Step 1: Choose a name Utah will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Company”, “L.L.C.” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Utah against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $22, for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Certificate of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Utah who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Utah companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Certificate of Organization
File it with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. The fee is $59. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Most filings at once; 5 to 7 business days for one that needs manual review. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Utah doesn't require one (Utah Code § 16-20-107(1)-(2)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Utah LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Utah has accepted the Certificate of Organization.
Step 6: File the Utah LLC annual report
Fee: $18 annual report/renewal (FY2026 fee schedule). Due: Each year by the last day of the anniversary month (the month the LLC was formed); may be filed up to 60 days early (Utah Code § 16-1a-212). (Source: Utah Code § 16-1a-212, le.utah.gov.)
| After formation | Utah |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $18 each year (due by the last day of the anniversary month) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Existence, $12 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Utah certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Utah
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $59 |
| First year, state fees | $59 |
| Each year after | $18 |
Over five years, Utah's state fees come to $131. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Utah Code § 16-1a-302, le.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Utah Code § 16-1a-303, le.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Utah Code § 16-1a-304, le.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Utah Code § 16-1a-212, le.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Utah Code § 16-1a-604, le.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Utah Code § 42-2-201, le.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Utah Code § 42-2-204, le.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Business name conventions and policies, corporations.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Policies and procedures for administering business entity name availability and standards, commerce.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Ordering in house documents, commerce.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-09
DBA (assumed name), commerce.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Renewal process, commerce.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Domestic limited liability company 2, corporations.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Currentfees (PDF), commerce.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Online entity search, businessregistration.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Corporations, commerce.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Form TC-65 instructions (2025) (PDF), files.tax.utah.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Utah
- Choose a name Utah will accept and check it against the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Utah.
- File the Certificate of Organization with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code ($59).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Utah?
$59 to file the Certificate of Organization. The state's fees come to $59 in the first year and $18 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Utah?
The Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code gives most filings at once; 5 to 7 business days for one that needs manual review.
Do I need an operating agreement in Utah?
Utah doesn't require one (Utah Code § 16-20-107(1)-(2)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Utah online?
Yes. The Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code takes the Certificate of Organization online, for $59.
When is the Utah LLC annual report due?
Each year by the last day of the anniversary month (the month the LLC was formed); may be filed up to 60 days early (Utah Code § 16-1a-212).
Does Utah require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Utah's recurring filing: $18 each year (due by the last day of the anniversary month).