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If you googled how to form an LLC in Utah, and are feeling confused, don’t worry! At LLC University®, we specialize in researching the LLC formation process and turning it into step-by-step instructions.
File your Certificate of Organization to form an LLC in Utah
In this lesson, we will walk you through filing your Utah Certificate of Organization with the Division of Corporations.
This is the document that officially forms your Utah LLC. You can file the Utah LLC Certificate of Organization online or by mail.
The form asks for basic information like your business name, your LLC address, and your company’s Registered Agent information.
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
(Learn why Northwest is #1 in Northwest vs LegalZoom)
Utah LLC Certificate of Organization filing fee
The filing fee for an LLC in Utah is $54. This is a one-time fee, and it’s the same amount whether you file online or by mail.
Note: The “LLC filing fee” is the same thing as the “Certificate of Organization fee”. They are different names for the same fee to create your Utah LLC.
How much is an LLC in Utah explains all the fees you’ll pay, including the Certificate of Organization filing fee.
LLC approval times
The approval time for an LLC in Utah is 3-7 business days (plus mail time) if you file by mail, and 2 business days if you file online.
Note: Filing times may take longer due to government delays. For the most up-to-date LLC processing times, check how long does it take to get an LLC in Utah.
Expedited Utah LLC Filing
The Utah Division of Corporations also offers Expedited Filing for mail or online filings.
The Division of Corporations will process an expedited filing in 2 business days guaranteed for an additional $75 (a total filing fee of $129).
Utah has 2 online filing systems
(Shopping Cart vs OneStop)
Utah has two online filing systems for LLC formation: Shopping Cart and OneStop.
Shopping Cart is an easy-to-use online filing system built by the Division of Corporations. You complete the PDF form and then upload it.
OneStop is a multi-department registration process used by the Department of Commerce and State Tax Commission. While it was built with good intentions (and has a faster LLC approval time of 2 business days), it’s really complicated and has disadvantages.
Why we don’t recommend OneStop:
- You have to enter a lot of private information (including your date of birth and Social Security Number)
- You have to answer a ton of extra questions (which can be really intimidating and confusing, and people often don’t know how to answer them)
- The process is extra complicated (you have to pay for a name reservation, and get an EIN, before you can form your LLC)
LLC University® recommendation
We recommend filing through the Utah Division of Corporations Shopping Cart as it’s easier to complete. Instructions are below.
However, if you aren’t very tech-comfortable, you can still file by mail.
Alternatively, you can hire a company to form your LLC for you. Check out Best LLC Services in Utah for our suggestions.
How to File a Utah LLC by Mail
If you want to file by mail (instead of online), you need to:
- Download and complete the Utah LLC Certificate of Organization.
- The state doesn’t accept handwritten forms. Type in the form on your computer and then print it out.
- We have step-by-step instructions for completing the form below.
- Print out the Certificate of Organization and sign it.
- When printing, use regular white paper (8.5″ x 11″).
- Prepare a check or money order for $54
- Make payable to “State of Utah“.
- Put your LLC Name on the memo line.
- Send your payment and the completed Certificate of Organization to:
- Utah Division of Corporations
PO Box 146705
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6705
- Utah Division of Corporations
Expedited filing: If you want to request an expedited filing, overnight your Certificate of Organization form and check for $129 payable to “State of Utah” to:
Utah Division of Corporations
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
- Include a note that you want to expedite your filing – this can be a simple post-it note on the form that says “Expedited Filing”.
Getting your LLC approval documents: The Utah Division of Corporations doesn’t send any notice (by mail or email) when your LLC has been approved. You’ll need to check the Utah Business Registration Search about two weeks after you filed your LLC to download a stamped, approved copy of your Certificate of Organization. We have detailed directions on how to do this below.
How to File a Utah LLC Online
Overview of steps:
- Download the Utah LLC Certificate of Organization.
- Fill out the form using the step-by-step instructions below.
- Upload the completed form via the Division of Corporations’ and pay the filing fee.
Completing the Utah Certificate of Organization
Download the Utah Certificate of Organization form.
Note: The state does not accept handwritten forms. Complete the form on your computer, then print and sign. When printing, use regular white paper (8.5″ x 11″). Scan the printed and signed Certificate of Organization, and save it as a PDF file.
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to complete the form:
1. Name of Limited Liability Company:
- Prior Lesson: Utah LLC Name
Enter your LLC name exactly as you would like it, including your preferred capitalization, and the designator (most people use “LLC”).
You can use a comma in your LLC name or you can leave it out. For example, “Rocky Rentals, LLC” and “Rocky Rentals LLC” are both acceptable.
2. Your LLC’s Principal Office Address:
Enter your LLC’s Principal Office Address here.
This must be a physical address (no PO boxes). And while it’s called an “office” address, it doesn’t have to be an actual office address. This address can be a:
- home address
- office address
- mailbox rental address
- address of your Registered Agent (check with your Registered Agent)
Additionally, this address can be a Utah address or an address in any other state.
