Starting a Business in Utah: Licenses, Permits & Requirements (2026)

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A Utah startup may need an entity filing, a local business license, tax accounts and industry approvals. Work through the checklist to choose your structure, see what applies to your operation and find optional help with the next step.

Utah Business Requirements at a Glance

Separate the state registration from permission to operate. Filing an LLC does not replace city or county licensing, professional credentials or tax registration. Decide which requirements apply before choosing a paid service.

Affiliate links may earn us a commission. Paid providers are optional; official filing routes are included.

Setup stepWhen it applies & what to budgetYour next step
Choose your business structureChoose firstAn LLC can help separate business liabilities from personal assets, but it is optional. Utah’s published fee schedule lists $59 for a domestic LLC Certificate of Organization and $18 for annual renewal. Additional online or provider charges may apply; review the final total before filing.

Understand Utah LLC costs and filing, or use the official state filing route.

Optional filing help: ZenBusiness can prepare and submit the LLC formation filing. Review the package and any recurring add-ons.

Form an LLC with ZenBusinessAffiliate · Optional provider
Check licenses & your locationDepends on your workCheck business licensing and zoning with the city or town where you operate, or the county for an unincorporated location. Food service, childcare, construction and other regulated work can need separate approvals. A state entity registration is not a local business license.

Find your Utah industry guide. Use Utah’s local licensing guidance to find the right office.

Register a trading nameIf using an assumed nameIf using an assumed business name, check Utah’s DBA registration requirements and name availability. A DBA identifies the trading name; it does not create an LLC or its liability protections. Utah DBA renewals follow a three-year cycle.

Check the name-registration route for your structure.

Get your federal tax IDIf an EIN is neededAn employer identification number (EIN) identifies your business for federal tax purposes. Whether you need one depends on your structure and activities. It is free from the IRS. If forming an LLC or corporation, form it before applying.

Check eligibility and get an EIN free. You do not need to buy an EIN service.

Register for sales taxIf making taxable salesRegister applicable sales-tax and withholding accounts with the Utah State Tax Commission. Taxability depends on what you sell and how you operate; check the treatment of your products and services before collecting tax. An entity filing does not replace these accounts.

Check tax registration and filing requirements.

Arrange business insuranceRequired coverage variesWith limited exceptions, Utah employers must provide workers’ compensation for their employees. Check coverage before the first hire and review any owner or exemption rules. Separately consider liability, commercial vehicles, tools and property coverage for your jobs and contracts.

Check Utah workers’ compensation rules.

Optional quote service: Simply Business can help you explore business insurance. Coverage and availability depend on your trade and underwriting.

Get business insurance quotesAffiliate · Optional provider
Separate money & keep recordsPractical setupChoose how you will separate business receipts and expenses, reconcile transactions and save tax records. Compare account fees, cash-deposit access and bookkeeping needs. Account-opening documents depend on the provider and business structure.

Prepare your formation or trading-name documents and tax ID, then compare business accounts. Set up a recordkeeping routine before your first payment.

Put customer agreements in writingDepends on your serviceAgree on the work, price, payment dates, exclusions and cancellation terms before starting. A general service-agreement template may help with routine work; regulated or complex jobs can need specific contract terms or legal review.

Optional document service: use LawDepot to customize a service agreement, then check that it fits your work.

Create a service agreementAffiliate · Optional provider
Set up invoices & paymentsChoose your payment methodDecide how customers will pay and when invoices are due. Compare transaction fees, hardware costs and payout timing. Buying a particular payment service is not a state requirement.

Optional payment service: explore Square for accepting customer payments and compare its fees with your expected sales.

Explore Square paymentsAffiliate · Optional provider
Plan startup costs & cash reservesBorrowing is optionalAdd filing costs, equipment, insurance and operating expenses before deciding whether to borrow. Financing options depend on revenue, time in business, credit and lender criteria. A new, pre-revenue business may not qualify.

