How Much Does an LLC Cost in Utah

The minimum Utah LLC Cost is $54, which covers the processing fee for filing your LLC formation document (known as the Certificate of Organization).

Having said that, the total cost of forming a Utah LLC will depend on several factors, including your personal preferences and business needs.

In our How Much Does an LLC Cost in Utah article, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about the different costs associated with launching and maintaining an LLC.

LLC Cost in Utah

In the table below, you can find a summary of the main requirements of forming a Utah limited liability company (LLC) and their associated fees.

                                                         

Requirement	Fee
Certificate of Organization	$54+
Registered Agent Fee	$0-$130+
LLC Name	$0-$44
Operating Agreement	$0+

Utah LLC Filing Fee ($54+)

In order to register an LLC in Utah, you will need to file specific formation documents with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code.

For domestic entities, this is known as the Certificate of Organization, while foreign entities are instead required to submit an Application for Foreign Registration Statement.

Regardless of the document you submit, a $54 processing fee will need to be paid.

If you choose to use an LLC formation service, however, you should note that the total cost will be a little higher. This is because it will include a small service fee in addition to the state organization filing fee outlined above.

The cost of an LLC formation service can range significantly, but normally starts from as low as $29, increasing if you decide to purchase any additional offerings — such as an EIN, registered agent office, or business number.

Note: For more details on the formation process, you can check out our Utah LLC Formation guide.

Utah Registered Agent ($0+)

As part of the process of filling out either your Utah LLC Certificate of Organization or Foreign Registration Statement, you’ll be required to appoint a registered agent. This is a person or entity that you must assign to receive tax, legal, and governmental correspondence on behalf of your Oklahoma LLC.

While you can act as your own registered agent at no cost, it’s often recommended to hire a professional service so you avoid any potential penalties or legal issues caused by non-compliance with state regulations.

Paying for a third-party service can also be a good way of ensuring that your personal information is kept off public records.

While the exact Utah registered agent fee you’ll be required to pay will depend on the specific provider you choose, you’ll typically be required to pay around $130+ per year.

Alternatively, you can find some of the top recommendations for professional RA services in our Best Registered Agent Services of 2024 article.

Naming Your Utah LLC ($0-$44)

When forming your Utah LLC, you’ll be required to pick a suitable name that’s available to use.

While registering a name in itself has no cost, there are two potential costs to be aware of when naming your LLC.

Reserving Name

If you already know the name you want to use for your LLC but aren’t looking to form a business right now, you can keep it safe for later use by filing an Application for Reservation of Business Name with the Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Corporations and Commercial Code.

This form costs $22 to file and will keep your name safe for a period of 120 days. After this time, you’ll need to decide whether to renew this reservation (and pay another $22 filing fee) or proceed to create your LLC.

Note: We encourage you to check your desired LLC name is available for use by performing a Business Name Search on the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code’s website.

When choosing a name for your LLC, it’s important to select one that corresponds to an available domain. This is because a matching domain ensures consistency between your LLC’s name and its online presence, which helps to strengthen its brand recognition and credibility.

Doing Business As (DBA) Name

If you want to operate your Utah business under a name other than the one it’s currently legally registered as, you’ll need to obtain a Doing Business As (DBA) name.

To secure a DBA name for your Utah LLC, you will need to file a DBA Application with the Department of Commerce’s Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, which costs $22.

Note: If the Utah Department of Commerce approves your DBA name, it will be valid for three years — after which, you’ll need to renew it.

Utah LLC Operating Agreement ($0+)

While not mandatory, it’s good practice for Utah LLCs to have an operating agreement (or “company agreement” as it’s known in Utah).

This document defines the roles and responsibilities of the members or managers in your LLC and will help prevent and solve any business disputes that may arise later on.

While you can opt to hire an online service or business attorney to draft this document for you (which typically costs at least a few hundred dollars), it’s actually quite straightforward to do it yourself at no extra cost.

