How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Utah?
Last updated: March 2026
Utah Business Overview
LLC Filing Fee
$54
Sales Tax Rate
4.8%
Minimum Wage
$7.25/hr
Cost of Living Index
106.1
Workers Comp
Required
Annual Report Fee
$18
Starting a Business in Utah
Utah businesses register with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Local cities require business licenses.
Utah has a flat 4.65% individual and corporate income tax rate. The state is known for its streamlined tax system and business-friendly policies.
Utah's Silicon Slopes tech corridor and highly educated, young population create strong demand for tech and professional services. Outdoor recreation businesses thrive near national parks.
For official formation documents, visit the Utah Secretary of State.
Startup Costs for 100 Business Types in Utah
The table below shows estimated startup costs for every major business type, adjusted for Utah’s cost of living index of 106.1. Click any column header to sort. Click a business name to see full cost breakdowns, calculator, and licensing requirements.
| Accounting Firm | Professional Services | $7,420 | $21,200 | $48,760 |
| Airbnb / Vacation Rental | Real Estate | $11,660 | $31,800 | $95,400 |
| Ambulance Service | Transportation & Logistics | $84,800 | $212,000 | $530,000 |
| App Development Company | Tech & Online | $10,600 | $31,800 | $84,800 |
| Architecture Firm | Professional Services | $21,200 | $58,300 | $137,800 |
| Auto Detailing Business | Automotive | $5,300 | $31,800 | $106,000 |
| Auto Repair Shop | Automotive | $79,500 | $212,000 | $530,000 |
| Bakery | Food & Beverage | $21,200 | $100,700 | $318,000 |
| Bar & Nightclub | Food & Beverage | $106,000 | $371,000 | $901,000 |
| Barbershop | Beauty & Personal Care | $15,900 | $68,900 | $185,500 |
| Beauty Supply Store | Beauty & Personal Care | $31,800 | $106,000 | $318,000 |
| Bookstore | Retail | $26,500 | $106,000 | $318,000 |
| Brewery / Microbrewery | Food & Beverage | $106,000 | $424,000 | $1,060,000 |
| Cannabis Dispensary | Specialty & Regulated | $131,970 | $351,920 | $1,319,700 |
| Car Wash | Automotive | $131,970 | $576,640 | $1,647,240 |
| Carpentry & Woodworking Shop | Construction & Trades | $11,130 | $29,680 | $74,200 |
| Catering Business | Food & Beverage | $12,720 | $56,180 | $137,800 |
| Chiropractic Office | Health & Wellness | $42,400 | $127,200 | $318,000 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $1,590 | $11,660 | $39,220 |
| Clothing Boutique | Retail | $31,800 | $106,000 | $318,000 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Beverage | $26,500 | $127,200 | $371,000 |
| Concrete Business | Construction & Trades | $26,500 | $68,900 | $159,000 |
| Consulting Business | Professional Services | $2,120 | $9,540 | $27,560 |
| Convenience Store | Retail | $53,000 | $296,800 | $795,000 |
| Courier & Delivery Service | Transportation & Logistics | $8,480 | $23,320 | $58,300 |
| Cybersecurity Firm | Tech & Online | $21,200 | $58,300 | $159,000 |
| Dance Studio | Childcare & Education | $21,200 | $84,800 | $265,000 |
| Daycare Center | Childcare & Education | $63,600 | $190,800 | $530,000 |
| Demolition Company | Construction & Trades | $31,800 | $84,800 | $212,000 |
| Dental Practice | Health & Wellness | $265,000 | $530,000 | $1,060,000 |
| Digital Marketing Agency | Tech & Online | $4,240 | $12,720 | $33,920 |
| E-Commerce Store | Tech & Online | $5,300 | $15,900 | $53,000 |
| Electrical Business | Home Services | $15,900 | $58,300 | $169,600 |
| Esthetics & Skincare Business | Beauty & Personal Care | $8,480 | $42,400 | $127,200 |
| Excavation Company | Construction & Trades | $53,000 | $137,800 | $371,000 |