Optional comparison service: SuperMoney Business Financing lets you explore funding options, subject to eligibility. Compare total repayment cost and payment frequency.

Compare business financingAffiliate · Optional provider
Prepare for employeesIf hiringSet up applicable unemployment insurance and withholding accounts, new-hire reporting and payroll records. The Department of Workforce Services handles unemployment and new-hire reporting; the Tax Commission handles state withholding. Arrange required coverage before employees begin work.

Find Utah employer registration and reporting
Set up applicable tax accounts

Calendar reports & renewalsFor your entity and licensesUtah LLC renewals are due annually on the registration anniversary; the published base renewal fee is $18. DBA registrations renew every three years. Keep local licenses, tax returns and industry credentials on a separate calendar and check any additional processing charges.

Check the official reporting and renewal guidance. Paid filing help is optional and may cost extra.

Need the detailed instructions? Continue below for state filings, employer obligations and links to the licensing agencies.

Related state guidance: 51-state business license requirements table.

How to Start a Business in Utah (Step by Step)

Step 1: Choose Your Structure and Register It

An LLC is one option, not a requirement for every business. Compare ownership, liability and ongoing obligations before choosing. If an LLC fits your plans, the filing instructions below apply; our Utah LLC guide explains the costs and options.

File a Certificate of Organization online through the OneStop Business Registration portal at osbr.utah.gov. The filing fee is $59 and processing is same-day for online filings. OneStop is unified with the Tax Commission and Workforce Services so a single registration session can also create your sales tax account, withholding account, and UI account.

Your LLC name must contain “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or “Limited Liability Company” and must be distinguishable from existing entity names in the Division of Corporations database. A name reservation is available for 120 days at $22 if you need extra time before filing. Your LLC must have a Utah registered agent with a physical street address in the state — P.O. boxes are not accepted; you may serve as your own registered agent if you maintain a Utah physical address.

Annual renewal: Utah LLCs file an annual renewal at $18, due on the last day of the month in which the LLC was originally formed. Failing to renew triggers administrative dissolution after a grace period; reinstatement requires an additional fee. The $18 annual cost compounds to a meaningful structural advantage: over a 10-year LLC life, Utah’s $180 in maintenance fees beats California’s ~$8,000 (mostly from the $800 minimum franchise tax) and most states by hundreds of dollars.

Get your free federal EIN immediately at IRS.gov; you need it before you can open a business bank account, register state tax accounts, or hire employees.

Step 2: Register Tax Accounts Through TAP

The Utah State Tax Commission runs Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) at tap.utah.gov for tax-account registration and filing. Registration is free.

Utah Sales Tax

Utah’s state sales tax base rate is 4.85%. Local options add up to 3.35%, putting combined rates in the 6.35% to 9.35% range across most Utah cities, with Park City and select tourism zones reaching higher local rates under the Resort Communities Sales and Use Tax (UCA 59-12-401). Effective April 1, 2026, Box Elder, Garfield, Kane, Iron, Juab, Piute, and Wayne counties added a 0.25% mass transit / transportation sales tax.

Utah taxes tangible personal property sales, prepared food at the full combined rate, and certain services tied to tangible property (repairs, installation, maintenance, service contracts). Utah taxes grocery food at a reduced 3.0% rate. Most professional services (cosmetology, legal, accounting, medical) are not taxed. Cleaning and landscaping services are generally not taxed at the state level (compare Pennsylvania, where both are taxable).

Utah Income Tax — 4.45% Flat for 2026

Utah’s flat individual income tax rate for 2026 is 4.45%, retroactive to January 1, 2026, under Senate Bill 60 of the 2026 legislative session signed by Governor Spencer Cox. The rate applies to all Utah taxable income with no brackets. The corporate income tax rate matches at 4.45%. Pass-through LLC and S-corp income flow to owners’ personal returns at the same flat rate.