It’s also important to note that this doesn’t actually need to be filed with the Utah Department of Commerce — it’s purely an internal document.

Additional Utah LLC Formation Costs

On top of the more common fees outlined above, there are a number of potential additional formation costs that LLCs in Utah may encounter depending on their circumstances.

We’ve summarized some of these additional costs below:

Expedited Utah LLC Filing

While the Utah Department of Commerce typically processes LLC filings made online instantly, mail submissions can often take much longer.

If you want your mail submission of your LLC’s Certificate of Organization to be processed more quickly than this, you can pay an additional $129 for expedited filing — which guarantees a one or two day turnaround.

Note: This expedited fee is the same regardless of whether you’re filing as a domestic LLC or a foreign LLC.

Local Business Licenses

In order to comply with the local-level regulations of your city and county, your business may be required to obtain some local business licenses. While very few municipalities impose a general licensing requirement for businesses operating within their limits, your LLC might need a specific business license if it’s involved in certain activities.

For example, the general business license for all LLCs operating in Salt Lake City costs at least $180 to obtain.

This is generally reflective of the licensing situation in most Utah municipalities, with business licenses typically ranging from $50 to several hundred dollars.

Note: To determine the local body you’ll need to get in contact with for more information on the local licenses in your municipality, be sure to refer to the Utah League of Cities and Towns website.

Certificate of Existence

A Certificate of Existence is an official document often required to open a business bank account; it can also be requested by lenders in order to check that your LLC is properly registered and legally authorized to conduct business in the state.

You can obtain this document, which is also sometimes called a Certificate of Good Standing, by requesting it online, by mail, or in person from the Utah Department of Commerce and paying a $12 fee.

Note: Expedited filing is available for an additional $75 fee, which guarantees it will be processed within two days of being received.

Cost to Maintain an LLC in Utah

In addition to the cost of forming an LLC in Utah, there are also several ongoing costs you’ll be responsible for paying each year.

We’ve outlined these recurring costs associated with maintaining a Utah LLC below.

Annual Report

All LLCs based in Utah are required to submit an Annual Report to the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code each year. The deadline for this report is the anniversary of the date your LLC was initially formed, and it must be submitted alongside either an $18 fee (if filed by mail), or a $23 fee (if filed online).

To make any changes to the information contained in the state’s records regarding your LLC, you’ll need to submit a Registration Information Change Form. This is free if submitted alongside your Annual Report, though you will need to pay extra to file it separately ($15 if you submit it online, and $13 by mail).

Note: If your LLC submits its annual report late, it will also be required to pay an additional penalty fee of $10.

Registered Agent Maintenance

If you decide to take advantage of a professional registered agent in order to handle your legal documents, you’ll be required to pay an annual fee in return for their services. This fee commonly ranges between $35 and $300 depending on the provider and features you select.

While you’re not required to use a professional registered agent service, it’s highly recommended for most small LLC owners.

Taxes

In addition to the federal tax obligations your LLC owes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), there are a variety of state-specific Utah business taxes you need to be aware of, including:

• Sales tax
• Employment taxes
• Business privilege taxes
• Property taxes

Additionally, there are various local taxes your LLC may need to pay depending on the municipality or county it’s based in, such as:

• Sales and use taxes
• Property tax

Utah vs Other States

Utah is a relatively cost effective state in which to form an LLC. With an initial cost of at least $54 and ongoing LLC costs of around $18, it’s quite a bit cheaper than many other popular alternatives.

For example, you could cover the initial and ongoing fees of an LLC in Utah for up to 15 years before it would become more expensive than the $300 upfront costs faced by Texas LLCs.

Ultimately, however, the best state to form your LLC will be one in which you plan to primarily operate your business from. This makes it far easier to stay legally compliant on a number of levels, including taxation, licensing, and filing requirements, as you’ll only need to deal with one state’s set of rules.