date to check the plan fits
Progress0 / 31Saved in this browser
Things the formation documents depend on: a registered agent and any professional approvals.
Suggested planning date: Oct 24, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
File the formation documents with the state.
Suggested planning date: Nov 7, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
Obtain the EIN (and apply for tax-exempt status, for nonprofits). Most registrations need it.
Suggested planning date: Nov 10, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
State tax accounts, trade name, foreign qualification and publication requirements.
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
Monthly
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
Per event
checked Oct 16, 2026
Licenses and permits you need before you operate: state, industry, local and professional.
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
Insurance, employment paperwork, new-hire reporting and workplace notices.
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Per event
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
checked Oct 13, 2026
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Per event
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
Recurring filings and payments, in the order they fall due.
Statutory deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · in 14 days
Quarterly
not individually checked
Statutory deadline: Nov 1, 2026 · in 15 days
Annual
checked Oct 16, 2026
Statutory deadline: Jan 31, 2027 · in 106 days
Annual
not individually checked
Statutory deadline: Jan 31, 2027 · in 106 days
Annual
not individually checked
Statutory deadline: Apr 1, 2027 · in 166 days
Annual
checked Oct 16, 2026
Statutory deadline: Apr 15, 2027 · in 180 days
Annual
not individually checked
Monthly
not individually checked
Ongoing
checked Oct 16, 2026
Quarterly
checked Oct 13, 2026
Monthly
not individually checked
Common questions about Phoenix
The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Phoenix:
- Contractor licensing: Arizona Registrar of Contractors
- Real estate licensing: Arizona Department of Real Estate
- Alcohol licensing: Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control
- Child care licensing: Arizona Department of Health Services
- Health facility licensing: Arizona Department of Health Services
- Obtain City of Phoenix transaction privilege (sales) tax license (City of Phoenix Finance Department, Tax Compliance and Education, city)
- File Maricopa County business personal property return (Maricopa County Assessor, county)
- Get and renew the Maricopa County food establishment health permit (Maricopa County Environmental Services Department, county)
With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license (Arizona); Obtain food service establishment / health permit; Ensure certified food protection manager on staff; City TPT license / business license — Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Phoenix; Obtain City of Phoenix transaction privilege (sales) tax license. Change the industry above to see yours.
Sources: azcc.gov, azdor.gov, des.az.gov
In your plan for Phoenix, requirements come from four levels. Arizona sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.
- Federal (8): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C; Deposit federal payroll taxes; File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return)…
- State (16): Maintain a registered agent in Arizona; LLC publication requirement (Arizona); Register for and file Arizona entity-level taxes; Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license (Arizona)…
- County (2): Obtain food service establishment / health permit; File Maricopa County business personal property return
- City (4): Register for locally administered sales tax (Arizona); City TPT license / business license — Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Phoenix; Obtain City of Phoenix transaction privilege (sales) tax license
- Register for unemployment insurance with Arizona Department of Economic Security.
- Workers' compensation: Industrial Commission of Arizona. Required when: 1 employee
- Register to withhold Arizona income tax from wages.
- Your plan adds these employer steps: Report new hires to the Arizona new hire directory; Carry workers' compensation insurance (Arizona); Display required federal labor law posters; Complete Form I-9 for each new hire; Display required Arizona workplace notices.
Sources: des.az.gov, azica.gov, azdor.gov