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A Utah business license grants your Utah LLC permission to operate in a certain location or a specific industry.
We can’t walk you through all of the license applications step-by-step, because every business is unique. But we provide helpful resources like:
- information about state licensing rules
- instructions for researching municipal licenses
And if you want to just hire a company to do the research for you, we have a recommendation below.
Utah Business License Requirements
After you form a Utah LLC, you may need to obtain a business license or permit.
Your requirements are determined by:
- the industry you are in (what your business does) and
- where your Utah LLC is located.
Because of the large number of industries and all of the municipalities in Utah, it’s not possible for us to explain all the possible business licenses. However, you can use the search tools below, call your local municipality, or hire a company for help.
Tip: Save time by hiring an expert. We recommend using IncFile ($99) to handle the business license research for you.
How to get a Business License in Utah
You can obtain a Utah business license by applying with the necessary licensing or regulatory agency. The agency you apply with will depend on where your business is located and what business activities it engages in.
The application typically requires basic information, such as your LLC name, EIN Number, business owner address, and contact information. Many also include a questionnaire that asks about your business activity.
There are three main licensing jurisdictions:
- State (Utah Department of Commerce)
- Local municipality (county, city, township, etc.)
- Federal Agencies
State Business License in Utah
There are two main types of state-level business licenses: general business licenses and industry-specific licenses.
For example, if the state has a general business license requirement, all businesses operating in the state must have the license, regardless of what they do. The State of Utah doesn’t require a general business license at the state level.
Most states have industry-specific business licenses or permits, which means a license or permit may be required depending on what your business does. For example, if you sell used cars, or run a hair salon, you may need an industry-specific business license. But a license may not be required for other types of businesses.
The Utah Department of Commerce – Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing can help you determine if your type of business needs a state-level license or permit.
Alternatively, you can use the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing’s Search Tool and List of All Licenses in the State of Utah.
Note: The Division of Corporations and Commercial Code (which is who you filed the LLC Certificate of Organization with) is also part of the Department of Commerce, but they don’t issue business licenses.
Municipal Business License
Municipal business licenses can be issued by the city, town, county, parish, township, borough, etc. We refer to all of these as a “municipality” to keep things simple.
There are two main types of municipal business licenses: general business licenses and industry-specific licenses.
For example, if a municipality has a general business license requirement, all businesses operating in that municipality must have the license, regardless of what they do. This is pretty common in Utah, so check to make sure you get the correct license for your city or county.
Here is a list of all Cities and Counties in Utah with links to their websites.
And if a municipality has industry-specific business licenses, a license or permit may be required depending on what your business does. For example, if you operate a food truck, or run a daycare, you may need an industry-specific municipal business license.
But a license may not be required for other types of businesses, like making wedding invitation templates or offering marketing consulting.
You should contact your municipality to check what local licenses you need. Start by searching for the city or county website and finding the business section. For example, here’s the Salt Lake City business license page: SLC Business Licensing.
Utah Sales Tax License
If you sell products to consumers in Utah, you may need to collect sales tax and have a sales tax license.
You can get this sales tax license from the Utah State Tax Commission.
You can read more information about sales tax here: Sales & Use Tax.
If you have any questions, you can contact the Utah State Tax Commission at 801-297-2200.
Tip: Save time by hiring an expert. We recommend using TaxJar. They'll help you register for, collect, and pay sales tax.
Do I need any federal business licenses?
Most Utah businesses don’t. However, certain industries need federal business licenses:
| If your business… | Contact this agency about business licenses |
|---|---|
| Transports animals, plants or biotechnology over state lines | Department of Agriculture |
| Imports or exports animal products, wildlife, or products derived from wildlife (including fish) | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Fishes commercially | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Broadcasts on radio or TV | Federal Communications Commission |
| Makes alcohol and sells it at a retail store | Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau |
| Makes or sells firearms, ammunition or explosives | Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives |
| Transports cargo by sea | Federal Maritime Commission |
| Transports goods or people by air | Federal Aviation Administration |
Check out the Small Business Administration’s Licenses and Permits page for a full list of industries with federal license requirements.
If your business isn’t one of these special cases, then the only federal requirements are that your LLC get a Utah EIN Number (aka Federal Employer Identification Number) and that you file taxes.
Utah Business License FAQs
The State of Utah doesn’t have a state-level general business license, so there are no fees there.
However, your business may need a state-level industry-specific license or municipal-level license or permit to operate. The filing fee for licenses will vary depending on where you’re doing business and what industry you’re in.
And you might not need a business license at all!
Unfortunately, we can’t say what your LLC’s business license costs would be, because it depends on several factors and the cost of Utah licenses varies.
The Utah LLC filing fee is $59. This is a fee paid to the Division of Corporations when you file your Certificate of Organization to create your LLC.
See LLC Cost in Utah to learn about all the fees you’ll pay to start a Limited Liability Company.
If your LLC already exists in another state and you want to register it in Utah as a Foreign LLC, you can find out the fees here: Foreign LLC Fees by State.
No, an LLC is not a business license. They are two completely different things.
An LLC is a type of business structure created by filing a document with the state government.
In Utah, you pay a $59 LLC filing fee and file the LLC Certificate of Organization with the Division of Corporations.
A business license is a document, which gives a person or a company the right to transact business.
In Utah, your LLC may need a state license depending on what your business does. And then your LLC may need a city or county business license to operate there.
That depends on what type of business license your LLC needs.
If your LLC needs an industry-specific state-level license: The Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing issues business licenses.
If your LLC needs a city or county business license: The city or county government usually has a business license department or division. Contact your local government for more information on how to apply.
Check the application form for a list of required documents. Or you can contact the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing for state-level industry-specific licenses, or the county or city business license office for local licenses.
Generally, you will need:
- Your LLC’s stamped and approved Certificate of Organization
- Your LLC EIN Number
- Valid photo identification for the LLC Member that is applying for the business license
- Payment for the license fees
Sometimes a new business owner chooses to operate as a Sole Proprietorship in Utah instead of an LLC.
Even if you’re just trying out a business idea as a Sole Proprietorship, you are still subject to license requirements at the state and municipal level.
References
Utah State Tax Commission: Sales & Use Tax
Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing: About
Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing: License Lookup
Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing: Apply for a License
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.