YearUtah Flat Income Tax Rate
20214.95%
20224.85%
20234.65%
20244.55%
20254.50%
20264.45% (SB 60 retroactive to Jan 1)

Withholding and Specialty Taxes

If you have employees in Utah, register a withholding account through TAP. Utah uses the federal W-4 with no separate state form. Employers also report new hires within 20 days through the Utah New Hire Registry under jobs.utah.gov. Specialty tax accounts (motor fuel, tobacco, prepared food, lodging) are also registered through TAP if applicable to your industry.

Step 3: Set Up Workers’ Compensation at First Employee

Utah requires workers’ compensation insurance from the moment a business hires its first W-2 employee. There is no minimum-employee threshold, no industry carve-out, and no exemption for part-time or family-member workers.

SituationUtah Requirement
1+ W-2 employeesWorkers’ comp required
Family members on payrollWorkers’ comp required
Part-time employeesWorkers’ comp required
Sole proprietor with no employeesOptional (owner may elect)
Genuine independent contractors (passing UCA 35A-4-204.3 ABC test)Not required — but misclassification is heavily audited by Workforce Services
Self-insurancePermitted with Labor Commission authorization, ≥5 years in business and ≥$10M net worth

Utah is NOT a monopolistic workers’ comp state. The market is competitive. Workers Compensation Fund (WCF) at wcf.com is Utah’s quasi-governmental insurer of last resort and holds approximately 57% of the market — required by statute to cover any eligible employer who applies. Private carriers compete on premium and service. Industry NCCI class codes drive premiums: 9586 cosmetology (~1.5%-3% of payroll), 9059 child care (~2%-4%), 5537 HVAC (~3%-6%), 0042/0918 landscaping (~3%-6%), 7605 PI (~1.5%-3%), 9015 commercial cleaning (~2%-4%), 9079 food truck (~3%-5%).

Operating without required coverage triggers fines, personal liability for the full cost of any workplace injury claim, and Labor Commission enforcement actions. The Utah Labor Commission at laborcommission.utah.gov also runs Utah’s state-plan OSHA program — Utah is one of 22 states with its own OSHA-approved state-plan workplace-safety regulator.

Step 4: Get City and County Business Licenses

Utah has no statewide general business license. Each city or county sets its own licensing rules and fee schedules. The Wasatch Front jurisdictions you most commonly encounter:

  • Salt Lake City — SLC Business Licensing Division. Annual fee scaled by employee count and sales floor; typical small-business fee $100-$200/year. Includes fire-marshal review for chemical-service or commercial-kitchen businesses.
  • West Valley City / West Jordan / South Jordan / Sandy / Murray — each has its own business license processing through the city; fees similar to SLC.
  • Provo — Provo Business Office. Annual fee scaled by employee count, ~$50-$200. BYU-area concepts have additional signage and zoning rules.
  • Lehi / American Fork / Pleasant Grove / Saratoga Springs — Silicon Slopes corridor licensing through individual city offices. Lehi has a particularly active processing pipeline because of tech-company growth.
  • Orem — Orem Business License via the Orem City offices.
  • Ogden / Layton / Clearfield — Weber and Davis County jurisdictions; Hill AFB anchors steady federal-contractor demand. Fees $50-$150/year.
  • Park City — Park City Business License is required for any business operating in city limits. Fee ~$140-$300/year. Park City layers a 1% Resort Communities Sales and Use Tax option on retail (UCA 59-12-401).
  • St. George / Washington / Hurricane / Santa Clara — Washington County’s growth pace means license processing can run 4-6 weeks during peak.
  • Logan / Brigham City — Cache and Box Elder County Wasatch Back jurisdictions.

Check the specific city or county where the business door faces the street. Overlapping jurisdictions — say a Lehi business that delivers regularly into Salt Lake County — may need licenses in multiple cities depending on activity volume.

Step 5: Apply for the Right Professional License

Utah’s professional-licensing map runs through multiple agencies — knowing which agency holds your industry’s license is the most important navigation step.