| Financial Planning Practice | Professional Services | $21,200 | $58,300 | $137,800 |
| Flower Shop | Retail | $21,200 | $79,500 | $212,000 |
| Food Delivery Service | Food & Beverage | $10,600 | $55,120 | $137,800 |
| Food Processing Business | Food & Beverage | $79,500 | $265,000 | $795,000 |
| Food Truck | Food & Beverage | $47,700 | $127,200 | $212,000 |
| Freight Brokerage | Transportation & Logistics | $16,960 | $38,160 | $84,800 |
| Furniture Store | Retail | $53,000 | $212,000 | $636,000 |
| General Contracting Business | Construction & Trades | $21,200 | $58,300 | $137,800 |
| Ghost Kitchen | Food & Beverage | $21,200 | $63,600 | $159,000 |
| Gift Shop | Retail | $21,200 | $74,200 | $212,000 |
| Gym & Fitness Center | Health & Wellness | $53,000 | $265,000 | $1,060,000 |
| Hair Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $15,900 | $79,500 | $265,000 |
| Handyman Business | Home Services | $2,120 | $10,600 | $34,980 |
| Home Health Care Agency | Health & Wellness | $42,400 | $137,800 | $318,000 |
| HVAC Business | Home Services | $21,200 | $74,200 | $212,000 |
| Ice Cream Shop | Food & Beverage | $21,200 | $79,500 | $212,000 |
| Insurance Agency | Professional Services | $15,900 | $42,400 | $95,400 |
| IT Services Business | Tech & Online | $15,900 | $42,400 | $106,000 |
| Juice Bar & Smoothie Shop | Food & Beverage | $26,500 | $95,400 | $265,000 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $10,600 | $42,400 | $127,200 |
| Laundromat | Real Estate | $106,000 | $265,000 | $636,000 |
| Law Firm | Professional Services | $12,720 | $36,040 | $85,860 |
| Limousine & Car Service | Transportation & Logistics | $42,400 | $95,400 | $233,200 |
| Liquor Store | Retail | $53,000 | $190,800 | $530,000 |
| Marketing Agency | Professional Services | $5,300 | $19,080 | $53,000 |
| Martial Arts Studio | Childcare & Education | $21,200 | $74,200 | $212,000 |
| Meal Prep Business | Food & Beverage | $21,200 | $68,900 | $212,000 |
| Med Spa | Health & Wellness | $106,000 | $371,000 | $1,060,000 |
| Medical Practice | Health & Wellness | $159,000 | $424,000 | $1,060,000 |
| Mental Health Practice | Health & Wellness | $15,900 | $53,000 | $159,000 |
| Moving Company | Home Services | $31,800 | $106,000 | $318,000 |
| Music School | Childcare & Education | $10,600 | $53,000 | $159,000 |
| Nail Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $21,200 | $95,400 | $265,000 |
| Painting Business | Home Services | $5,300 | $26,500 | $84,800 |
| Personal Training Business | Health & Wellness | $5,300 | $26,500 | $106,000 |
| Pest Control Business | Home Services | $10,600 | $42,400 | $127,200 |
| Pet Store | Retail | $31,800 | $106,000 | $318,000 |
| Pharmacy | Health & Wellness | $159,000 | $424,000 | $1,060,000 |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | Health & Wellness | $63,600 | $190,800 | $477,000 |
| Pizza Shop | Food & Beverage | $53,000 | $185,500 | $424,000 |
| Plumbing Business | Home Services | $15,900 | $53,000 | $159,000 |
| Podcast Production Company | Tech & Online | $2,120 | $6,360 | $19,080 |
| Preschool | Childcare & Education | $53,000 | $159,000 | $424,000 |
| Property Management Company | Real Estate | $11,130 | $25,440 | $58,300 |
| Real Estate Agency | Professional Services | $10,600 | $29,680 | $74,200 |
| Real Estate Investing (Rental) | Real Estate | $26,500 | $79,500 | $265,000 |
| Restaurant | Food & Beverage | $185,500 | $397,500 | $795,000 |
| Roofing Company | Home Services | $15,900 | $63,600 | $190,800 |
| SaaS Company | Tech & Online | $21,200 | $63,600 | $212,000 |
| Spa & Massage Therapy | Health & Wellness | $10,600 | $74,200 | $265,000 |
