How to Start an LLC in Utah (2026)
Utah has no Secretary of State. To form an LLC here, you file a Certificate of Organization. You send it to the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. The fee is $59, whether you file online or on paper.
This guide walks you through picking a compliant name, naming a registered agent and filing the certificate. It also covers Utah's annual renewal, so your LLC stays active. Everything here is for forming a new domestic LLC in Utah.
If you already have an LLC formed in another state, registering it in Utah works differently. It uses a different form, but the same fee. The FAQs below cover the details.
Quick Summary
- Check your LLC name before you file. A name that isn't distinguishable from one already on record gets your Certificate of Organization rejected.
- Naming a member as registered agent is allowed. That address becomes a public record once the state approves your filing.
- File your annual renewal on time. Skip it and Utah marks the LLC delinquent, then expired.
Utah LLC Requirements at a Glance
These are the current numbers for a Utah LLC. They come straight from the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code and the Utah State Tax Commission.
| LLC requirement | State-specific answer |
|---|---|
| Filing document | Certificate of Organization, the LLC formation form |
| Filing authority | Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Corporations and Commercial Code (no Secretary of State in Utah) |
| State filing fee | $59 (same for online and paper) |
| Online filing | Yes, Utah Business Registration System |
| Processing time | Online filings are usually processed and approved the same day. Mail and in-person filings are processed in the order received, with no fixed turnaround published. |
| Registered agent | An individual or business entity, commercial or noncommercial. A noncommercial agent needs a Utah street address and cannot be the LLC itself. |
| Annual report | Annual Report/Renewal, $18/year, filed online via the Business Registration System using the entity's Renewal ID. A $10 late renewal fee applies if missed. |
| Publication required? | No publication requirement found on the domestic LLC page, foreign LLC page, business licensing guide or Certificate of Organization instructions |
| State business tax | None. Taxed pass-through by default (Form TC-20 if the LLC elects corporate treatment). |
| Last verified | September 4, 2026 |
How to Start an LLC in Utah: 5 Steps
Follow these five steps in order, from picking a name to getting an EIN. Your Utah LLC goes active as soon as the Division approves your filing.
Step 1: Choose and check your LLC name
Your name must include the words "limited liability company" or "limited company," written out in full. Abbreviations work too, like LLC, L.L.C., LC or L.C.
The word "limited" can shorten to Ltd, and "company" can shorten to Co. Your name also has to differ from each name on file with the Division [1].
Run it through the Business Name Availability Search before you file. Utah also skips the newspaper notice some other states still require. If you're not ready to file, a $22 reservation holds your name for 120 days.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
Every Utah LLC needs a registered agent with a Utah street address. The agent can be a person or a commercial registered agent. It can also be another business entity in good standing with the Division.
Your LLC just can't act as its own agent. Some owners hire one out instead: compare registered agent services in Utah before you file your paperwork.
Step 3: File the Certificate of Organization with the Division
The Certificate of Organization is the document that actually creates your LLC. File it online through the Business Registration System, or submit it by mail or in person. Either way, you pay the $59 fee.
If you'd rather not handle the filing yourself, one of Utah's best LLC formation services can take care of it for you.
Our how to start an LLC guide covers the parts of the process that stay the same in each state. Check it out for the bigger picture.
Step 4: Create an operating agreement
An operating agreement isn't mandatory in Utah, and the Certificate of Organization form and instructions never mention submitting one. Writing one anyway still helps. It gives your LLC its own rules for ownership and management, plus what happens if a member leaves.
Step 5: Get an EIN
irs.gov issues an EIN for free. Most online applications get approved the same day. You'll need one to open a business bank account or hire employees.
Filing the Certificate of Organization in Utah: What to Expect
Here's exactly what happens between submitting your Certificate of Organization and getting it back approved. This covers it field by field and dollar by dollar.
1. What the form asks for
The Certificate of Organization asks for your LLC's name and principal office address. It also asks for your registered agent's name and address. A PO box works too, listed after the street address. An organizer signs the form [2].
You can optionally list your LLC's members or managers, its duration and its purpose. None of those last three are required to get the certificate approved.
2. Fee and payment methods
Pay the fee online with a card through the Business Registration System's shopping cart. Mail, fax and in-person filings use a Payment Cover Letter instead, faxed to 801-530-6438 if you choose that route. Expediting adds another $75 to the base fee.
3. Processing times
| Filing method | Processing time |
|---|---|
| Online | Most filings are processed and approved the same day, with others taking 2 to 4 business days |
| Not published. Filings are processed in the order received. | |
| In person | Not published separately from mail. Walk-in filings are reviewed in the order received. |
| Expedited | Available for an additional $75 per filing. The Division does not publish a specific expedited turnaround time. |
| Current state estimate | "Most filings are instantly processed and approved. All others, please allow 2-4 business days from receipt for processing." |
Most online filings get approved the same day. The Division says the rest take 2 to 4 business days. Paper filings sent by mail or dropped off in person are worked in the order they arrive. The Division doesn't publish a fixed turnaround for those.
See how long it takes to form an LLC in Utah for more on what can slow a filing down.
4. Where to file by mail or in person
Mail your Certificate of Organization to PO Box 146705, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6705. To file in person or by overnight courier, use 160 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 instead.
5. Common reasons filings are rejected
The Division doesn't publish a list of reasons it rejects LLC filings. Its Payment Cover Letter has a box for resubmitting a document that was rejected once. Still, double-check your form before you send it. Make sure it's complete and signed.
