The agencies state $51,584 in initial fees across 6 of the 10 items; 2 are free; 2 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top and depend on the space.
How much does it cost to open a restaurant in Utah?
$51,584 in state fees the agencies state, across 6 of the 10 licenses, permits and registrations; 2 are free; 2 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.
What the state publishes for a restaurant in Utah
Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 21, 2026.
- Stated state fees
- $51,584initial fees across 6 of 10 items
- Free items
- 2no fee as the agency publishes it
- Set elsewhere
- 2by the city, the county or a provider
- Items in all
- 10in the order to get them
Initial fees as each agency states them, summed; renewals are not included. Where a fee depends on size or sales the range is the lowest to the highest stated. Members see each row’s fee, its renewal and the official page.
Set up the business
Item Agency Fee Certificate of organization (LLC) and the annual renewal Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code Premium only Assumed name (DBA) registration Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Sales and use tax license, employer withholding account Utah State Tax Commission Free City or county business license Your city’s business licensing office Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval and certificate of occupancy Your city’s planning and building divisions Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Food establishment permit Your local health department Premium only Certified food safety manager and food handler permits Local health department Premium only Alcohol permits
Item Agency Fee Full-service restaurant license, limited-service restaurant license or bar establishment license Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment insurance account, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation Utah Department of Workforce Services Premium only
What comes on top of the fees
The state publishes its fees; the space sets the rest. These work it out from your own numbers.
- Rent the business can carryMonthly sales, or seats and average check, to the base rent that fits a healthy occupancy share.Rent-to-sales calculator
- The real cost of a NNN leaseBase rent plus CAM, property taxes and insurance, each month.NNN lease calculator
- The steps in orderThe same items as a walk-through you tick off, with progress saved to your account.How to open
Fees are shown to members as published. Create an account.
Sources and dates
Division of Corporations fiscal year 2026 fee schedule (effective July 1, 2025); domestic LLC pages; Division of Corporations DBA application form; Utah Code 42-2-5; IRS EIN page; Tax Commission Publication 25 (sales and use tax general information); Taxpayer Access Point registration (form TC-69); Salt Lake City consolidated fee schedule and business licensing pages; Salt Lake County fiscal year 2026 fee schedule; Utah Code 10-1-203; Utah Uniform Building Standards Act (Utah Code Title 15A); city business license and building permit pages; Salt Lake County Health Department fee schedule (2026) and food protection pages; Utah Administrative Code R392-100; Utah Department of Health and Human Services food safety manager certification rule (R392-101); food handler training provider pages; DABS fee schedule and retail license pages; Utah Code 32B-1-202 (quota) and Title 32B Chapter 6 (specific retail licenses); Department of Workforce Services employer tax rate page (2026 taxable wage base and rate limits); new hire handbook and form 6; Utah Code 34A-2-201. Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.