All new business enterprises in the state of Arizona must comply with naming rules and restrictions. Business organizations must have unique names that cannot be confused with any domestic or foreign nonprofits or for-profit companies. A new venture must select a name not already in use as a corporate name; forced fictitious name; Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Partnership or registered trade name.
Other criteria for naming a business entity involves including certain words appropriate to the entity type or excluding words with restrictions on use. Lotzar Law Firm, P.C. knows all restrictions on naming an Arizona company and can advise you on naming your organization.
Our Scottsdale Arizona business attorneys will research your company name to ensure it meets Arizona standards and will complete all necessary paperwork to register your new organizations name with the state and the federal Internal Revenue Service. Call today to learn more.
Restrictions on Naming an Arizona Company
All for-profit corporations must follow requirements and restrictions on naming an Arizona company as set forth in A.R.S. § 10-401 and A.R.S. § 10-1506. A for-profit corporation must contain one of the following words or a permissible abbreviation thereof:
- Association (Assoc.)
- Bank
- Company
- Corporation (Corp)
- Limited (LTD)
- Incorporated (Inc.)
For-profit corporations are not permitted to include terms implying they are a Limited Liability Company. The business name may not include the words:
- Limited Liability Company (LLC or L.L.C.)
- Limited Company (LC or L.C.)
Written approval from the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions is required prior to registration if the corporation contains the words:
- Bank
- Banking
- Banker
- Banc or Banco
- Banque
- Savings Association
- Credit Union
- Building Association
- Deposit
- Savings & Loan Association
- Thrift
- Trust or Trusty Company
- Savings Bank
Professional corporations must meet all requirements and restrictions on naming an Arizona company but must also contain additional words in their name including one of the following:
- Professional Association, P.A. or PA
- Professional Corporation, P.C. or PC
- Service Corporation, S.C. or SC
- Chartered or Chtd.
- Limited or Ltd.
Nonprofit Corporations must meet all of these specific criteria as well as additional restrictions if the nonprofit is founded as a cooperative. Nonprofits have additional startup requirements not applicable to For-Profit Corporations and an attorney specializing in nonprofits should be consulted. Lotzar Law Firm, P.C. has represented clients starting nonprofits throughout Arizona.
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) also have naming requirements and restrictions. The mandates for naming of an LLC are established in A.R.S. § 29-602. The LLC must include the words:
- Limited Liability Company, or L.L.C. or LLC
- Limited Company, or L.C. or LC
The LLC must not contain the words incorporation, association, corporation nor any form of these words including abbreviations. LLCs are subject to the same restrictions on the use of financial terms as corporations and must obtain prior approval from the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions to include the word “bank,” or its derivatives and related words.
Lotzar Law Firm, P.C. advises startups on all aspects of forming a new organization, including naming. Call today to schedule a consultation and learn how a Scottsdale Arizona business lawyer can help get your business started.
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