Start online e-commerce store business in Arizona

I think it will be useful to put down the processes of starting an online retail business in Arizona. Who knows what will happen tomorrow. I may start a new business on my own. Although this is not the first company I start, however, it’s my first online retail business.

These are the brief steps.

1. Search availability of the new company name at Arizona Corporation Commission.
2. Filing the required documents to register the company as s-corporation.
3. Download the filing forms here.
   • Covert Sheet
   • Articles of Incorporation for Domestic Corporations
   • Certificate of Disclosure for Business Corporations
   • $95 check write to Arizona Corporation Commission
4. If the document is filed with Expedited process ($60 + $35), it will take about a week to get the Article of corporation document return ($5/each). Otherwise, it will take about 55 days.
5. Once received the article of corporation, publish the article in 60 days. AZ Capitol Time can complete the whole process for about $91, including mail the published copy to AZ corporation commission.
6. Once the process is completed, call IRS to get a new EIN (employee Identify Number)
7. Download and file the 2553 S-corporation election form to form the s-corporation
8. Apply the Arizona retailer license online at AZTaxes.gov.
9. Apply a new business check account with bank
10. Apply a new business credit card
11. Find a good company to buy the startup package (including bylaw, minute book, etc)
12. Register the desired domain name at GoDaddy.com
13. Find a good hosting company. ex ANHosting.com
14. Setup open source shopping cart Zen Cart
15. Customize the logo and layout
16. Input the products
17. Setup Paypal business account and link to the shopping cart (Paypal IPN)

The time to complete the entire corporation filing is about a month. Now. It’s up to me how to run the business. Few notes to remember.

AZ requires to file the tax return monthly. Fedral requires to file tax return qurterly.