DOPL — Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing

The DOPL under the Utah Department of Commerce at commerce.utah.gov/dopl licenses most professions, including:

  • Cosmetology, master barber, master hair design, esthetics, master esthetics, nail technology, eyelash and eyebrow technology (post-SB 330 effective January 1, 2026)
  • Contractors — including HVAC (S350 mechanical), electrical, plumbing, general building, residential, specialty
  • Real estate brokers and agents
  • Healthcare professions (nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, mental health counselors)
  • Engineering, surveying, architecture, landscape architecture
  • Accountants (CPAs)
  • Massage therapy, acupuncture
  • Many other regulated professions

DOPL transitioned to online-only applications for cosmetology and associated professions on January 31, 2026 through the MyLicense portal at utahdoc.mylicenseone.com. Other DOPL professions are migrating to the same portal.

BCI — Bureau of Criminal Identification (Private Investigators ONLY)

The BCI under the Utah Department of Public Safety at bci.utah.gov licenses Private Investigators under UCA 53-9. This is structurally distinct from DOPL — BCI’s review board (the Private Investigator/Bail Bond Review Board under UCA 53-11-104, 105) meets quarterly to act on PI applications. Most starter checklists incorrectly point Utah PI applicants to DOPL; BCI is the right agency.

DLBC — Division of Licensing and Background Checks (Child Care)

The DLBC under DHHS at dlbc.utah.gov licenses child care under R381 (commercial) and R430 (residential). The Department of Workforce Services Office of Child Care runs the Care About Childcare quality system (CCQS) and the federal CCDF subsidy program — but DLBC issues the actual operating license.

Local Health Departments — Food Establishments and Mobile Food

Utah delegates food-establishment licensing to 13 Local Health Departments under DHHS (Salt Lake County Health Department, Utah County Health Department, Weber-Morgan, Davis County, Bear River, Central Utah, Southwest Utah, Southeast Utah, Tooele County, San Juan, Summit County, Tri-County, and Wasatch County). Each district issues its own mobile food vendor permits, plan reviews, and inspections. Reciprocity rules vary district to district.

UDAF — Utah Department of Agriculture and Food

The UDAF at ag.utah.gov licenses commercial pesticide applicators under UCA Title 4 Chapter 14, food processing/manufacturing facilities, and weights-and-measures equipment.

Utah-Specific Operating Realities Most Starter Guides Miss

  • $18 annual LLC renewal — among the lowest in the U.S. Compounded over a 10-year LLC life, Utah’s $180 in maintenance saves thousands versus California ($800/year minimum franchise tax) and hundreds versus most other states.
  • Federal $7.25 minimum wage with city preemption. Utah preempts cities from raising local minimum wages above the federal floor under state law. Salt Lake City, Park City, and Provo cannot enact higher minimums on their own. This contrasts sharply with neighbor Colorado (state $15.16, Denver $19.29) and Washington ($17.13).
  • No state-mandated paid family or medical leave. Utah has no PFML and no state paid sick leave. Federal FMLA only applies to employers with 50+ employees. For small employers, this is a real labor-cost advantage versus Colorado, Oregon, Washington, California, New York, and other PFML states.
  • Workers’ comp is competitive, not monopolistic. WCF is the residual carrier of last resort but private carriers compete actively. Comparison shopping typically saves 10-20% versus default WCF rates.
  • OneStop unifies LLC + tax + UI in one session. OneStop is one of the more streamlined small-business registration portals in the U.S. — Utah is consistently top-three nationally for ease of business formation.
  • Utah’s quarterly board reviews matter. BCI’s PI review board, DOPL’s cosmetology board, and several other regulatory bodies meet quarterly. Submitting an application shortly after a board meeting can mean a 90-day wait until the next review. Track meeting calendars.
  • 13 Local Health Departments, not one centralized agency, license food trucks. Reciprocity rules vary; a truck based in Salt Lake County does not automatically operate in Park City or Utah County without engaging the local district.
  • Resort Communities Sales and Use Tax option. Park City and similar tourism zones add up to 1% local option tax under UCA 59-12-401, which affects retail margins for businesses serving destination visitors.
  • Birth rate and household size. Utah leads the U.S. in birth rate and average household size, which drives demand for child care, family-oriented salons, and large-scale residential services.
  • Silicon Slopes corporate corridor. Lehi, Provo, Orem, and the I-15 corridor between them hosts Adobe, Pluralsight, SAP/Qualtrics, Domo, Entrata, Lucid Software, Pattern, and many other tech employers, creating premium-services demand and corporate B2B contract opportunities.

