Corporate and Business Law in Utah

There are a lot of aspects in business that need to be processed with legality. Corporate transactions should always follow legal processes to avoid conflicts between and among individuals involved – finances, contracts, real estates, etc. That said, corporate lawyers therefore play an important role and this is the reason why business entities not just seek advice from business lawyers outside but they hire them as permanent members and function as part of their legal counsel. Business lawyers work to settle various corporate issues, including the following:

Compensation issues

A corporate lawyer can settle compensation-related issues between employer and employees; he sees to it that a business entity does not violate the law governing compensation/benefits for its employees and at the same time he also ensures that these benefits are not abused, which can be ‘fatal’ to the business itself when not addressed appropriately.

Business formation

Starting a business involves many legal processes, including securing business permit, leasing and other real estate contract, establishing a concrete company policy, etc. – a corporate lawyer can help so that all of these are on the right track.

Shareholder agreement

Also known as stockholders’ agreement (in the US), this needs to be managed by a lawyer who is expert in corporate and business law as this involves complexities of legality and finances. Other issues settled by corporate lawyers are dispute resolution by arbitration, constitutional documents, mechanism for removing minority shareholders, etc.

Corporate financing

This involves dealing with monetary decisions, analysis of corporate acquisition, financial operation of a company that includes raising money for a variety of projects or business ventures. As complex as it is, a corporate lawyer can play an important role to take part of all the legalities involved in all of financial transactions a business undertakes.

Regulatory compliance

A corporate lawyer can also take part for the fulfillment of business compliance in accordance to the prevailing rules and regulations mandated by law. This helps a company performs its business without any conflict with the existing policies established by the government, which could cause some problems in the future such as criminal or civil penalties – when the governing policies are not fulfilled.

Why Utah is the Place to Start a Business

When considering the best places to start a business, many people immediately think Silicon Valley. However, entrepreneurial hubs like Silicon Slips in Lehi, UT seem to be popping up around the country. Here’s why so many entrepreneurs are saying “This is the place” to Utah.

Economy

The US economy has been conducive to startups and small businesses for a while now, however, Utah stands out as a state that is in especially good shape to help startups grow. Boasting a GDP growth rate of 3.7%, significantly above the nation’s average of 2.8%, Utah’s economic growth is noteworthy. According to an article in the Salt Lake Tribune, Utah also led the nation in job growth in 2018, adding around 50,000 jobs in one year — a growth rate of 3.3%. While more population dense states like California did add more jobs in the year, the growth rate of Utah was the highest in the nation. Utah also boasts an unemployment rate of 3%, as compared to the nations 4%. Strong job growth suggests many opportunities for the unemployed to find jobs. All of this suggests that Utah’s economy is healthy and able to help grow startups and small businesses.

Opportunity

Utah boasts a low corporate tax rate, at just 4.95%, lowered from 5% in January 2018. This suggests that starting a business in Utah can be less costly than in other states. Additionally, the state has large willing-and-able workforce, including a large bilingual population, thanks to the number of LDS missionaries that serve over seas. The local universities also churn out a good amount of educated, hungry workers. Growing companies would benefit from educated, motivated workforce in Utah. Beyond the powerful workforce, Utah also boasts other unique opportunities to drive small business growth.

Venture Capital

When it comes to Venture Capital, Utah is not very well known and is often overlooked for its VC efforts. However, Utah ranks well for venture dollars raised per capita. Coming in at 6th in the nation, Utah averaged $353 in reported venture funding per person per year, from 2016 to 2018. While California controls about half of all venture funding, Utah, having a population 13x smaller, is doing well for itself when it comes to venture funding.

Quality of Life

Another huge bonus of living in Utah is that the cost of living is so low compared to many other states. In Utah the cost of living is 35% cheaper than California, overall. Additionally, Utah has little traffic due to a much smaller population. Less traffic means less time spent commuting, and more time spent with family and friends. Beyond the work-related benefits, Utah is a beautiful state, filled with plenty of things to do. From winter sports, to hiking and fishing, there’s something for everyone. Utah’s unique desert environment also means that you can hike a mountain, and go to the sand dunes in one day. Utah is the perfect place to balance pleasure and work, without the traffic and crowding of many states.