3. The name of the Registered Agent (Individual or Business Entity or Commercial Registered Agent):
- Prior Lesson: Utah LLC Registered Agent
- Related Reading: Is a Registered Agent a Member of an LLC?
If you’ve chosen a Commercial Registered Agent (aka Registered Agent Service), you only need to enter the company’s name.
You don’t have to list the Registered Agent address or entity number, because the Division of Corporations will look up the Registered Agent name in the state’s directory of Registered Agent companies.
If you’ve chosen to be your own Registered Agent or use a friend or family member, enter that person’s name, and then their Utah street address. The address cannot be a PO Box. Your Utah Registered Agent must have a street address located in Utah.
For more information on being your own Registered Agent, check out Can I be my own Registered Agent in Utah.
4. Signature of Organizer
There’s nothing to do here for now. After you complete the form and print it out, the Organizer signs here.
Most people forming their own LLC sign as the Organizer.
Note: The person signing the Certificate of Organization is known as the Organizer. An Organizer can be a Member, but the person signing this form is not automatically a Member. Learn more: LLC Organizer vs LLC Member and Registered Agent vs Organizer.
5. Name and Address of Members and/or Managers (optional):
This section is optional.
However, you will be required to list at least one Member or Manager of your LLC in your Annual Renewal. So it might be helpful to decide now which Member or Manager to list.
Note: Most Utah LLCs are Member-managed, where all the owners run the business and day-to-day operations. A Utah LLC can also be Manager-managed, where one, or a few designated people, run the business and day-to-day operations (while the members play more of a passive/investor role).
Read this article to learn more about Member-managed vs. Manager-managed LLCs.
6. Duration (optional):
This section is optional. It lets the state know the duration of your LLC (how long it will remain in existence).
If you prefer for your LLC to be “open-ended” with no set end date, check the box next to “The duration of the company shall be perpetual“. Most people choose this option.
If you prefer for your LLC to be automatically shut down after a certain period of time, check the second box and write down that amount of time in years or years and months. Most people don’t do this, and simply file a Dissolution if they need to close their LLC later.
7. Purpose (optional):
This section is optional.
If you choose to fill this out, then enter a few words or a sentence about what your business does (the LLC business purpose).
It doesn’t have to be super specific, and you don’t have to do the same thing forever. You can change the business purpose of your LLC at any time (without needing to file anything with the state or the IRS).
You can enter just a few words (For example: “pizza shop”, “real estate investing”, “landscaping”, etc.), or a short sentence (For example: “We restore old cars”, “I offer life coaching services”, etc.).
Optional Inclusion of Ownership Information:
This section asks if your LLC is female-owned or minority-owned. You can skip this if you’d like, however, if you later try to get a minority-owned business certification, it would be helpful to have this already listed on your Utah Certificate of Organization.
Print and Sign
Print out your completed Certificate of Organization, and have the Organizer sign the form. Use regular white paper (8.5″ x 11″).
Then scan the printed and signed Certificate of Organization and save as a PDF file.
How to Upload your Certificate of Organization
The Division of Corporations has a thorough walk-through of the Shopping Cart process in this guide. We will also take you through the steps below.
First, make sure you’ve scanned and saved your Certificate of Organization.
Second, choose the correct filing link based on how quickly you want your LLC approved.
- Regular Filing (approved in 7-10 business days, costs $54)
- Expedited Filing (approved in 2 business days, costs $129)
Product Detail
Under Additional Information, enter “Certificate of Organization for [name of your LLC]“.
For example: “Certificate of Organization for Rocky Rentals LLC”.
Click Add to Cart to continue.
Your Cart
This screen shows you the filing you selected (New Filing for an LLC). Click Checkout to continue.
Enter Your Contact Information
If the Division of Corporations has any questions about your LLC filing, they will use the information you enter on this screen in order to contact you.
You must enter your name and email. You can also provide your phone number, but it’s not required.
Because you’re forming a new company, you should leave “Business Entity Number” blank.
Click Continue.
Upload File(s)
Upload your completed and signed Certificate of Organization.
Click Proceed to Payment to continue.
Credit Card Payment
Utah LLC fee: $54
You can pay with a credit or debit card. Enter your card details.
Under “How much would you like to put on this card”, select the option “The Total Amount: $54.00“.
Finalize and submit your payment to the state.
Congratulations! Your Utah LLC has been submitted to the state.
Note: The Order Number that appears on the Success screen is just a transaction number. It’s not your LLC’s Business Entity Number. You’ll get this after your LLC is approved.
LLC approval time (online filing)
Your LLC will be approved within 2 business days of submitting your Certificate of Organization.
However, the Division of Corporations doesn’t send any kind of notification to let you know when your LLC has been approved. You will need to check the Utah Business Registration Search until your LLC appears.
Once it’s approved, you can download the stamped and approved Certificate of Organization for $2.
How to get your LLC approval documents
Check the Business Registration Search for your LLC by typing your LLC name in the “Business Name” field. You can just search the name and leave off the LLC designator.
For example, when we checked to see if Rocky Rentals LLC had been approved yet, we just searched “Rocky Rentals”.
