SMALL BUSINESSES

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: recruit, grow, create – recruit out-of-state companies to expand their operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to grow their business in Arizona and beyond; and partner with entrepreneurs and companies large and small to create new jobs and businesses in targeted industries.

Small Business is OUR Business.
We're here to help you grow in an ever-changing economy. Dedicated to delivering innovative entrepreneurs the resources required to grow and thrive in an ever-changing marketplace, ASBA offers relevant education, mentoring, networking, advocacy programs, and member benefits that equip your business with all the tools to succeed.

PREPARE > PLAN > GROW

The Arizona Commerce Authority – supported by a dynamic group of community partners — has launched a statewide initiative to help Arizona’s small businesses prepare for success, plan for the future, and grow into thriving businesses. Through virtual webinars and hands-on workshops, local business leaders and subject matter experts will provide real-time support and available resources across Arizona.

There's this notion that to grow a business, you have to be ruthless. But we know there's a better way to grow. One where what's good for the bottom line is also good for customers. We believe businesses can grow with a conscience, and succeed with a soul — and that they can do it with inbound. That's why we've created an ecosystem uniting software, education, and community to help businesses grow better every day.

Local First Arizona's Rural Business Academy is a first-of-its-kind accelerator program with courses designed to address the unique challenges experienced by businesses operating in rural communities.

Each course is facilitated over six weeks with up to 12 participants, each led by an expert in the field with opportunities to collaborate with peers and one-on-one with mentors. The goal for each course is to provide hands-on learning, real-world exercises, and take-home tools that strengthen each business where it’s needed most.

SizeUp Arizona provides small-to-medium sized businesses and entrepreneurs around the state with the market research and data analytics necessary to better understand competition and fine-tune their business model for success. The site provides the ability to research costs, revenue, customers, location, and marketing strategy scenarios comparative to similar businesses around Arizona and the U.S.

Start, Operate and Grow a Business in Arizona

This free, interactive Checklist Program is designed to guide start-up, growing, and out-of-state businesses to commonly requested licensing information. It also includes contact information to statewide resources and assistance to accelerate your business growth.

The AZSBDC Network works to help launch, grow and sustain small businesses in Arizona. We are Arizona’s largest most comprehensive and accessible statewide source of assistance for small businesses in every stage of development. The Network consists of two teams – the Arizona Small Business Development Center Network (AZSBDC), which provide tools, training and one-on-one business counseling, and the Arizona Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC), which help businesses seeking federal, state and local contracting opportunities.

Local First Arizona’s We Rise business accelerator is a new, no-fee six-month program offering comprehensive and practical business skills to Arizona’s Black entrepreneurs.

Meeting bi-weekly, business owners receive classroom instruction and mentorship from Black entrepreneurs with firsthand experience and expertise in starting or growing a small business in Arizona. The We Rise business accelerator exposes start-up or experienced businesses that are missing fundamental components of entrepreneurship to the nuts and bolts needed to build a successful business in Arizona’s economy. During the COVID era, classes will be through remote learning. Classes may be in person in the future, pending community safety recommendations.