Industry-Specific Utah Guides

Utah plumbing business guide — DOPL plumbing licensing, $1M/$2M insurance rule and startup steps for plumbing contractors.

Utah electrical business guide — E200 and E201 classifications, master qualifiers and insurance.

Drill into the specific licensing, market, and operating context for each industry SBL covers in Utah:

IndustryUtah-Specific TwistGuide
Hair SalonSB 330 cut cosmetology hours to 1,250 effective Jan 1, 2026; threading exempt from licensing; new apprenticeship pathway equal to school hours; $250 DOPL Establishment License; services not taxed.Start a hair salon in Utah
DaycareDLBC under DHHS licenses (NOT DWS); R381-100 ratios; 9-source background checks; free quarterly DLBC training; HB 461 worker-child subsidy launched Oct 2025; CCQS quality rating tied to subsidy reimbursement.Start a daycare in Utah
Private InvestigatorBCI under DPS (NOT DOPL); three-tier license (Apprentice 18+, Registrant 21+, Agency 21+); $10K bond / $500K agency liability; no written exam; one-party consent state under UCA 77-23a-4.Start a PI business in Utah
Food Truck13 Local Health Departments under DHHS; commissary requirements vary by district; Park City and SLC have separate municipal mobile vendor rules; prepared food taxed at full combined rate.Start a food truck in Utah
HVACDOPL S350 Mechanical Contractor license; A2L refrigerant transition (R-32, R-454B); 2021 IECC + 2024 amendments; cold-Wasatch versus hot-southern-Utah climate sizing.Start an HVAC business in Utah
Cleaning ServiceNo state-level cleaning license; services generally not subject to UT sales tax (services-out, products-in); domestic worker rules light vs. coastal states; no state Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.Start a cleaning business in Utah
LandscapingUDAF Commercial Pesticide Applicator licensing under UCA Title 4 Ch 14; Blue Stakes 811 required 2 working days before excavation under UCA 54-8a; drought-tolerant landscaping demand in St. George.Start a landscaping business in Utah
LiquorUtah requires a server to finish approved alcohol training before beginning work — no grace period after the hire date, unlike Texas (30 days), California (60) or Indiana (120); managers get 30 days, and both retrain every three years. DABS also bills licenses in three parts: application, initial, then renewal.Get a Utah liquor license
Massage Therapy600 school hours OR 1,000 hours as a licensed apprentice — one of the few states where you can qualify without massage school; MBLEx required either way; $52 renewal, the cheapest of any licensing state.Get a Utah massage license
Arborist / Tree ServiceNo state arborist license, and R156-55a-301 expressly excludes tree stump and tree removal from contractor licensure — but planting falls inside the S330 Landscape and Recreation Contractor scope; UDAF licenses pesticide application separately.Do you need an arborist license in Utah?

Utah Major Markets: Where Your Business Will Operate

Salt Lake County (1.2M+ population)

The state’s economic center. Salt Lake City is the financial, government, and cultural hub. Sandy, Murray, West Valley City, West Jordan, South Jordan, Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, and Draper layer in densely populated suburban markets. Most premium B2B services and professional headquarters concentrate here.

