Start Your Business
You’re not alone. We’re here to help you through the process. Explore our resources and if you get stuck, you can reach out.
Come and learn the steps to start a business in the City of Tucson with the help of our Business Navigators.
1-2pm every other Monday at 319 W Simpson St. (La Suprema Works)
Click to register or call 520-837-4100
Aprende cuales son las pasos para iniciar tu negocio en la ciudad con ayuda de los Navegadores de Negocios.
12-1pm cada dos lunes, 319 W Simpson St. (La Suprema Work Space)
Haga click para inscribirte o llame a 520-837-4100
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, you will need to register your business with the City of Tucson by applying for a business license. You can find information about applying for a business license, including fees and steps to take, here. You also jump straight to the Business License Application and send it by email to the City of Tucson Licensing Department. Give Licensing a call at 520-791-4566 to get your questions answered or walk-in at 201 N. Stone Avenue between 8am-4pm weekdays.
Whether you’re just starting out or are looking to grow, there are plenty of organizations available to help you reach your funding needs. Groups like the Community Investment Corporation, the Small Business Development Center, and the Tucson Industrial Development Authority (TIDA) offer loans and bond financing for small businesses. Growth Partners of Arizona also offers micro-loans to nonprofits and small businesses. Special districts in the City of Tucson, such as Rio Nuevo and the Global Economic Development District, offer financial incentives for businesses willing to relocate. There are also specialized groups, such as the Women’s Business Center that help women-led businesses find capital, and the Export-Import Bank of the US, which provides funding to small to medium-sized businesses.
Tucson embodies a tight-knit supportive community, with plenty of local organizations looking to lend your business a hand. The Arizona Small Business Development Center provides business plan assistance, cash flow analysis, SBA loan assistance, and more. The Fuerza Local Business Accelerator program is a six-month program teaching underserved micro-entrepreneurs how to build a business and offers each graduate the opportunity to access credit at fair market rates through several partnering financial institutions. Startup Tucson works with local entrepreneurs, offering monthly coaching, startup labs, a startup skills clinic and their annual IdeaFunding Conference and Pitch Competition. The Women’s Business Center (WBC) provides business classes, technical training and free one-on-one business counseling for women-led small businesses.
All businesses will need to apply for food and liquor licenses in both the City of Tucson and Pima County. The Arizona Department of Liquor License Application Kit will guide you through the entire process and provide you with information about fees, deadlines, and more. There are additional guidelines for those looking to operate a food truck in the City of Tucson. For special events, vendors must complete a questionnaire for the City of Tucson, complete an application for the State of Arizona, and follow the guidelines for operating cooking booths and tents.
Visit eCorp to register your LLC in the State of Arizona.
Visit our Business Help page to see upcoming events and a list of services