How to File a DBA in Arizona: Trade Names, Costs, and What Businesses Need to Know
Operating a business in Arizona under a name that differs from your legal name or registered entity name requires a formal filing — commonly known as a DBA, fictitious business name, or in Arizona's terminology, a "trade name." Whether you're a sole proprietor branding yourself as something other than your personal name, or an LLC launching a separate product line, knowing how to file a DBA in Arizona correctly keeps your business compliant and your brand legally protected.
What Is a DBA in Arizona?
A DBA — "doing business as" — allows a person or entity to conduct business under a name other than their legal name. In Arizona, these are officially referred to as trade names and are registered at the state level through the Arizona Secretary of State's office, not at the county level as i...