6. What you receive when it's approved
Once the Division clears your filing, your LLC gets its own entity number. It shows up right away in the Business Registration Search. You can log back into the Business Registration System to view or download your certificate.
For separate proof your LLC is in good standing, a Certificate of Existence costs $12 for the short form or $20 for the long form.
What It Costs to Start an LLC in Utah
The table below breaks down every fee Utah's Division can charge to form and keep your LLC in good standing.
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| State filing fee | $59 (same for online and paper) |
| Name reservation | $22, reserves the name for 120 days from approval |
| Registered agent | $0 for a member/manager (noncommercial) agent. No price set by the Division for a commercial agent. |
| Certified copy | Certificate of existence costs $12 (short form) or $20 (long form). Certified copies cost $12 plus $0.30 per certified page. |
| Expedited filing | $75 per filing, added to the standard fee |
| Annual report | Annual Report/Renewal, $18/year, filed online via the Business Registration System using the entity's Renewal ID. A $10 late renewal fee applies if missed. |
| Other mandatory state fees | None. The filing fee, the optional name reservation and the annual renewal are the only state-mandated LLC fees. |
Only the state filing fee shown above is required [3]. Everything else is optional: reserving your name, hiring a commercial registered agent, ordering a certified copy or expediting your filing.
The annual renewal only comes due once your LLC exists. The full breakdown includes each optional add-on and its exact price. See what it costs to form an LLC in Utah for those numbers.
Utah-Specific Rules That Change the Process
A few Utah-specific rules are worth knowing before you file. They change how the rest of the process plays out.
1. Naming rules and restricted words
Beyond the required designator and Utah's distinguishability rule from Step 1, the Division publishes no restricted-word list for LLC names. Its naming instructions and Business Name Information page name no banned or consent-required words.
2. Professional LLC (PLLC) rules
Some LLCs need a professional license to operate. Those register as a Domestic Professional Limited Liability Company instead of a standard LLC. You file it through the same Business Registration System as any other Utah LLC.
3. Member and manager disclosure
The Certificate of Organization itself doesn't require you to list members or managers. Utah's annual renewal does, though. You have to name at least one manager, member or other governing person there. Utah's public-records law makes that registration information public once you file it.
If your registered agent's address ever changes, update it right away, since that's the same public record. Here's how to update your registered agent in Utah.
4. Annual renewal, late fees and reinstatement
Miss the $18 annual renewal and Utah's system marks your LLC delinquent, then expired. A $10 late fee applies on top of the renewal fee.
You can still fix an expired LLC. Renew online within 2 years of the dissolution date. It costs a $54 reinstatement fee. Wait longer than that, and you start over with a brand-new certificate.
If you're closing the business instead of reviving it, see how to dissolve an LLC in Utah the right way.
5. Foreign LLC registration
An LLC formed in another state uses a different form to register here: an Application for Authority to Transact Business, filed through the same Business Registration System. Online filings are approved within 24 hours, according to the Division's FAQ.
6. State business tax and local licensing
LLCs in Utah owe no separate franchise or privilege tax. A default LLC is taxed as a pass-through entity. An LLC can elect corporate tax treatment instead. Then it files the state's Corporation Franchise and Income Tax return.
Utah has no general state business license, though. Your LLC still needs a license from the city or county where it operates.
What to Do After Your Utah LLC Is Approved
Open a business bank account once you have your Certificate of Organization and your EIN in hand. From there, look up your LLC in Utah's records any time you need to confirm its status or pull a copy of your filing.
Register for Utah tax accounts like sales tax or withholding. Use the Taxpayer Access Point on its own. Or use OneStop Business Registration to handle several state agencies in one filing. A paper option, Form TC-69, exists too, but it takes longer.
| Compliance item | Deadline, fee and department |
|---|---|
| Initial report | None required. Only the annual Renewal/Annual Report appears on the domestic LLC FAQ, Renewal Users Guide and Certificate of Organization instructions. |
| Annual or biennial report | Annual Report/Renewal, $18/year, filed online with the entity's Renewal ID through the Business Registration System. Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. |
| State tax registration | Register with the Utah State Tax Commission through Taxpayer Access Point online, through OneStop Business Registration or by mail with Form TC-69. |
| Renewal deadline | Same as the annual Renewal/Annual Report above. Local city and county business licenses renew on their own separate schedules. |
| Late fee | $10 late fee. $54 online reinstatement within 2 years, then a new Certificate of Organization is required. |
| Responsible state department | Division of Corporations and Commercial Code (filings and renewals) and Utah State Tax Commission (tax registration) |
FAQs
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Utah?
Yes, you can serve as your own Utah LLC's registered agent if you list a Utah street address, the same rule that applies to any noncommercial agent. The one thing you can't do is name the LLC itself as its own registered agent.
How Much Does It Cost to Reserve an LLC Name in Utah?
It costs $22 to reserve an LLC name in Utah, holding it for 120 days from approval. File an Application for Reservation of Business Name with the Division before you're ready to submit your Certificate of Organization.
Why Doesn't Utah Use a Secretary of State for LLC Filings?
Utah doesn't have a Secretary of State handling business filings. The Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, part of the Department of Commerce, handles that job instead.
How Much Does a Certified Copy of My Utah LLC Documents Cost?
A certified copy of your Utah LLC's filed documents costs $12, plus $0.30 for each extra certified page. That's different from a Certificate of Existence, which proves good standing and costs $20 for the long form.
References:
- https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title48/Chapter3A/48-3a.html
- https://corporations.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/llc-domestic-instructions-1.pdf
- https://corporations.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/currentfees.pdf
