How to get a Utah LLC up and running
The LLC Certificate of Organization will cost $54 to file if you want to start a Limited Liability Company in Utah.
This form is sent to the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. And once it’s approved, your LLC is legal, and you can start doing business in Utah.
But there are other steps to take in Utah to start an LLC. For example, you could look up the name of your business and hire a Registered Agent.
We explain the Utah LLC process step-by-step and share tips we’ve picked up over the years. We can help you start a Utah LLC today. The process is easy.
A. Look up the name of your LLC
Before you file any LLC paperwork in Utah, you’ll want to make sure that the Utah LLC name you want is available.
You can use the Business Entity Database to do this. You can look for your business name to see if it is already taken by a Utah business. You have to do this because, in the state, no two businesses can have the same name.
Next, you’ll need to find out what the rules are for names in Utah.
You need to know that the Utah Department of Commerce has some rules and standards about how to name a Limited Liability Company.
LLC Designator: Utah law says that your LLC’s name must end with a proper designator.
Most LLCs in Utah can use the following abbreviations: L.C.
* “LLC” and “Ltd.
* “Limited Liability”
* “Limited Company” Company
Your LLC can’t have a name that sounds like it’s a different kind of legal organization. For example, your name can’t include the words or forms Corporation, Corp., Inc., Incorporated, Limited Partnership, L.P., L.P., or Trust.
B. Pick a Registered Agent in Utah
Utah Registered Agent is a person or company that accepts legal mail (called “Service of Process”) and state letters on behalf of your Utah LLC.
You can choose from the following three people to be the Registered Agent:
* You
* “Friend or relative”
* Service for a Registered Agent
Your LLC’s “Registered Agent” must have a real street address in Utah. P.O. You can’t bring boxes.
If you, a friend, or a family member will be your LLC’s Registered Agent, they should be okay with their name and address being in public records.
You can ENGAGE a Registered Agent Service for your LLC if you don’t have an address in Utah or if you’d rather not give out your address.
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent.
Northwest Registered Agent ($125 per year) is our best Registered Agent service.
They’ll scan and send to your online account any mail sent to your LLC. Northwest has been in business for more than 20 years and has great customer service.
C. File the Utah Certificate of Organization
You must file the Utah LLC Certificate of Organization with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code if you want to start an LLC.
The cost to file is $54. This fee is paid only once when you set up your LLC.
We suggest filing online because it is easier to do and takes less time to get approved.
“Shopping Cart” is the name of the online filing system.
If you’d rather file by mail, you can download the Certificate of Organization and send it with a check or money order to the Utah Division of Corporations.
If you want to file by mail, send your finished Certificate of Organization and $54 to the Utah Department of Commerce Division of Company Box 146705 Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6705.
LLC approval time: Most Utah LLCs are approved after two business days. Please see check if there are any delays by asking how long it takes to get an LLC in Utah.
D. Make an operating agreement for your LLC
A Utah LLC Operating Agreement is a corresponded deal that says who owns the LLC and how much of it each Member owns.
An Operating Agreement can also say how taxes are paid, how gains are split, how the LLC is run, and what its business goal is.
Both Single-Member LLCs and Multi-Member LLCs should have an Operating Agreement, according to us.
In the event of a lawsuit, the agreement can help show that your Utah LLC is being run correctly as a different legal business entity.
You don’t have to send the Operating Agreement for your Utah LLC to any state or government office. It also doesn’t have to be signed by a notary. Just keep a copy of the business records of your LLC and give a copy to each Member.
Your Operating Agreement can be changed as needed. You can make any changes you want as long as everyone agrees.
E. Give your Utah LLC an EIN.
The next step is to have the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) give your LLC a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN).
Your EIN is used to: identify your LLC for tax reasons
Open a bank account for your business
And, if necessary, to handle payroll (if you have workers) and get a business credit card or loan.
Get licenses and permits for your business.
Don’t ask for an Employer Identification Number until your LLC has been approved. If the state turns down your LLC, you’ll need to get a new EIN (and get rid of the old one).
It costs nothing to get a Federal Tax ID Number. Federal Tax ID Numbers are free to get from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
U.S. Citizens and U.S. Residents: If you already have an SSN or ITIN, you should apply for an EIN online. Here are directions with steps: On the IRS page, you can apply for an EIN.
Non-US Residents: You can still get an EIN for your LLC even if you don’t have an SSN or ITIN. There is no way to apply online. You have to apply by mail or fax instead. Here are directions with steps: How to get an EIN if you don’t have an SSN or an ITIN.
F. File your Utah LLC Annual Report
All Utah LLCs must file a Utah Annual Report (aka LLC Renewal) every year.
Every year, you have to pay $18 to file your Annual Report.
Due date: Your Annual Report is due on the last day of the month that your LLC was formed. The month your LLC was approved by the state is the month it has been in business for.
File online: Go to the state’s online filing page and enter your Entity ID Number and Renewal ID Number to log in. Then, finish your LLC’s annual renewal online and pay the $18 fee.
Postcard: The state will give you a postcard with the Renewal ID Number to remind you that the Annual Report is due by a certain date. You can ask for it if you can’t find the letter with your Renewal ID Number.
After your Limited Liability Company is set up,
After your Utah LLC is set up, there are a few more things to think about.
LLC bank account for business
For your LLC, you’ll need to open a business bank account. This makes it much easier to keep your business’s books and records.
By keeping your commerce
finances separate from your personal finances, having a separate bank account for your LLC keeps your personal responsibility safe.
Credit card for a business
After you open a business bank account, the bank will give you a debit card. But you might also want to get a credit card for your business to get benefits. This is also helpful for keeping work costs and personal costs separate.
Website and web address
You can look to see if your business name can be used as a domain name. GoDaddy lets you look up your domain name.
Licenses and permits for a business in Utah
Depending on where your LLC is located and what field you’re in, it may need both a Utah business license and a local business permit. For example, if you sell things in Utah, you may need a sales tax license to receive sales tax.
You can do your own study on the requirements or hire a company like IncFile to do it for you.
Phone for work
You can obtain a business phone number from Phone.com if you don’t want to use your personal or home phone number for your business.
Utah’s Corporations and Commercial Code Division
If you have questions about starting an LLC in Utah, you can talk to the Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Corporations and Commercial Code.
Their phone number is 801-530-4849, and they are open from 8 am to 5 pm and Monday to Friday. Mountain Time
