Updated on: November 30th, 2024

Utah Registered Agent 2023 (A Complete Beginner-Friendly Guide)

Hire #1 Registered Agent Service for Utah

In order to form a Utah LLC, you must select a registered agent as required by Utah State Law. It is necessary to have a Utah Registered Agent when conducting business in the state in order to receive all official and legal documents from the State, as well as receive service of process in case of a lawsuit.

We have provided essential details about hiring a registered agent, the importance of many registered agent services having one in Utah, and the eligible candidates for the position in this guide. Please read it thoroughly before selecting a Utah Registered Agent.

Our #1 recommended Registered Agent service in Utah is:

What is a Utah Registered Agent

In Utah, a registered agent, also known as a statutory agent or a resident agent, is responsible for receiving important legal documents on behalf of your business. These other legal documents may include formation papers, renewal documents, tax filings, and legal papers if your LLC is sued by another company. Any official documents related to your business will be sent directly to the registered agent’s address in the state of Utah. When forming an LLC, it is required to designate a registered agent.

When submitting the Utah LLC formation papers to the Secretary of State, you must provide the name and address of the registered agent for the LLC. In Utah, you have the option of selecting either an in-house registered agent or outsourcing the service to national registered agent.

Hiring a Registered Agent in Utah

There are multiple options available for hiring a registered agent in Utah. Meeting the basic eligibility criteria is necessary to become a registered agent. As long as the minimum requirements are met, any Utah resident can act as your LLC’s registered agent.

Who Can Be a Registered Agent

To be a registered agent for our LLC, you need to:

  • Be over 18 years old
  • Have a legal and physical address in the state where our LLC operates
  • Be available during normal working hours
  • Be reachable at the registered office address

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent?

You can act as your own registered agent for your LLC. The LLC members, managers, and owners’ family members, such as spouses and relatives, can also serve as registered agents. However, whoever is chosen to be the business entity registered agent must meet the necessary requirements for representing the business.

Why You Shouldn’t Be Your Own Registered Agent

It is not advisable for small businesses to act as their own registered agent in order to save costs. There are numerous challenges that come with serving as the registered agent for your business entities or own LLC, including the following:

  • If you run a home-based or online business, your residential address will be publicly available for mailing and official purposes, potentially compromising your privacy.
  • If you choose to serve as your own registered agent, keep in mind that you will need to be physically present at the registered address during working hours on all working days throughout the year. This may impact your ability to attend to other responsibilities.
  • It is important to ensure that the registered agent’s address is current in the Secretary of State portal.

Outsourcing the registered agent service is recommended to simplify your workload while also safeguarding your privacy, particularly if you operate your business from your home. It is wiser to employ a commercial registered agent service instead of serving as your own affordable registered agent service.

How to Choose a Registered Agent in Utah

You can choose between two options for your Utah Registered Agent: hiring an in-house RA or outsourcing the service. Alternatively, you can act as your own registered agent. Nevertheless, it is suggested to outsource the service since it is less stressful and more convenient.

In-house Registered Agent

Regarding the registered agent for your LLC, the agent can be chosen from within the LLC, including yourself, or you can hire someone for the position. If you choose to hire, your office or home address will serve as the registered agent’s office address. LLCs are required to submit the principal office address, mailing address, and registered agent’s office address to the state public portal. If you opt for a registered agent service, you can use their address as the mailing address to simplify matters.

Outsourcing Registered Agent Service

You can consider using professional registered agent services to ensure that you have a top-notch service provider representing your business. We have listed the best Registered Agent services that offer the top registered agent services and agents who can help ease your worries.


Utah Registered Agent Fee ($29 or $125)

As a business owner in Utah, you have the option to serve as your own for most registered agent services. However, utilizing Utah registered agent services can be extremely beneficial for keeping up with compliance standards and avoiding costly late fees by setting reminders of important filing deadlines.

There is no additional cost if you will be your own Registered Agent, or have someone you know be your LLC’s Registered Agent.

  • Northwest Registered Agent services is the perfect choice for those seeking to establish a new business and gain access to a registered agent, with packaging starting at only $39 + state fees!

OR:

Hiring a Registered Agent service is a good idea if:

  • You are without a physical address in this state.
  • According to Utah legislation, Registered Agents are mandated to maintain a physical address in the state.

You want to keep your address confidential and protect it from public knowledge.

  • When selecting a business, you could opt to utilize their address in order to preserve the secrecy of your personal residence.

Your Utah registered agent must: Be at least 18 years or older Have a physical address in Utah Be available during normal business hours to accept service of process


What to Consider While Choosing a Utah Registered Agent?

Consider these factors when selecting a registered agent.

Service Fee

LLCGuys-Service-Fee

Choosing the right registered agent is crucial for formal businesses as most states mandate their requirement. The cost of hiring a registered agent ranges from $99 to $300 annually. However, when you weigh in the time-saving benefits, it is a small expense.


Tenure in Business of Registered Agent

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It is recommended that you choose a Registered Agent Service with established and proven procedures for managing documents. A service that has been in business for a significant period of time would be ideal, as they will have the necessary experience and expertise to handle all your documentation efficiently.


