Utah LLC Naming Rules: What You Need to Know
Learn the rules for naming an LLC in Utah — required designators, distinguishability standards, restricted terms, how to search name availability, and how to reserve a name for 120 days.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Utah LLC naming requirements at a glance
Filing fee: $54 (online) / $59 (paper)
Processing time: Typically 5–7 business days (online); expedited options available
State agency: Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code (DCCC), Utah Department of Commerce
Annual report due: Annually by the LLC's anniversary month
State tax rate: 4.65% flat corporate income tax rate; LLCs taxed based on federal classification
Utah LLC naming rules
Utah LLC names must include a required designator, be distinguishable from all existing business names on file with the state, and avoid prohibited terms — particularly banking-related words. The Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code (DCCC) enforces these standards under Utah Code Ann. § 48-3a-108.
Required designators for Utah LLC names
Every Utah LLC name must include one of the following designators to identify it as a limited liability company. Utah Code Ann. § 48-3a-108(1) is specific about which forms are acceptable — you can't skip this requirement or substitute your own abbreviation.
- Limited Liability Company
- Limited Company
- LLC
- L.L.C.
- LC
- L.C.
- Ltd. Co.
If you're forming a professional LLC (PLLC), the name must instead include "Professional Limited Liability Company," "PLLC," or "P.L.L.C." under Utah Code Ann. § 48-3a-1104(1)(c).
Distinguishability: what it means in Utah
Your LLC name must be distinguishable from every other business entity name already on file with the Utah DCCC. Utah's standard is stricter than people expect — swapping one word or changing punctuation usually isn't enough.
The following changes do not make a name distinguishable on their own: switching the entity designator (for example, changing "LLC" to "Inc."), adding or removing articles and conjunctions like "a," "an," "the," "and," or "or," and changing punctuation, spacing, or special characters. The DCCC looks at the name as a whole and asks whether it could be confused with an existing name — not whether individual characters differ.
Prohibited and restricted terms
Utah prohibits LLC names that mislead the public or imply a false connection with a government agency. The most common category of restricted terms involves banking and financial institutions.
- Banking terms: "Bank," "Banker," "Banking," "Banc," "Banque," "Banco," "Bancorp," "Bancorporation," "Bankcard," "Bancard"
- Savings institution terms: "Savings Association," "Building Association," "Savings and Loan Assoc.," "Building and Loan Assoc.," "Savings Bank"
- Government affiliation: any term that implies the LLC is a government agency or governmental unit when it is not
An LLC can include these terms only if it is properly authorized and regulated as a financial institution under Utah law. If you're unsure whether a term in your proposed name triggers a restriction, talk to a legal professional before filing.
How to search Utah business name availability
The Utah DCCC provides a business entity search tool at commerce.utah.gov/corporations/searches/ where you can check whether a proposed name appears to be available. Running a search before you file saves time — but it's a preliminary check, not a guarantee.
The DCCC makes the final availability determination when it reviews your formation filing against its full naming standards. A name that looks clear in the search tool can still be rejected if the DCCC finds it too similar to an existing name under its distinguishability rules. Search first, then file — and if your name is close to an existing one, consider a name reservation to hold it while you prepare your documents.
How to reserve a Utah LLC name
If you've found an available name but aren't ready to file your LLC formation documents yet, you can reserve it for 120 days. Utah uses the "Application for Reservation of Business Name" form, and the non-refundable filing fee is $22.
A name reservation is not a business registration. It holds the name on the DCCC's records until you're ready to file — nothing more. The 120-day clock starts from the date the DCCC accepts the reservation, and the reservation is not renewable.
Doing business under a different name (DBA)
Utah allows LLCs to conduct business under a name that differs from their registered LLC name. This is called a DBA — short for "doing business as" — or an assumed business name. A DBA doesn't change your LLC's legal name or structure; it's a trade name you use with customers.
If you plan to operate under a DBA in Utah, you'll need to register it separately with the DCCC. The same naming rules apply — the assumed name must be distinguishable from existing names on file and can't include prohibited terms.
FAQ
Every Utah LLC name must include one of these designators: "Limited Liability Company," "Limited Company," "LLC," "L.L.C.," "LC," "L.C.," or "Ltd. Co." This requirement comes from Utah Code Ann. § 48-3a-108(1) and applies to every LLC formed in the state. Professional LLCs must use "Professional Limited Liability Company," "PLLC," or "P.L.L.C." instead.
Use the Utah DCCC's business entity search tool at commerce.utah.gov/corporations/searches/ to check whether a name appears to be available. The search is a preliminary check — the DCCC makes the final availability call when it reviews your formation filing. If your name is close to an existing one, consider filing a name reservation before you submit your Articles of Organization.
Yes. Utah lets you reserve an available LLC name for 120 days by filing an Application for Reservation of Business Name with the DCCC. The non-refundable fee is $22. The reservation holds the name on the DCCC's records but does not register your business — you still need to file your Articles of Organization to form the LLC.
It depends. The DCCC looks at the name as a whole and asks whether it could be confused with an existing name. Changing only the entity designator (for example, swapping "LLC" for "Inc."), adding or removing words like "the" or "and," or adjusting punctuation and spacing are not enough on their own. The proposed name needs to be meaningfully different from any existing name on file.
Yes. Utah prohibits banking-related terms — things like "Bank," "Banker," "Banc," "Bancorp," "Savings Bank," and "Savings Association" — unless your LLC is authorized as a regulated financial institution. Names that imply a false government affiliation are also prohibited. If your proposed name includes any of these terms and your LLC isn't a licensed financial institution, the DCCC will reject it.
Yes. Utah allows LLCs to operate under a DBA (doing business as) name, also called an assumed business name. You'll need to register the DBA separately with the DCCC. The assumed name must still be distinguishable from existing names on file and can't include prohibited terms. A DBA doesn't change your LLC's legal name — it's a trade name you use with customers.
No. Registering or reserving a business name with the DCCC is not the same as forming an LLC. A name reservation holds your chosen name for 120 days. Forming an LLC requires filing Articles of Organization with the DCCC and paying the state filing fee. Until you file and receive approval, your LLC does not legally exist — regardless of whether you've reserved the name.
