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Where can I get free advice for starting a small business in Arizona?

Short answer

The Arizona Small Business Development Center network gives free one-on-one advising on plans, registration, financing and marketing, hosted by the community colleges across the state. The federal Small Business Administration adds guides, loan guarantees and mentoring, the Commerce Authority has a small-business checklist programme, and the City of Phoenix and the chamber run their own workshops.

Start with the SBDC: its advisers meet you at no charge, as many times as needed, to work through the business plan, entity choice, licences, financial projections and lender introductions; there are centres across Maricopa County and the rest of the state, funded by the SBA and the colleges [1]. The SBA itself publishes the step-by-step guide to starting a US business, guarantees loans made by partner banks, and runs the SCORE mentor network of retired executives [2].

The Arizona Commerce Authority’s small-business services include a checklist tool that lists the registrations a specific business type needs at state and city level, which saves a newcomer from discovering a licence late [3]. The City of Phoenix’s economic development department runs small-business programmes and a navigator for city permits, and the Greater Phoenix Chamber offers workshops and a member directory for finding local service providers [4] [5].

Public libraries carry business databases and host entrepreneurship programmes, a free resource for market research before you spend on anything [6]. For immigrant founders, the SBDC advisers are used to visa-related questions and will say when an attorney is needed.

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Sources

Official and institutional sources this answer is based on. The numbers in the text point here.

    1.
    • Officialazsbdc.net
      Arizona Small Business Development Center Network ↗

      Free advising for people starting or growing a small business in Arizona, hosted by the community colleges: business plans, financing, licensing steps and workshops.

      checked Sep 12, 2026 · verify manually

    2.
    • Officialsba.gov
      U.S. Small Business Administration ↗

      Starting and funding a business in the US: business structures, federal/state registration steps, SBA-backed loans, government contracting and local assistance offices (including Arizona district office).

      checked Sep 12, 2026

    3.
    • Officialazcommerce.com
      Arizona Commerce Authority ↗

      The state's economic development agency: why companies relocate to Arizona, incentive programs, the small-business checklist for starting a company, key industries (semiconductors, aerospace, bioscience) and site selection help.

      checked Sep 12, 2026 · verify manually

    4.
    5.
    • Officialphoenixchamber.com
      Greater Phoenix Chamber ↗

      Business chamber: member directory, networking and workforce events, and small-business programs.

      checked Sep 12, 2026

    6.
    • Officialphoenixpubliclibrary.org
      Phoenix Public Library ↗

      Free library cards for residents, branches and hours, children's programs, English classes and citizenship resources, and free online learning.

      checked Sep 12, 2026

Reviewed: October 7, 2026. General information with sources, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change: check the linked sources and talk to a licensed professional about your own case.

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