Utah Business License

Are you thinking of establishing your new business in Utah but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, this well-researched article will come in handy for you. You will get familiar with the state and local requirements of licensure in Utah, the process of obtaining a business license, the registration of your new business, costs, and more.

Does‌ ‌Utah‌ ‌require‌ ‌a‌ ‌business‌ ‌license?‌ ‌

In Utah, there isn’t a general business license that would apply to every business in different locations of the state. Instead, the local municipality decides the requirements of licensure for the businesses operating in that city or county. However, there are certain professions or occupations that require licensing at the state level. These professions are:

• Accountants
• Architects
• Cosmetologists
• Contractors
• Nurses
• Therapists
• Physicians
• Veterinarians
• And more

The professional licenses are issued by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) within the Utah Department of Commerce. You can acquire the full list of professions/occupations by visiting here.

In addition to the professional licenses, there are certain industries that will require licensing to operate your business in Utah. For instance, businesses in food establishments should obtain licenses/permits from the Utah Department of Health. Your business may also require getting a sales tax license (also called seller’s permit) from the State Tax Commission if you are selling products or services.

How‌ ‌do‌ ‌I‌ ‌get‌ ‌a‌ ‌business‌ ‌license‌ ‌in‌ ‌Utah?‌ ‌

Many cities in Utah require obtaining a local license to start your business. You should reach out to your local county’s municipal office to follow up on the licensing requirements and procedures for your business. Luckily, with the help of this online service, you can get the contact information of your local municipality in Utah (such as the phone number, address, and website). We will discuss the licensing rules and regulations of the largest cities in Utah, separately.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City requires all businesses within the corporate limits of the city to maintain a business license. Aside from the standard license, there are certain industries that will need to be licensed to operate in the city. Such license types are listed below:

• Beer and Alcohol License
• Mobile Food Businesses
• Tobacco Shops
• Sexually Oriented Businesses
• Vending Carts

To learn about the licensing requirements, the application process, laws & regulations of Salt Lake City visit here.

Provo

To run your business in Provo City, you will need to apply for a commercial business license. You will be asked to provide the following information when applying for the license:

• Your business name and address, phone number
• Your business structure (LLC, Corporation, Partnership, etc.)
• The current number of employees in your company
• The expected opening date and business hours
• The nature of your business
• Property owner information
• EIN or federal tax ID number

In addition to the commercial business license, you will also need to obtain a beer license if your business is in any way related to alcoholic beverages. You can get more information about the business licensing in Provo City by visiting following the link.

Orem

To establish your business in Orem City, you will need to apply for a license. There are two licenses offered for businesses operating within the limits of the city:

• Commercial business license
• Home occupation business license

You can check all the necessary information about the business license rules, regulations through the official webpage of Orem City.

How‌ ‌do‌ ‌I‌ ‌register‌ ‌a‌ ‌small‌ ‌business‌ ‌in‌ ‌Utah?‌

Prior to the application of a proper license, you must register your business to operate in the state. To register your new business online you can go to the One-Stop Online Business Registration website. This system will allow your business to register online with the Utah State Tax Commission, Labor Commission, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Workforce Services, and the Department of Environmental Quality. If you prefer to register your business by mail you can submit the forming paperwork to the following address:

Utah Department of Commerce
Division of Corporations & Commercial Code
PO Box 146705
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6705

If you already have a solid business plan it’s time to form your business legally. To do so, you need to register your business in Utah by taking the following steps:

1. Select the legal entity of your business. The business entity can be LLC, corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, etc.
2. Pick a unique name of your business. As soon as you decide on the legal entity of your business, you should choose the desired name of your company.
3. Assign a registered agent. The registered agent will be responsible to receive tax and legal documents on behalf of your company.
4. Get Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) from Internal Revenue Service. A 9-digit EIN serves as the social security number of your business identifying it for tax purposes.
5. File your business entity. To form your legal business you need to file the formation documents. For instance, to form LLC, you should file the Articles of Organization by submitting all needed materials to the Utah Department of Commerce. You can either apply online, in person, or by mail.
6. Get insurance. Commonly most small businesses in Utah purchase general liability insurance and worker’s compensation (if the company hires one or more employees).

How‌ ‌much‌ ‌does‌ ‌it‌ ‌cost‌ ‌to‌ ‌get‌ ‌a‌ ‌business‌ ‌license‌ ‌in‌ ‌Utah?‌ ‌

Since local municipal offices in Utah have different rules and regulations for business licensing requirements the costs will greatly vary from county to county. For instance, in West Jordan City the business license cost starts at $50 while in West Valley the cost will be $110.