Start a Business in Utah
Costs, permits, taxes, and requirements for UT.
- Cost rank
- 30th of 50
- 98% of the national average · tied with 2 other states
- State income tax
- 4.65%
- Charged on top of federal income tax
- Sales tax
- 6.1%
- You collect it on taxable sales and remit it to the state
- LLC filing fee
- $54
- One-off, paid to the Secretary of State · 11th cheapest of 50 (median $100)
Where Utah sits on cost
Cheapest third to most expensive third, by startup cost index. Hover a state for its index and rank.
What's different in Utah
Nearly everyone in Utah lives on one strip along the Wasatch Front, running from Ogden through Salt Lake City down to Provo. A business on that corridor reaches most of the state's customers within an hour and competes with everyone else doing exactly the same; step off it and drive times lengthen quickly. Cities licence broadly here, home-based operations included, so working out of a spare room is still a filing and still a renewal. Anything involving alcohol is a category of its own, because the state controls distribution and the licences are limited in number.
- One corridor holds the customers
- Ogden to Provo is where the population is, and therefore where the competition is as well.
- Working from home still needs a licence
- City licensing is broad and having no premises does not take you outside it.
- The state controls the alcohol
- Distribution is state-run and licences are capped, so a bar plan starts with availability.
Business Guides for Utah
All 53, cheapest first. Ranges are what that business actually costs in UT.
Under $10K 20
- Notary Services $276 – $1,840
- Pet Sitting $490 – $2,940
- Social Media Management $500 – $2,950
- Dog Walking $490 – $4,900
- Web Design $500 – $4,900
- E-Commerce $490 – $9,800
- Cleaning Business $1,800 – $8,500
- Tutoring $500 – $9,800
- Personal Training $2,000 – $8,500
- Graphic Design $975 – $9,800
- Window Cleaning $980 – $9,800
- Handyman $2,000 – $9,000
- Bookkeeping $1,950 – $9,800
- Lawn Care $2,500 – $12,000
- Pressure Washing $2,500 – $12,000
- Vending Machine $2,760 – $13,800
- Tax Preparation $1,950 – $14,700
- House Painting $1,960 – $14,700
- Pool Cleaning $1,960 – $14,700
- Auto Detailing $2,500 – $15,000
$10K – $50K 18
- Consulting $975 – $19,600
- Photography $4,000 – $17,000
- Event Planning $1,950 – $19,600
- DJ Service $2,950 – $19,600
- Interior Design $1,960 – $24,500
- Carpet Cleaning $4,900 – $24,500
- Massage Therapy $4,900 – $24,500
- Mobile Spa $7,360 – $23,000
- Wedding Photography $9,800 – $39,200
- Landscaping $8,000 – $45,000
- Junk Removal $4,900 – $49,000
- Pest Control $9,800 – $49,000
- Pet Grooming $4,900 – $73,500
- Catering $9,800 – $73,500
- Florist $9,800 – $73,500
- Tree Service $9,800 – $73,500
- Electrician $14,700 – $73,500
- Plumbing $14,700 – $73,500
$50K and up 15
- Bakery $15,000 – $90,000
- Moving Company $18,400 – $92,000
- Yoga Studio $14,700 – $98,000
- HVAC $19,600 – $98,000
- Barber Shop $23,750 – $114,000
- Nail Salon $28,500 – $142,500
- Hair Salon $33,250 – $142,500
- Food Truck $45,000 – $140,000
- Gym $47,500 – $142,500
- Ice Cream Shop $49,000 – $294,000
- Coffee Shop $76,000 – $285,000
- Daycare $4,900 – $490,000
- Car Wash $49,000 – $490,000
- Laundromat $98,000 – $490,000
- Restaurant $166,250 – $475,000
Get a personalized cost estimate for Utah
Calculate CostsBusiness Requirements in Utah
Register Your Business
File with Utah Secretary of State. LLC fee: $54
Get Business License
Most cities require a general business license ($50-$300).
Get EIN
Free from IRS. Required for bank accounts and taxes.
Register for Sales Tax
State rate: 6.1%. Local taxes may apply.
Get Business Insurance
General liability protects from lawsuits. Often required by landlords.