Note: Utah has several different entity databases, so make sure you’re using the Utah Business Registration Search linked above.
- If your LLC hasn’t been approved yet, you’ll see a screen like this:
- Once your LLC is approved, you’ll see a screen like this, and you’ll be able to click your entity record:
Entity Details:
Once you’re on your LLC’s Entity Details page, click View Filed Documents.
Tip: Don’t click “Purchase Certificate of Existence” (aka Certificate of Good Standing). This form is $14 and it’s not required. It’s also not the LLC approval document. Instead, click “View Filed Documents” in order to download your stamped and approved Certificate of Organization.
Scanned Images of Filings:
The next screen shows you all the documents that have been filed for your LLC. So far, you should only see your Certificate of Organization. The name used by the system for the Certificate of Organization is “Public_Applications”.
Click the checkbox for this document, and enter your name and email address.
Select Payment Method:
Click Credit Card (even if you’re using a Debit Card).
Credit Card Payment:
Enter your payment information. Make sure to enter your email address on this screen, also.
Click Continue.
Success!
Once you’ve confirmed and submitted your payment, you’ll reach a success screen. This page will have a link to download the PDF of your Certificate of Organization.
You will also receive an email with a link to download the PDF of this form if you entered your email address on the payment screen.
We recommend making a few copies of your Certificate of Organization and keeping them with your business records.
Utah Division of Corporations Contact Info
If you have any questions, you can contact the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Corporations and Commercial Code.
Their phone number is 801-530-4849. Their hours are 8am – 5pm Mountain Time, Monday – Friday.
Search your domain name
If you plan on building a website, you can quickly register your domain name. Creating a website with your business name as the domain name can help people find your business online. You can easily search and purchase a domain name through GoDaddy.
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Utah LLC Certificate of Organization FAQs
What is a Certificate of Organization for an LLC in Utah?
The Certificate of Organization is a form that tells the Utah Division of Corporations important information about your LLC. Once the Division of Corporations approves your LLC, your company officially exists.
The Certificate of Organization asks for your LLC name, business address, Registered Agent, and other information.
This document may also be called the Utah LLC Articles of Organization.
How do I get a Certificate of Organization in Utah?
You can get the Utah LLC Certificate of Organization from the state’s website.
The Corporations Division provides a Utah LLC Certificate of Organization template form for you to use. You can download the PDF for free.
If you’re looking for a copy of a Certificate of Organization that you already filed for your LLC:
Search your LLC name on the Utah Business Registration Search page. Click the button “View Filed Documents” once you’ve opened your LLC’s entity page. Then select the Certificate of Organization and pay the $2 fee to get a copy.
Do you have to put LLC in your business name in Utah?
Yes, you have to put “LLC” (or another allowable ending) in your LLC name. For example, Utah allows the following endings:
- LLC
- L.L.C.
- LC
- L.C.
- Limited Company
- Limited Liability Company
Tip: Most people choose “LLC”.
Your complete LLC name gets listed in your Utah Certificate of Organization.
How much does it cost to file a Certificate of Organization in Utah?
It costs $54 to file the Utah LLC Certificate of Organization. This is a one-time fee paid to the Utah Division of Corporations.
You will also have to pay $2 for the stamped and approved copy of your Certificate of Organization.
How much does an LLC cost per year in Utah?
Your Utah LLC must file an Annual Report (aka Annual Renewal) and pay the $18 fee every year.
This fee is paid to the Utah Division of Corporations. Filing the Annual Report keeps your LLC in good standing.
Does my LLC need any Utah business licenses?
It depends on what your business does.
Utah doesn’t have a state-wide general business license requirement. However, the Utah Department of Commerce requires certain types of businesses to have a license. You should check with your city about any local business license requirements for your LLC.
And you may need to register with the Utah State Tax Commission in order to collect sales tax or register for other taxes.
Can I use the instructions above for filing a Foreign LLC?
No, the instructions on this page are specifically for filing a Domestic LLC in Utah.
If you want to register a Foreign LLC, you can find the forms and fees in Foreign LLC Fees by State.
How to start an LLC in Utah
Here are the steps to starting an LLC in Utah:
- Select a business name for your Utah LLC
- Choose your Registered Agent
- File the LLC Certificate of Organization with the state
- Complete and sign an LLC Operating Agreement
- Get a Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- Open an LLC bank account
- Check whether you need a business or sales tax license in Utah
References
Utah LLC Act
Utah LLC Act: Section 201
Utah Division of Corporations: How to Use Shopping Cart
Utah Division of Corporations: Fiscal Year 2023 Fee Schedule
Utah Division of Corporations: Domestic Limited Liability Company
Utah Division of Corporations: LLC Certificate of Organization Form
Utah Division of Corporations: LLC Certificate of Organization Instructions
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
I sent in the form for Certificate of Organization and was wondering if i had the paper work filled out correctly. I did not have a signature on the paper. If I need that i can get it done and fax the paper in.
Hi Dusty, it’s best to wait for the state to respond and then you can correct the filing. Hope that helps.