Utah LLCs are relatively inexpensive — especially when you consider that an LLC can protect your personal assets and help grow your business. That’s why forming an LLC is the best choice for most small businesses.
The cost to form an LLC in Utah is $54. This covers the primary cost of officially registering your LLC with the state.
Read our LLC Cost in Utah guide below to learn more about LLC costs and other fees associated with all Utah businesses.
Save Time With a Professional Service:
You can form an LLC yourself and save a little money or use a professional service and save a lot of time.
Northwest ($29 plus state fees)
How Much Is an LLC in Utah?
Utah LLC Filing Fee: $54
To form an LLC in Utah, you'll need to file the Certificate of Organization with the Utah Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce charges a $54 fee in order to process and record this document online or by mail.
You can complete this process yourself with our How to Start an LLC guide or use an LLC formation service.
Registered Agent Fee
Every Utah LLC must appoint a registered agent. Your Utah registered agent must be a resident of Utah and must be available to receive service of process during normal business hours at a designated street address.
You can be your own registered agent in Utah, or you can use a registered agent service for a minimal cost.
Recommended: Get free registered agent services for one year when you form an LLC with Northwest ($29 plus state fees).
Utah Annual Report Fee: $20
Utah requires LLCs to file an annual report with the Utah Department of Commerce. The fee for this report is $20.
Cost to Form a Foreign LLC in Utah: $54
LLCs registered in another state that want to expand into the state of Utah must register as a foreign LLC in Utah.
The cost for registering as a foreign LLC in Utah is $54. You can register a foreign LLC in Utah by filing a Foreign Registration Statement.
Business Licenses and Permits
Your business might need federal, state, and local permits/licenses to legally operate in Utah, depending on your industry and geographical location. This is true whether you form an LLC or any other type of business structure.
Learn more about state and local licensing in our Utah business license guide.
Other Utah Business Filing Fees
There are fees associated with other, optional business filings in Utah.
LLC Name Reservation
You can reserve a business name for your Utah LLC for up to 120 days by filing an Application for Reservation of Business Name with the Utah Department of Commerce and paying the $22 fee.
"Doing Business As" (DBA) Name
When an LLC is registered with the state, the LLC’s name is also officially registered. Some business owners choose to also file for a DBA name.
You can file a DBA Application with the Utah Department of Commerce in order to create a name other than your legal LLC business name. The fee for this service is $22.
Learn more in our Utah DBA guide.
Certified Document Copies
You can get certified copies of your Utah business documents by ordering through the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. The cost for this is $12 per certified stamp (i.e., per document) plus $0.30 per copied page.
Note: An expedited service is available for $75.
Certificate of Existence
Also known as a Utah Certificate of Good Standing, you can obtain this document by ordering it through the Utah Department of Commerce. The fee for this is $12 for a short-form certificate or $20 for a long-form certificate.
A Certificate of Existence is often required by banks and lenders.
Recommended: Learn more about LLC formation services in our Best LLC Services review.
How to Start an LLC in Utah
Forming an LLC yourself is easy; just follow the five steps below.
Five Basic Steps to Start an LLC in Utah
Step 1: Name Your Utah LLC
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
Step 3: File the Certificate of Organization
Step 4: Create an Operating Agreement
Step 5: Get an EIN
Step 1: Name Your Utah LLC
When you name your Utah LLC, you’ll need to choose a name that:
- Is available for use in the state of Utah
- Meets Utah’s naming requirements
- Is available as a web domain
Check web domain (URL) availability with GoDaddy:
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our free LLC name generator.
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
Utah LLCs are required to appoint a registered agent to receive service of process.
Business owners can hire a registered agent service or appoint any Utah resident that is 18 years or older and is available during normal business hours at a specified address to receive service of process.
Recommended: Northwest offers one full year of registered agent services with their $29 (plus state fees) LLC formation package.
Step 3: File Utah Certificate of Organization
To form an LLC in Utah, you must file your Certificate of Organization with the Utah Department of Commerce and pay the $54 filing fee. This can be done online or by mail.
For a closer look at the filing process, check out our Utah Articles of Organization guide.
Step 4: Create an LLC Operating Agreement
Operating agreements are not required for Utah LLCs, but it’s a good practice to have one.
An operating agreement outlines the ownership and operating procedures of an LLC, ensuring that all members are on the same page and reducing the risk of conflict down the line.
Learn more in our Utah LLC Operating Agreement guide.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number issued by the IRS to identify businesses for tax purposes. Think of an EIN as a Social Security number for your LLC.
To learn how to get an EIN for free, visit our How to Get an EIN Number guide.
LLC Cost in Utah FAQ
What is the cheapest way to start an LLC in Utah?
The cheapest way to start an LLC in Utah is to handle the registration process individually. In order to do this, you will need to follow these steps:
- Name your LLC
- Choose a registered agent: This can be a registered agent service or an individual.
- File the Utah Certificate of Organization: The filing fee for this is $54 and can be done online or by mail.
- Create an LLC operating agreement: This is usually not a legal requirement, but it is highly recommended.
- Get an EIN: This is basically your business’s Social Security number (SSN).
How much does an LLC cost per year in Utah?
All Utah LLCs are required to pay a $20 annual report fee.
For a more in-depth analysis, see our How Much Does an LLC Cost? article.
How much does an LLC license cost in Utah?
An LLC is not a business license, but a business entity. Forming an LLC in Utah costs $54. There is also a $20 annual report fee that will need to be paid in order to maintain your LLC.
You may be required to pay additional fees if you choose to pay for a registered agent service, an LLC formation service, or an LLC attorney.
See our How to Start an LLC in Utah for more information on registering your business as an LLC.
Do LLCs pay taxes in Utah?
Yes, LLCs are a “pass-through” tax entity. This means that the LLCs profits are “passed through” directly to its owner(s), who then pay income taxes independently.
This is advantageous compared to a corporation’s tax structure because it means that LLC members are not taxed twice.
Having said that, readers should keep in mind that LLCs are very flexible when it comes to how they can be taxed, and — depending on the specifics — they can choose to be taxed as a pass-through entity, a C corp, and an S corp.
For more information, see our How Is an LLC Taxed guide.
What are the tax benefits of an LLC?
The tax benefits of an LLC will depend on how you choose to be taxed, as well as on whether you are operating as a single or multi-member LLC.
Generally speaking, LLCs can choose to be taxed in several different ways, including:
- As a sole proprietorship or general partnership
- As a C corporation
- As an S corporation
See our Single-Member LLC Taxes guide for a detailed overview of the tax benefits of having an LLC as a small business.
Do I need to open a business bank account for my LLC?
Even though you do not necessarily “need” to open a bank account for your LLC, this is generally highly recommended for several reasons.
For one, having a separate bank account can allow you to maintain your LLC’s corporate veil — meaning that you will not risk losing your limited personal liability under the law. A business bank account also offers financial benefits, including the ability to build business credit more quickly and access to larger business loans.
Interested in opening a business bank account? See our review of the best banks for startups in 2024.