To register a DBA in Utah, file an assumed name certificate with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, pay the $22 fee, and do it within 30 days of starting to use the name.1Utah Legislature. Utah Code 42-2-5 – Certificate of Assumed and of True Name Utah calls a DBA an “assumed name,” and the registration is good for three years before it needs to be renewed.
Who Has to File
Utah law requires any person conducting business under a name that is not their true legal name, or an entity’s officially registered name, to file an assumed name certificate.1Utah Legislature. Utah Code 42-2-5 – Certificate of Assumed and of True Name That covers sole proprietors, general partnerships, corporations, LLCs, and every other business structure. If Jane Smith runs a bakery called “Sweet Treats,” she needs a DBA. If “Smith Enterprises LLC” wants to sell coffee as “Morning Grind,” it needs one too.
The 30-day clock starts the day you begin doing business under the assumed name. Late filing carries penalties, discussed below.
Pick a Name That Will Clear
Your assumed name has to be distinguishable from every other name and trademark already on file with the Division.2Utah Legislature. Utah Code 42-2-6.6 – Assumed Name A few specific restrictions apply:
- The name cannot include “incorporated,” “inc.,” or any variation unless the business behind the DBA is actually a corporation.2Utah Legislature. Utah Code 42-2-6.6 – Assumed Name
- The name cannot suggest a purpose the business does not have. A furniture seller cannot use a name that implies it is a law firm.
- The name cannot imply the business is a state or local government agency.2Utah Legislature. Utah Code 42-2-6.6 – Assumed Name
- Since May 2022, the sequence “911” is not allowed.
The Division offers a free business name search on its website. Use it before you fill out anything else. It is a preliminary check only; the name is officially available once the Division approves your application.3Utah Division of Corporations. Searches Overview
Information to Gather Before You File
The certificate has to include all of the following:1Utah Legislature. Utah Code 42-2-5 – Certificate of Assumed and of True Name
- The exact assumed name you want to use.
- The full true name of every owner or operator. If an existing LLC or corporation is filing the DBA, include the entity’s name and Utah registration number.
- The street address of the principal place of business and of each owner.
- The name and Utah street address of a registered agent. You can serve as your own.
- A brief statement of what the business does.
Every owner or person conducting the business has to sign.
How to File
The fastest way is online through the Utah Business Registration System at businessregistration.utah.gov. You will need a UtahID account, which is the state’s single sign-on. Log in, select “Formations,” choose DBA, and work through the guided screens. Payment happens at the end by credit card.4Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Online Registration Instructions
Paper filing is not a mail-in option. You download the PDF form, complete it, and then upload it through the same online portal by choosing “Submit a Paper Filing” from the menu.5Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Doing Business As This surprises people who expect to drop an envelope in the mail.
What It Costs
Under the Fiscal Year 2026 fee schedule, effective July 1, 2025:6Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Fiscal Year 2026 Fee Schedule
- Initial registration: $22
- Renewal: $18
- Amendment (address, ownership, or registered agent change): $17
Renewing Every Three Years
A Utah DBA lasts three years from the filing date.7Utah Legislature. Utah Code 42-2-8 – Expiration of Filing During the 60 days before the anniversary date, the Division mails a renewal notice to your registered agent with instructions for renewing online.8Utah Department of Commerce. How to Renew a Business If you do not renew, and you do not file a new certificate within 30 days after the notice, the Division moves your name off the active index and onto a permanent inactive list. Someone else can register the same name at that point.
Penalties for Not Registering
Operating under an unregistered assumed name in Utah carries two consequences:9Utah Legislature. Utah Code 42-2-10 – Penalties
- You cannot file or maintain a lawsuit, counterclaim, or any legal proceeding in Utah courts until you comply. If a customer owes you money or a vendor breaks a contract, you have no recourse in court until the DBA is filed.
- The Division director can impose a late penalty of up to three times the normal filing fee. On a $22 registration, that is up to $66 on top of the fee itself.
The court-access restriction is the one that tends to hurt, because owners often discover it only when they are trying to sue.
What a Utah DBA Does Not Do
A DBA is a trade name registration, not a business formation. It does not create a separate legal entity and it does not give you personal liability protection. A sole proprietor using a DBA is still personally responsible for every debt the business takes on. If you want a liability shield, that comes from forming an LLC or corporation, which is a separate filing.
Registering the DBA with the state also does not replace a local business license. Utah has no statewide business license, but nearly every Utah city and county requires businesses operating within its borders to hold a local license. If you do business in more than one municipality, you may need one from each. Contact the city or county clerk where you operate for the application, fee, and renewal schedule that apply there.