The gate: Registration as an ESA vendor, paid through ClassWallet
What the rules actually say
We have not found a single sentence on the official sources that states the requirement cleanly enough to quote, so we are not going to invent one. The sequence below comes from our own state-by-state research, and every source is linked at the bottom for you to read yourself.
The sequence, in order
1. Form your legal entity + EIN. Set up an LLC (fast, no board required) or a nonprofit via the Arizona Corporation Commission (azcc.gov), get a free EIN from the IRS, and open a business bank account. ClassWallet pays your business by ACH, so this comes first.
2. Operate as a private school (the ESA vendor category). For ongoing ESA tuition, microschools register under ClassWallet’s “Private school / educational institution” vendor category. Arizona lightly regulates private schools, but this is the category that lets ESA funds pay your tuition.
3. Bind liability + abuse/molestation insurance. Get a commercial general liability policy that specifically includes educational operations, plus abuse/molestation coverage — a homeowner’s policy will not cover a school. Arizona microschool policies typically run $400–$1,200/yr, and ClassWallet vendor onboarding expects evidence of insurance.
4. Get IVP Fingerprint Clearance Cards. Arizona does not mandate IVP Fingerprint Clearance Cards for all private-school staff by law, but they are effectively required — ADE uses background checks in vendor integrity review and insurers expect them. Apply via AZDPS: roughly $67 in state fees + ~$29 LiveScan, valid 6 years.
5. Confirm zoning, occupancy & fire safety. Confirm your location allows a school (zoning), meets occupancy limits, and passes fire-safety code — handled with your city/county and a local inspection.
6. Register as a ClassWallet ESA vendor. Arizona ESA is serviced by ClassWallet. As a school/provider you start with ClassWallet’s Pre-Registration Form, then work with ClassWallet (
[email protected]) to get listed and set up ACH payment. Families then pay you through “Pay Vendor.” Give the full setup several weeks end to end — this is the step founders get stuck on, and the one we complete for you in Concierge.
7. Prepare a ClassWallet-compliant invoice. To get paid, the family submits a complete, itemized invoice from your school through ClassWallet — student name, service description, dates, and amount. Use the template we generate above so “Pay Vendor” clears cleanly.
Where founders actually stall
Arizona is one of the easier states to open in, and that is exactly the trap: founders skip the paperwork sequence because nothing forces them to do it in order, then find the ClassWallet vendor setup blocked by a missing document from step one.
What we have not verified
Current ADE processing time for vendor registration. azed.gov served a bot challenge to our checker, so we could not confirm published guidance.
We would rather say this than guess. Everything above that is stated as fact carries a link to the primary source, so you can check us.
Sources
Get set up in Arizona
Get set up in Arizona
Arizona has no pre-approval step before funding, which makes it one of the lighter states to set up in. Both options are one-time. We never take a cut of your tuition.
Launch Kit · $950. Your Arizona playbook: every step in the right order, the document each one needs, and the operator tools (roster, attendance, tuition billing, evidence vault). You do the filing.
Get the Launch Kit · $950
Concierge · $1,995. Everything in the Launch Kit, plus we do the ESA-vendor registration with you in a working session, inside Arizona’s own platform.
Get Concierge · $1,995
Secure checkout via Stripe. We email you within one business day to confirm your state and school. Guidance, not legal advice.
Free: the Arizona starter checklist
Free: the Arizona microschool starter checklist
Where to begin, what your state requires, and how funding works. No fluff.