How to Start an LLC in Utah
Learn how to start an LLC in Utah in 6 steps. File your Certificate of Organization, get a registered agent, and pay the $54 state fee. Bizee handles the paperwork for $0.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Utah LLC at a glance
Filing fee: $54
Processing time: Typically 5–7 business days (online); expedited options available
State agency: Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code (Utah Department of Commerce)
Annual report due: By the LLC's formation anniversary date each year
State tax rate: No state-level LLC franchise tax; Utah corporate income tax rate is 4.65% if taxed as a corporation; pass-through income taxed at individual rates
How to start an LLC in Utah
Forming an LLC in Utah takes 6 steps: choose a unique business name, provide a business address, assign a registered agent, file a Certificate of Organization with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS, and draft an operating agreement. The state filing fee is $54.
Why form an LLC in Utah
Utah has one of the lowest LLC filing fees in the country at $54, and the state's business climate is consistently ranked among the most entrepreneur-friendly in the U.S. An LLC gives you personal liability protection — meaning your personal finances aren't on the hook for business debts or lawsuits — while keeping taxes and paperwork simpler than a corporation.
Utah also offers microloans and economic development incentives through the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity for qualifying businesses. The LLC structure is flexible enough to work for a solo freelancer or a multi-member business, and it doesn't require a board of directors or annual shareholder meetings.
- Personal liability protection keeps your personal assets separate from business debts
- Pass-through taxation by default — no double taxation like a C Corporation
- Low $54 state filing fee
- Flexible management structure — member-managed or manager-managed
- No state-level franchise tax on LLCs
Step 1: Choose a business name
Your LLC name must be unique in Utah and include a designator like "LLC," "L.L.C.," or "Limited Liability Company." Before you file, search the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code database to confirm the name isn't already taken.
If you've found a name you want but aren't ready to file yet, Utah allows you to reserve it for 120 days by filing a Name Reservation application. The name can't include words that imply a government affiliation or require special licensing — like "bank" or "insurance" — without approval.
Step 2: Provide a business address
Every Utah LLC needs a designated street address on file with the state. A P.O. Box doesn't qualify. The address can be located outside Utah, but it must be a physical street address where official correspondence can be delivered.
If you work from home and don't want your home address on public record, a virtual business address or a registered agent's address can serve this purpose. Utah's business filings are public, so this is worth thinking through before you file.
Step 3: Assign a registered agent
Every Utah LLC must have a registered agent — a person or business entity designated to receive legal documents, tax notices, and official state correspondence on behalf of your LLC. The registered agent must have a physical street address in Utah (not a P.O. Box) and be available during normal business hours.
The registered agent can be an individual Utah resident or a business entity authorized to do business in Utah. You can serve as your own registered agent, but many business owners use a registered agent service to keep their personal address off public filings and ensure they don't miss important legal notices. If you need to change your registered agent later, you can file an amended statement with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code.
Step 4: File your Certificate of Organization
The Certificate of Organization is the official document that creates your LLC in Utah. You file it with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, either online through the Utah OneStop Business Registration portal or by mail. The state filing fee is $54.
The Certificate of Organization requires your LLC name, principal business address, registered agent name and address, and the names of the organizers. Online filing is faster — most applications are processed within 5–7 business days, and expedited processing is available for an additional fee. Mail filings take longer.
Step 5: Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a 9-digit tax ID issued by the IRS. You'll need one to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. Single-member LLCs with no employees can sometimes use a Social Security number instead, but an EIN keeps your personal number off business documents.
You can apply for an EIN for free at irs.gov. The online application takes about 10 minutes and issues your EIN immediately. There's no reason to pay a third party to do this — the IRS application is free and straightforward.
Step 6: Create an operating agreement
Utah doesn't legally require an LLC to have an operating agreement, but drafting one is worth doing. An operating agreement sets out how your LLC is managed, how profits are divided, how decisions get made, and what happens if a member leaves or the business dissolves.
Without an operating agreement, Utah's default rules under the Utah Revised LLC Act apply — including equal profit sharing among members regardless of how much each person contributed. That default works fine for some businesses, but most multi-member LLCs are better off spelling out their own terms. Even for a single-member LLC, an operating agreement helps demonstrate that your business is a separate legal entity.
After you file: ongoing requirements
Forming your LLC is the first step — staying in good standing with the state is the ongoing work. Utah LLCs must file an annual report with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code by the LLC's formation anniversary date each year. Missing the deadline can result in the state administratively dissolving your LLC.
If your business sells taxable goods or services, you'll also need to register for a Utah sales tax license through the Utah State Tax Commission. Depending on your business type, additional local licenses or permits may apply.
- Annual report: due by your LLC's formation anniversary date each year
- Annual report fee: $18 (online filing)
- Sales tax registration: required if you sell taxable goods or services in Utah
- Business licenses: check with your city or county for local requirements
- Registered agent: must remain on file at all times — update the Division of Corporations if yours changes
FAQ
The state filing fee to form an LLC in Utah is $54, paid to the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code when you file your Certificate of Organization. If you want expedited processing, the state charges an additional fee on top of the $54 base. After formation, Utah LLCs pay an $18 annual report fee each year.
Getting an EIN from the IRS is free. If you use a registered agent service, that's a separate annual cost — typically $49–$125 per year depending on the provider.
You can file your Certificate of Organization online through the Utah OneStop Business Registration portal at business.utah.gov. You'll need a UtahID account to access the portal. Have your LLC name, principal business address, registered agent name and Utah street address, and organizer information ready before you start.
Online filing is faster than mail and typically processes within 5–7 business days. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee if you need approval sooner.
Yes. Every Utah LLC is required to have a registered agent with a physical street address in Utah. The registered agent receives legal documents and official state correspondence on behalf of your LLC and must be available during normal business hours. A P.O. Box doesn't qualify as a registered agent address.
You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a Utah street address, or you can use a registered agent service to keep your personal address off public records.
No. Utah doesn't legally require an LLC to have an operating agreement. But without one, Utah's default rules under the Utah Revised LLC Act apply — including equal profit sharing among all members regardless of contribution. Most multi-member LLCs are better off with a written agreement that reflects what the members actually agreed to.
The mistakes that come up most often: mixing personal and business finances (which can put your liability protection at risk), missing the annual report deadline (which can lead to administrative dissolution), not getting an EIN before opening a business bank account, and skipping an operating agreement in a multi-member LLC. Keeping your registered agent information current is another one people overlook — if your agent changes and you don't update the state, you can miss legal notices.
Utah LLC annual reports are due by the LLC's formation anniversary date each year. The online filing fee is $18. If you miss the deadline, the state can administratively dissolve your LLC. Filing online through the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code portal is the fastest way to stay current.
It depends. There's no income threshold that automatically makes an LLC the right choice — the main reasons to form one are liability protection and tax flexibility, not a specific revenue level. Even a part-time business with modest income can benefit from the personal asset protection an LLC provides. A tax professional can help you figure out whether the structure makes sense for your situation.
