If you're looking for a sunny, pleasant place to set up shop with your family, then Arizona would most certainly be it. Looking for more information? GET Phoenix Young Professionals outlines some reasons why you can look forward to building a life in this exuberant and lively city.
What to expect if the cost of living rises
Arizona is not the cheapest place to live. According to MERIC’s 2021 Cost of Living Index, the state ranks 36th when it comes to the lowest cost of living. You’ll want to do a little digging to find out the affordability of homes in Phoenix, including how many are available. A quick search online will show you up-to-date information.
That said, you can often find cheaper houses and rentals in smaller, not-so-famous towns such as Bullhead City, Surprise and Yuma, for example. So, be sure to do your homework if you are planning on establishing a business, as you’ll need to factor in expenses like this in your operating costs.
What the community space is like
Arizona is known for its strong sense of community involving tech startups. This is why you should consider this area as one of your top choices if you want to join like-minded entrepreneurs who are determined to make a difference in the tech field.
Some of the support organizations you can encounter in Arizona include:
Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation
Desert Angels
Things to see and do in Arizona
If you are planning on moving to Arizona, don't get too comfortable. There are plenty of interesting things going on, which is why so many professionals are gravitating here. From a work-life balance point of view, Arizona has lots to offer in terms of stimulating outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, fishing, mountain biking and much more.
Some of the more well-known attractions in Arizona include:
The Grand Canyon
Sedona
Hoover Dam
What the quality of education is like here
Suppose you are keen on choosing a city with a top-notch educational system. If so, Arizona is certainly a worthy contender in this regard. Furthermore, it has many highly rated public colleges, which certainly bodes well for sourcing talented candidates for your business as well as expanding your choices when it comes to choosing excellent tertiary education for your children.
Some of the top colleges in Arizona include:
University of Arizona
Arizona State University
Northern Arizona University
How to start a business here
Suppose you've decided that Arizona is for you, and you couldn't imagine starting a business anywhere else. The next step is deciding what you need to do to realize your dreams — starting with choosing a business structure that will benefit your company. For example, you could go with the easy option of starting an LLC. For new businesses, LLCs are one of the easiest business structures because of their many benefits, including more flexibility regarding their management structure and pass-through taxation benefits.
These are just a few of the draw cards for starting an LLC. However, you'll want to be sure that you are thoroughly familiar with the registration process in Arizona, so be sure to consult with the necessary people (such as a formation service) to help you out with all the legalities in this regard.
Furthermore, you want to market your business as much as you can, at least, in the beginning, to ensure you gain a foothold in the state’s competitive market space. You can do this by ensuring your marketing efforts are amplified by using banners on your website and social media to highlight the fact that there is someone new in town. All you need to do is choose a banner from the available templates online and then personalize it with your brand-specific colors, text and even video and animation to ensure that you put your best foot forward online.
Yes, Arizona is a viable option when it comes to establishing your brand in a town that is sure to promote your business's success in every way. So, research the state, find an area you can afford, and start making arrangements to live your own Arizona dream.
GET Phoenix provides professional and personal development opportunities to career-oriented young professionals. If you have any questions, let us know!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mindy Bartley is a former community college business instructor. Today, she is a consultant who also dabbles in e-commerce startups. She created Startup Steps to bring her business knowledge to a wider audience, build a community of entrepreneurial-minded souls, and help connect first-time entrepreneurs with experienced mentors.