Utah County / Silicon Slopes (700K+ population)

Provo (BYU), Orem, Lehi (Adobe, Pluralsight, SAP/Qualtrics, Domo, Entrata, Lucid Software, Pattern, Weave), American Fork, Pleasant Grove, and Saratoga Springs. Utah County is the youngest population in the state by median age and the largest household-size demographic. Tech employer density drives premium-service demand and corporate B2B opportunities.

Davis and Weber Counties (450K+ population)

Layton, Bountiful, Centerville, Clearfield, Ogden, and Roy. Hill Air Force Base anchors steady federal-contractor and military-family demand. Lower commercial real estate costs versus Salt Lake County.

Washington County (200K+ population, fastest-growing in UT)

St. George, Washington, Hurricane, Santa Clara, Ivins. Among the fastest-growing counties in the U.S. by percentage. Retiree migration from California, Arizona, and the Pacific Northwest drives healthcare, home services, hospitality, and recreation demand.

Summit County / Park City (resort economy)

Park City and surrounding ski-resort area. Tourism-driven seasonal demand swings (Sundance late January, summer wedding season, ski season Dec-Feb). Premium pricing prevails. Resort Communities Sales and Use Tax adds local layers on retail.

Cache, Box Elder, Tooele, and Other Counties (rural and exurban)

Logan (Utah State University), Brigham City, Tooele, Vernal, Cedar City, Moab. Smaller markets with lower commercial costs and steady local demand. Some specialty industries — outdoor recreation in Moab, energy in Vernal — drive niche business opportunity.

Utah State Tax Quick Reference

Tax2026 Rate / Detail
Individual income tax (flat)4.45% (SB 60 retroactive to Jan 1, 2026)
Corporate income tax (flat)4.45%
Sales tax (state base)4.85%
Sales tax (combined typical range)6.35% – 9.35% (higher in resort zones)
Grocery food tax3.0% reduced rate
UI tax range (2026)0.1% – 7.1%; new out-of-state contractor 7.1%
UI taxable wage base (2026)$50,700
Minimum wage$7.25 federal (city preemption)
State paid leaveNone (no PFML, no state paid sick)
Workers’ comp threshold1+ W-2 employees

How Long Do New Businesses Last in Utah?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics follows every private-sector establishment in Utah from the year it opens. Of the businesses opened in March 2024, 76.3% were still operating one year later. Among those opened in March 2020, 49.7% reached the five-year mark — 1.7 points below the national 51.4% — and 35.5% of the March 2015 cohort made it to ten years.

Two things keep those numbers from reading as grimly as they look. A closed establishment is not always a failed one: the BLS count includes owners who sold, merged, moved, or retired. And the businesses that last, grow — nationally, establishments reaching age ten average 11.7 employees, up from 4.4 when they opened. Rates for every state and 19 industries: business survival rates by state.

What do you need next?

Plumbers and electricians: these pages cover what insurance Utah requires for your trade and what it usually costs.

Data for Utah

Free research and planning tools for starting a business in Utah. Most of the data pages compare every state, so look for Utah in the table or map.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Utah?

Utah’s Certificate of Organization filing fee is $59 (online, same-day processing through the OneStop portal at osbr.utah.gov). The annual renewal is $18 — among the lowest annual fees of any U.S. state. Renewal is due on the last day of the month in which the LLC was originally formed. Late renewal triggers an administrative dissolution warning; LLCs that fail to renew can be reinstated but pay an additional reinstatement fee.

What is Utah’s individual income tax rate for 2026?

Utah’s flat individual income tax rate for 2026 is 4.45%, retroactive to January 1, 2026, under Senate Bill 60 of the 2026 legislative session signed by Governor Cox. The corporate tax rate also dropped to 4.45%. The 2025 rate was 4.5%; the 2024 rate was 4.55%; the 2023 rate was 4.65%. This was the sixth consecutive year of personal income tax reductions in Utah.

Does Utah require workers’ compensation insurance?