State Jurisdiction Limitation

LLCGuys-State-Jurisdiction-Limitation

To lessen the hassle of dealing with multiple, registered agent companies and service providers, it is advisable to utilize the same or best registered agent service, in all states when expanding your company to another state.


Offer Monitoring and Follow-up Services

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To stay informed of the applicable statutes, rules, and regulations for your company, choose a registered agent service that provides timely information and alerts. Some providers offer this premium service only, so be sure to select one that includes it.


How to Appoint a Registered Agent in Utah

The LLC can appoint the registered agent while submitting the Utah Certificate of Organization. This can be done online or by mail process and there is no extra fee for it. Only the state filing fee needs to be paid.

Appoint Registered Agent Online

To appoint a registered agent online for your Utah LLC, you need to visit the Utah LLC Online Filing page and submit the required information for your chosen Registered Agent.

Appoint Registered Agent By Mail

To appoint a registered agent in Utah by mail, follow these steps:

1. Download the Utah LLC filing form (PDF).

2. Fill out the “Registered Agent” section with the agent’s details.

3. Submit the form to the SOS office.

For additional information, refer to the Utah Certificate of Organization.


Cost of a Utah Registered Agent

The cost of a national registered agent service can vary depending on whether you choose to hire an in-house agent, act as your own agent, an online account or outsource the service. The cost of having a registered agent can range from $99 to $300 per year. It is recommended to outsource the registered agent service in Utah for cost-effectiveness.

How to Change a Registered Agent in Utah

In order to change the registered agent for Utah, you need to fill out the “Change of registered agent or office by entity” form and send it to the Utah Secretary of State through either mail or online submission.

File Online

To file online, you should go to the Utah Secretary of State portal and obtain the online form. The form requires you to provide the necessary details of the LLC, current and previous registered agents. Once completed, the newly designated agent and authorized LLC member need to sign the form. By doing so, the new agent gives consent to their appointment. Afterward, submit the form online.

Fee: $15

File By Mail

If you prefer, you can opt to submit the form by mail. To complete this task, you should access the Utah Secretary of State’s website and download the form labeled “Change of registered agent or office by entity“. Complete all the required information on your computer and have the newly appointed registered agent sign the form. Mail the fully signed form to the designated address.

Mail to: Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code

P.O. Box 146705

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6705

1-day Mail (overnight): Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code

160 East 300 South, 2nd Floor (or 160 East Broadway)

Salt Lake City, UT 84111

To pay for online or email filings with the Utah Secretary of State, the only accepted form of payment is via credit card. If filing by paper, payment can be made using a money order or check.


Why Do LLCs in Utah Need a Registered Agent Service?

Here are some key reasons for a business to appoint a registered agent in Utah:

  • Confidentiality: By using a registered agent service in Utah, your business and its related documentation can be kept completely private. Choosing a professional registered agent service or company over an individual ensures that you receive privacy and confidentiality agreements beforehand.
  • Up-to-date Compliance: Registered agent legal services have excellent customer service that can help LLCs and corporations stay on top of important paperwork and compliance tasks. Instead of worrying about keeping everything up-to-date, a registered agent will maintain a compliance calendar for you.
  • Privacy: Utah businesses are required to provide their address to the Utah Secretary of State. If you use your home address for your business, it may not be safe to make it a public record. However, if you use a registered agent service, they will provide their business address to the Utah SOS instead of yours.
  • Availability: If you hire a registered agent or best customer service team, they will be available during the usual business hours on weekdays. This way, they won’t interfere with regular business hours or other tasks your company needs to do.
  • Online Safe Backup: Typically, all registered agents in Utah, as well as other states, make an online backup of all the LLC documents and paperwork to securely save them in a central system.
  • Lawsuits or Summons: Being summoned or sued can have a negative impact on employees’ perception of the company. By using a registered agent, all legal notices and documents will be sent to the registered agent’s business name’s official address. This means that business owners will not have to receive such papers in their office in front of their employees.

How to Remove a Registered Agent for LLC in Utah?

To remove a registered agent for an LLC in Utah, you need to fill out a Registration Information Change Form, pay a filing fee of $15, and submit it to the Utah Secretary of State.

When you start an LLC, you need to appoint a registered agent who will be the point of contact between your business and the state. The registered agent’s primary role is to accept important legal documents and ensure that your business remains compliant with legal requirements such as tax filings, submitting annual reports to the state, and incorporation of legal entities within the state.


Best Registered Agent Services for Utah

As we mentioned before, being your own Registered Agent isn’t the best option for various reasons. That’s why we recommend hiring true professionals and forgetting all of the headaches of legal papers, being available 24/7, and collecting a ton of business mail.

#1 — Northwest Registered Agent Service

Northwest is one of our (and many others) top-rated LLC services. They have thousands of positive testimonials and hundreds of thousands of happy customers.
You can read our honest review of Northwest Registered Agent here.

$39+State Fees

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Rating: 4.9/5
Review count: 4850+

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Form an LLC today with Nortwest. They have 98% customer satisfaction rating and over 4150+ verified reviews. They will include 1 year of free registered agent service!


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