Session 1 · Utah
How to Start an LLC in Utah (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
Key facts
By the end you will know
- The official fee and form in Utah
- How to meet the registered agent rule
- What comes after formation
- Which services we would use and why
If you would like help with the filing
1. Mainstay Filing: best for a hands-off first year
Mainstay Filing gets our top grade for Utah: at $199 a year it files the LLC, serves as the registered agent and files the annual report, and the price stays at $199 when you renew.
Utah Registered Agent.co is $200 less across three years; handling more of the lesson's steps earns this one the higher mark.
The Annual Report/Renewal comes with the service, and the $18 state fee is passed along.
What the price covers
- The formation filing
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Annual report prepared and filed
- The EIN application
- Official fee, at cost
Marks in its favor
- The same $199 every year
- A flat $199 each year
- It files the EIN application for you
Where it loses points
- Utah Registered Agent.co renews for $100 less
2. Utah Registered Agent.co: best for an inexpensive Utah start
Next on the report card comes Utah Registered Agent.co, graded second: $199 gets you started with a free first agent year, and $99 each year from year two.
Set aside time for the Annual Report/Renewal every year, since the price does not include it.
What the price covers
- Your Utah formation is prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- $199 plus the state fee
- Agent covered for year one
- The agent renews at $99
Where it loses points
- There is no Annual Report/Renewal service
- It charges $99 for the EIN step
3. UT Registered Agent.org: best for a low agent renewal
Next on the report card comes UT Registered Agent.org, graded third: $199 gets you started with a free first agent year, and $99 each year from year two.
Set aside time for the Annual Report/Renewal every year, since the price does not include it.
Utah Registered Agent.co and this service charge the same.
What the price covers
- Your Utah formation is prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- The agent renews at $99
- $199 plus the state fee
- Agent covered for year one
Where it loses points
- There is no Annual Report/Renewal service
- It charges $99 for the EIN step
The grades and prices at a glance
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Utah Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Utah Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | UT Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit UT Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
How to form your Utah LLC
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Step
1Check that the name is available
Your first task is a name search in the records kept by the Utah Secretary of State, because a taken name in Utah can get your filing returned.
Have a spare name ready.
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Step
2Choose a registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A commercial registered agent listed with the state, a noncommercial agent (an individual or entity), or the holder of a named position in the company.
The address has to be an actual street address or rural route box number in Utah. A P.O. box can follow the street address but cannot replace it.
Every pick on our list includes a registered agent.
Where this comes from: Class notes: le.utah.gov (October 2026)
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Step
3Decide: do it yourself or hire help
Filing directly costs only the $59 state fee. A service adds $199 but handles the forms. See the graded list.
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Step
4Deliver the Certificate of Organization
When the Utah Secretary of State accepts the Certificate of Organization together with $59 (Utah Code § 48-3a-201), the LLC exists. Posted processing time: Most filings immediately; manual review 5 to 7 business days.
Where this comes from: Class notes: commerce.utah.gov (October 2026)
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Step
5Obtain an EIN
Once approved, the LLC can get a federal tax ID, the EIN, from the IRS. A business bank account will need it. Mainstay Filing treats the EIN application as part of the package.
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Step
6Draft the operating agreement
Write down ownership and decision rules in an operating agreement. It is an internal paper and no part of the Utah filing.
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Step
7Keep the LLC active
Mark the Annual Report/Renewal on your calendar: $18, every year, with the deadline last day of the entity's anniversary month. The late charge is $10.
Where this comes from: Class notes: corporations.utah.gov (August 2026)
What you will pay
| Cost item | Paid to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Formation filing | The state | $59 |
| Annual Report/Renewal | The state | $18 every year |
| Late fee | The state | $10 |
| Help from a service | Service | $199 in the first year |
| State fees, years one to three | The state | $95 |
Why Mainstay Filing comes first
Homework the price handles carries 33% of the report card, and that is where pulled ahead in Utah.
Utah Registered Agent.co costs less, but the Annual Report/Renewal stays with you.
Common questions
What does it cost to form an LLC in Utah?
The state's fee is $59. A service from our graded list adds $199 in year one.
Which form creates the LLC?
Step 4 of this lesson shows how to complete the Certificate of Organization and where to send it: the Utah Secretary of State.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
How long does Utah take to process the filing?
Posted processing time: Most filings immediately; manual review 5 to 7 business days.
What does Utah require each year?
The yearly task is the Annual Report/Renewal ($18, every year, due last day of the entity's anniversary month).
Can I form the LLC without a service?
A service is optional. Owners can send the paperwork themselves with the $59 fee, provided they appoint a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
We would pick Mainstay Filing, because one yearly price of $199 does three lesson steps for you: the filing, the registered agent and the annual report. After that, Utah Registered Agent.co and UT Registered Agent.org.
Class references
- Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code is covered in the official page at corporations.utah.gov; our notes follow it as of August 2026.
- Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code is covered in the official page at corporations.utah.gov; our notes follow it as of August 2026.
- Utah report due date is covered in the official page at le.utah.gov; our notes follow it as of August 2026.
- Utah Code § 48-3a-201 is covered in the official page at le.utah.gov; our notes follow it as of August 2026.
- Utah formation fee: Filing fee, official source is covered in the official page at commerce.utah.gov; our notes follow it as of October 2026.
- Utah registered agent statute is covered in the official page at le.utah.gov; our notes follow it as of October 2026.
- Processing and expedite, official source is covered in the official page at businessregistration.utah.gov; our notes follow it as of October 2026.
- Mainstay Filing Utah service page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- Utah Registered Agent.co pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- UT Registered Agent.org pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026