My plan

Starting a business in Mesa, Arizona

Since January 3, 2022, Mesa has required a general business license for most businesses that collect sales tax, service businesses and home-based businesses operating in the city. Taxable businesses also add Mesa to their state TPT license, some activities need a specialty license, and food businesses are permitted by Maricopa County.

Every item checked November 5, 2026 against the linked official source. Fees are shown only where an official source documents them, and they’re paid directly to the agency listed — FirstBizGuide isn’t a government agency and doesn’t charge fees or file applications. Not legal advice.

About your business (choose all that apply)

  • Register your business

    • Articles of Organization for an LLC: $50 regular or $85 expedited. Reserving a name first is optional ($10, or $45 expedited). Unless your statutory agent's street address is in Maricopa or Pima County, a notice of the filing must be published in a newspaper after approval. [source]

      • LLC Articles of Organization (regular): $50 [source]

      Agency: Arizona Corporation Commission

    • Optional. It records a business name publicly but does not give exclusive rights to it. Lasts 5 years; renew within the 6 months before it expires. [source]

      Agency: Arizona Secretary of State

    • The IRS issues EINs free. Sites that charge for this are third parties. [source]

      Agency: Internal Revenue Service

  • State and city tax licenses

    • Apply on AZTaxes.gov; the license number is issued the same day and the certificate is mailed in about 7–10 business days. Your city's tax license is handled through the same ADOR application. Exempt handymen generally don't need one. [source]

      Agency: Arizona Department of Revenue

    • Mesa tax is licensed and filed through the Arizona Department of Revenue on AZTaxes.gov. ADOR's Mesa profile lists a $20 city license fee and a $20 renewal fee. Mesa's general rate is 2.0% (retail and restaurants), for a combined 8.3% with state and county. [source] [source]

      • Mesa city tax license (via ADOR): $20 per year [source]

      Agency: Arizona Department of Revenue / City of Mesa

  • If you hire employees

    • Also required: workers' compensation insurance (paid entirely by the employer), reporting each new or rehired employee within 20 days, and E-Verify for all new employees. [source]

      Agency: ADOR and Arizona DES

  • Industry licenses

    • Generally required for construction work of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, or whenever a building permit is needed. Work under the exemption must be advertised as "not a licensed contractor." Lawn, garden, shrub and tree maintenance only is exempt. [source]

      Agency: Arizona Registrar of Contractors

  • Food businesses

    • Created by HB 2371 (2018): valid statewide, a separate license for each unit, renewed yearly; employees need food handler cards. Confirm current statute text, which may have been amended. [source]

      Agency: County health department

    • The Board of Supervisors approved new environmental health fees (case ES-2025-004) on August 19, 2026; fees for new permit applications took effect immediately, and existing permits see the new fee at their next renewal. New annual operating permits for an eating & drinking establishment (Class 4): $539 with 0–9 seats and $1,015 with 10+ seats (other classes range from $373 to $808). Plan review: $728 for an eating & drinking establishment with 0–9 seats; $919 for all other food establishments. [source] [source] [source]

      • Maricopa plan review — eating & drinking, 0–9 seats: $728 [source]
      • Maricopa annual permit — eating & drinking, 0–9 seats (Class 4): $539 per year [source]

      Agency: Maricopa County Environmental Services

    • A Mesa Mobile Food Vendor License is required to operate anywhere in city limits, on public or private property. Each unit needs current commercial registration and insurance, a fire inspection within the last 12 months (for units with cooking that produces smoke or grease-laden vapors; Mesa Fire Prevention 480-644-2622), a Maricopa County permit to operate and an Arizona TPT license. City fees: $10 application, $25 background investigation per person, $100 license fee on approval, $100 annual renewal (renew 45+ days before expiry). This license exempts you from the general business license. Maricopa County annual mobile food permits (ES-2025-004, approved August 19, 2026): Type I $290, Type II $341, Type III $610. Plan review: Type II $306, Type III $300. [source] [source] [source] [source] [source]

      • Mesa mobile food vendor application: $10 [source]
      • Mesa mobile food background investigation (per person): $25 [source]
      • Mesa mobile food vendor license (annual renewal $100): $100 per year [source]
      • Maricopa mobile food Type III annual permit: $610 per year [source]
      • Maricopa mobile food Type III plan review: $300 [source]

      Agency: City of Mesa Licensing and Maricopa County Environmental Services

  • City licenses

    • Required (effective January 3, 2022) for most businesses that collect sales tax, service businesses and home-based businesses operating in Mesa; businesses with no physical presence in Mesa generally don't need one. Exemptions include out-of-state businesses, real estate brokers, residential rental owners, insurance agents, casual sellers with 4 or fewer sales a year, one-on-one tutors/lessons from a non-commercial location, and holders of a Mesa mobile food vendor, peddler/solicitor or automated kiosk license. Application fee $25 (license valid 12 months); renewal $25 a year; $10 late fee for operating unlicensed or renewing late. Renew at least 30 days before expiration — within the last 29 days you must reapply. Each location and each entity needs its own license. Taxable businesses must show an Arizona TPT license with a Mesa location. Apply online through the DIMES portal; processing usually takes 10–30 days. Card payments add a 2.37% service fee. [source]

      • Mesa General Business License (application; renews at $25/year): $25 per year [source]

      Agency: City of Mesa Licensing

    • Mesa requires additional specialty licenses for: auctioneers; auction houses, antique dealers, pawnbrokers, scrap metal and secondhand dealers; bingo; automated kiosks; escort services; fortune telling; livestock; massage & bodywork establishments; off-track betting; park & swap operations; peddlers & solicitors; sexually oriented businesses; and teenage dance halls. Several require fingerprinting. Mesa also issues liquor, short-term rental and special event licenses. [source]

      Agency: City of Mesa Licensing

  • Zoning and home businesses

    • Home occupations are allowed as an accessory use in residential zoning districts if they comply with Mesa Zoning Ordinance Section 11-31-33. Home-based businesses need a Mesa General Business License. Email [email protected] or call 480-644-4726 with your address to confirm your zoning district and rules. [source] [source]

      Agency: City of Mesa Planning

    • Confirm the use is allowed in the property's zoning district, check whether a certificate of occupancy is on file (if not, a permit with inspection may be needed; permit fees are based on construction cost), and request a Fire Safety Operational Permit from Mesa Fire & Medical if required. Sign and alarm permits may also apply. [source]

      Agency: City of Mesa Development Services

Not yet verified for Mesa: Detailed home occupation standards in Mesa Zoning Ordinance §11-31-33 (code site could not be loaded); Specialty business license fees (not listed on the specialty license page); Where food trucks may park/operate in Mesa (contact Mesa Zoning, 480-644-2385); Building permit, certificate of occupancy and Fire Safety Operational Permit fees; Sign and alarm permit fees; Liquor licenses (Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control) and Mesa liquor license fees; ADOR's Mesa profile lists collection as 'Self', while Mesa's tax page says Mesa TPT is filed and paid through ADOR/AZTaxes.gov.
See progress in My plan

Sources