| Staffing Agency | Professional Services | $21,200 | $58,300 | $159,000 |
| Storage Unit Facility | Real Estate | $212,000 | $636,000 | $2,120,000 |
| Tattoo Shop | Beauty & Personal Care | $21,200 | $62,540 | $212,000 |
| Tax Preparation Business | Professional Services | $3,710 | $10,600 | $28,620 |
| Thrift Store | Retail | $21,200 | $79,500 | $212,000 |
| Tire Shop | Automotive | $53,000 | $159,000 | $424,000 |
| Towing Company | Automotive | $53,000 | $159,000 | $424,000 |
| Trucking Company | Transportation & Logistics | $31,800 | $84,800 | $212,000 |
| Tutoring Business | Childcare & Education | $2,120 | $25,440 | $106,000 |
| Used Car Dealership | Automotive | $53,000 | $212,000 | $636,000 |
| Vape Shop | Retail | $26,500 | $79,500 | $212,000 |
| Web Development Agency | Tech & Online | $3,710 | $12,720 | $34,980 |
| Welding Business | Construction & Trades | $15,900 | $42,400 | $106,000 |
| Winery | Food & Beverage | $159,000 | $807,720 | $3,180,000 |
| Yoga Studio | Health & Wellness | $15,900 | $84,800 | $212,000 |
Most Popular Business Types in Utah
Licenses & Permits in Utah
General Business License
Utah does not have a statewide general business license. Businesses must register their entity with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code and register with the Utah State Tax Commission for sales and use tax purposes. Many Utah cities require local business licenses — Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden, and other municipalities have their own licensing requirements. Utah's One Stop Business Registration system at business.utah.gov helps streamline the process.
Industry-Specific Licenses
- Food Service Sanitation License — Utah Department of Agriculture and Food or Local Health DepartmentCost: $50-$400 • Renewal: Annual
- General Building Contractor License — Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing — ContractorCost: $150-$500 • Renewal: Biennial
- Cosmetology/Barber Salon Registration — Utah Division of Occupational and Professional LicensingCost: $50-$150 • Renewal: Annual
- Real Estate Broker License — Utah Division of Real EstateCost: $150-$400 • Renewal: Annual
- Child Care Facility License — Utah Office of Child CareCost: $50-$200 • Renewal: Annual
- Outfitter and Guide License — Utah Division of Wildlife ResourcesCost: $100-$500 • Renewal: Annual
- Restaurant License — Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage ServicesCost: $300-$2,500 • Renewal: Annual
- Money Services Business License — Utah Department of Financial InstitutionsCost: $500-$5,000 • Renewal: Annual
Home-Based Business Rules
Utah municipalities regulate home-based businesses through local zoning ordinances. Salt Lake City allows home occupations in residential zones with standard restrictions on customer visits, commercial signage, and non-resident employees. Utah's many growing communities have updated their home occupation rules to accommodate remote workers and entrepreneurs. Utah's cottage food law supports home-based food production and direct consumer sales up to $10,000 annually.
Utah Business Resources
SBA District Office
Utah SBA District Office — Salt Lake City
Secretary of State
https://corporations.utah.govZoning Information
Utah cities and counties manage zoning. Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Front have active commercial zoning with technology corridor designations.
Health Department Notes
Food establishments require a permit from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food or the local health department.
Workers Compensation
Required for all employers. Utah uses a competitive private insurance market.