Yes — Utah requires workers’ compensation coverage from the moment a business hires its first W-2 employee. There is no minimum-employee threshold. Coverage is available through Workers Compensation Fund (WCF), Utah’s quasi-governmental insurer of last resort holding ~57% market share, or through any licensed private carrier. Utah is NOT a monopolistic state — employers may shop the market freely. Penalties for operating uninsured include fines and personal liability for any workplace injury claim.

Does Utah have state-mandated paid family or medical leave?

No. Utah does not have a state-mandated paid family or medical leave program. Federal FMLA only applies to employers with 50 or more employees. There is no state-level paid sick leave mandate either. This is a meaningful difference from neighbors like Colorado (FAMLI 0.88% payroll), Washington (PFML), and California, Oregon, and New York, all of which run mandatory state paid leave programs that affect labor budgeting.

What is the minimum wage in Utah for 2026?

Utah’s minimum wage is $7.25/hour — equal to the federal minimum, unchanged since 2009. Utah preempts cities from setting higher local minimum wages under state law, so Salt Lake City, Park City, Provo, and other cities cannot enact their own minimums above the federal floor. This contrasts sharply with neighbor states like Colorado (state $15.16, Denver $19.29 in 2026), California ($16.50+), Washington ($17.13), and Oregon ($14.70 standard with metro premiums).

Does Utah require a statewide general business license?

No. Utah does not have a statewide general business license. Each city or county sets its own requirements. Salt Lake City, Provo, Lehi, Orem, Ogden, Park City, St. George, and most other Wasatch Front cities require an annual business license ranging $50-$300 depending on employee count and revenue. Park City layers an additional Resort Communities Sales and Use Tax option (1%) on retail. Industry-specific state licenses come from DOPL (most professions), BCI (private investigators), DLBC (child care), and Local Health Departments (food vendors).

Which agency licenses my profession in Utah?

Utah uses multiple licensing agencies depending on the profession: DOPL (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing under Department of Commerce) covers cosmetology, master barber, contractors (including HVAC), electricians, plumbers, real estate, healthcare, and many other professions. BCI (Bureau of Criminal Identification under Department of Public Safety) licenses private investigators under UCA 53-9 — NOT DOPL. DLBC (Division of Licensing and Background Checks under DHHS) licenses child care under R381 + R430. Local Health Departments under DHHS license food trucks and food vendors. UDAF (Utah Department of Agriculture and Food) licenses commercial pesticide applicators.

Utah-Specific Resources

ResourceUseWhere
OneStop Business RegistrationLLC formation + tax + UI registrationosbr.utah.gov
Utah Division of CorporationsEntity filings, annual renewal, name searchcommerce.utah.gov/corporations
Utah State Tax Commission TAPSales, withholding, specialty tax accounts and filingstap.utah.gov
Utah Workforce ServicesUI tax registration + new hire reportingjobs.utah.gov
Utah Labor CommissionWage and hour, OSHA-state plan, workers’ comp regulatorlaborcommission.utah.gov
Workers Compensation Fund (WCF)Workers’ comp insurance (residual/competitive)wcf.com
DOPL — Division of Occupational and Professional LicensingCosmetology, contractors, real estate, healthcarecommerce.utah.gov/dopl
BCI — Private Investigator LicensingPI licensing under UCA 53-9bci.utah.gov
DLBC — Child Care LicensingChild care licensing under R381 + R430dlbc.utah.gov
UDAF — Pesticide and Food ManufacturingCommercial pesticide applicator and food processor licensingag.utah.gov
Blue Stakes of Utah811 dig-line; 2 working days advance noticebluestakes.org
Care About ChildcareProvider search + CCQS quality ratingcareaboutchildcare.utah.gov
Robert Smith
About the Author

Robert Smith has run a licensed private investigation firm for 8 years from the Florida-Georgia state line - where he learned firsthand how wildly business licensing rules differ between states just miles apart. He personally researched requirements across all 50 states and D.C., reviewing hundreds of government sources over hundreds of hours to build guides he wished existed when he started. Not a lawyer or accountant - just a business owner who has done the research so you don't have to.