How Much Does an LLC Cost in Utah (Filing Fees Breakdown)
Filing the Certificate of Organization is what creates a Utah LLC. That filing costs $59 through the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code.
Staying on the books afterward carries its own bill. An $18 annual renewal comes due every year, tied to the LLC's anniversary month. A registered agent has to stay listed the whole time too, whether that's an owner or a paid service.
What gets spent beyond those two items depends on the business itself. Its industry decides whether a city license applies. Hiring a registered agent service instead of self-filing, plus any optional filings, adds more on top. The breakdown below sorts each charge by when it comes due.
Quick Summary
- The state's own filing fees are fixed. What varies from one LLC to the next is registered agent hiring, optional filings and local license fees.
- Missing the annual renewal adds a late fee first, and long enough non-payment risks dissolution plus a paid reinstatement.
- Income tax stays flat no matter how much the LLC earns. Sales tax comes on top, owed only by businesses that sell something taxable.
| Cost Item | Amount | Frequency | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Organization | $59 | One-time | Yes |
| Registered Agent Service | $0 self / $80-$300 hired | Every year | Yes (self-serve allowed) |
| Business Name Reservation | $22 | One-time, optional | No |
| Annual Renewal | $18 (late fee $10 if missed) | Every year, anniversary month | Yes |
| Business License | Varies by city | Varies | If applicable |
| Operating Agreement | $0-$200+ | One-time | No |
| DBA / Assumed Name | $22 | One-time | No |
| Certified Copies | $12 + $0.30/page | As needed | No |
| Certificate of Existence | $12 short form / $20 long form | As needed | No |
| EIN | $0 | One-time | Yes for multi-member, if applicable for single-member |
Cost to Start an LLC in Utah
Getting a Utah LLC registered takes one mandatory filing and one standing requirement. A third item only matters to an owner who wants a name locked down ahead of time.
1. Certificate of Organization Filing Fee ($59 - Mandatory)
A Utah LLC forms by filing a Certificate of Organization with the Division. It can be filed online, by mail or in person. The fee is $59.
An owner who wants the paperwork moved along faster can add expedited processing for $75 per filing. A business already formed elsewhere pays a different fee to expand into Utah. That's another LLC cost than forming here.
2. Registered Agent Service ($0 Self / $80-$300 Hired - Mandatory to Have, Optional to Hire)
Utah law requires each LLC to keep a registered agent on file. That agent needs a physical street address in the state. This comes from the Utah Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act [1]. The agent receives legal paperwork and official notices for the company.
Naming yourself or a fellow LLC member as the agent costs nothing. The address just has to be a genuine Utah street address, since P.O. boxes don't qualify.
Some businesses would rather keep a home address off the public record. Those often hire a Utah registered agent service instead. It usually runs $80 to $300 a year.
3. Business Name Reservation ($22 - Optional)
Reserving a name before filing costs $22 and holds it for 120 days. It's worth checking the Utah Business Name Search tool first. That confirms the name is actually open.
This step can be skipped outright. The Certificate of Organization filing itself gets checked for name conflicts. A duplicate name is caught then, even without one.
Anyone who needs a new name after formation has its own process for that. See how to change an LLC's name for the steps.
Costs After Your Utah LLC Is Approved
Getting approved is just the entry fee. A handful of ongoing and extra costs follow after that, and which ones apply depends on the LLC.
1. Annual Renewal Fee ($18 - Mandatory)
Every Utah LLC owes an $18 renewal each year. It's due on the last day of the month the Certificate of Organization was first filed. It can be filed online up to 60 days ahead of that deadline.
Filing late adds a flat $10 penalty on top of the base fee. Stay delinquent long enough and the LLC can be dissolved. Getting it back to active status through reinstatement costs $54.
2. Business License (Varies - If Applicable)
Utah has no statewide business license for an LLC. Even so, most cities and towns require a general operating license of their own. Salt Lake City, for example, charges around $100 for one.
Checking with the city or county where it operates is the sure way to confirm the fee. Rates vary by place.
A special license may also apply to a regulated trade. That's its own step. See license rules for certain LLC business types for the details.
3. Taxes Payable (If Applicable)
Utah taxes LLC income at a flat 4.5% rate, the same rate applied to individual and corporate filers alike. By default, an LLC's profits pass through to the owners. The owners pay tax on their own personal returns instead of the LLC paying it.
A separate sales and use tax applies to any LLC that sells taxable goods or services. Registering for a sales tax permit through the Utah State Tax Commission costs nothing. Collecting and remitting the tax itself is still the seller's job, though.
4. DBA / Assumed Name ($22 - Optional)
Operating under a name other than the LLC's legal name takes a DBA. It costs $22 to register. An LLC can register as many assumed names as it needs, with no cap.
5. Certified Copies ($12 Plus $0.30 a Page - Optional)
Ordering certified copies of the Certificate of Organization, Operating Agreement or license records costs $12. Add $0.30 for each extra page. The state issues these on request.
6. Certificate of Existence ($12 Short Form / $20 Long Form - Optional)
A Certificate of Existence is Utah's version of a Certificate of Good Standing. It costs $12 for the short form and $20 for the long form. Banks often ask for one before opening a business account. Other states ask for one too, when approving a foreign registration.
7. Operating Agreement ($0-$200+ - Optional but Recommended)
A free single-member operating agreement template is linked in the cost table above. It covers the basics for a solo-owned LLC at no cost. Utah doesn't require an LLC to file an operating agreement with the state. There's no state fee attached to having one either way.
Multi-member LLCs generally need something more detailed. Hiring an attorney or buying a template through a formation service typically runs $100 to $200 or more. The price depends on how much it covers.
8. Employer Identification Number ($0 - Required for Multi-Member LLCs, Recommended for Others)
A multi-member LLC needs an EIN no matter what. It can't file the federal partnership-type return without one. A single-member LLC only needs one once a specific trigger applies, like hiring an employee or opening certain bank accounts.
Either way, getting an EIN straight from the IRS costs nothing. Applying online usually takes just a few minutes. Most banks won't open a business account without one, either.
FAQs
Does a Utah LLC Pay Taxes?
Yes, a Utah LLC pays taxes at the personal-return level for most owners. The flat 4.5% rate stays the same no matter how much profit the LLC makes. A business selling taxable goods or services also owes a separate sales and use tax.
Can I Expedite My Utah LLC Filing?
Yes, you can expedite a Utah LLC filing for an extra $75 per filing, on top of the standard $59 Certificate of Organization fee.
When Is the Utah LLC Annual Renewal Due?
The Utah LLC annual renewal falls due once a year, tied to the same month the LLC first formed. Checking the Division's own business search tool confirms the exact date whenever it isn't remembered offhand.
Does Utah Require an LLC to Have an Operating Agreement?
No, Utah doesn't require an LLC to have an operating agreement on file with the state. Many banks still ask to see a copy before opening a business account, and it becomes the deciding document if owners disagree about money or control.
References:
- https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title48/Chapter3A/48-3a.html