Overall, Utah is a great place to start a business. With a steadily growing economy, amazing opportunity, and great quality of life, Utah is one of the best places to start or grow a company. What could your company gain by moving to Utah? Utah companies, what do you love about being here?

How to Start a Business in Utah

From licenses and permits to taxes and insurance, learn what you need to do to start a business in Utah.

Choose a Business Idea

Take time to explore and research ideas for your business. At this stage, take into consideration your own interests, skills, resources, availability, and the reasons why you want to form a business. You should also evaluate the likelihood of success based on the interests and needs of your community. Read our article for more tips on how to evaluate business ideas.

After you select an idea, consider drafting a business plan to determine your chances of making a profit. When you create a plan, you will have a better idea of the startup costs, your competition, and strategies for making money. Investors and lenders will want to review your business plan before providing financial assistance, and you can be prepared by drafting a plan before you start soliciting funding.

Decide on a Legal Structure

The most common legal structures for a small business are:
 sole proprietorship
 partnership
 limited liability company (LLC), and
 corporation

There also are special versions of some of these structures, such as limited partnerships and S corporations. You’ll want to consider which business entity structure offers the type of liability protection you want and the best tax, financing, and financial benefits for you and your business.

Choose a Name

For LLCs and corporations, you will need to check that your name is distinguishable from the names of other business entities already on file with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code (DCCC). You can check for available names by doing a business name search on the DCCC website. You can reserve an available name for 120 days by filing an Application for Reservation of Business Name form with the Utah DCCC. There are certain name requirements for LLCs and corporations (like including a word such as “LLC” for LLCs or “Company” for corporations).

Is your business is a sole proprietorship or partnership that uses a business name that is different from the name of the business owner (for a sole proprietorship) or names of the individual partners (for a partnership)? If so, you must register that name with the DCCC.

If you plan on doing business online, you may want to register your business name as a domain name. In addition, to avoid trademark infringement issues, you should do a federal and state trademark check to make sure the name you want to use is not the same as or too similar to a name already in use.

Pick a Business Location and Check Zoning Regulations

You’ll need to pick a location for your business and check local zoning regulations. Before you commit to a location, take time to calculate the costs of running your business in the desired spot, including rent and utilities. You can refer back to your business plan to evaluate whether you can afford your desired location during your company’s early months. You should also be sure to verify that the spot is zoned for your type of business. You might find zoning regulations for your town or city by reviewing your local ordinances and contacting your town’s zoning or planning department.

One alternative to opening your business at a new location is running your company out of your home. If you decide to run a home-based business, again check your local zoning laws. In addition, review your lease (if you rent your home) and homeowners association rules (if applicable), either of which might ban some or all home businesses.

Obtain Insurance

Business insurance can protect your business and your personal assets from the fallout of unexpected disasters, such as personal injury lawsuits and natural catastrophes. An insurance agent can help you explore the different coverage options for your business, which might include general liability insurance to protect you against claims relating to bodily injury or property damage, or cyber liability insurance to cover litigation and settlement fees following a data security breach.

Other Considerations

Of course there are many other considerations when starting a business. When you need legal help with a business in Utah, call attorney Jeremy Eveland (801) 613-1472. He might be able to help you.

Areas We Serve

We serve individuals and businesses in the following locations:

Salt Lake City Utah
West Valley City Utah
Provo Utah
West Jordan Utah
Orem Utah
Sandy Utah
Ogden Utah
St. George Utah
Layton Utah
South Jordan Utah
Lehi Utah
Millcreek Utah
Taylorsville Utah
Logan Utah
Murray Utah
Draper Utah
Bountiful Utah
Riverton Utah
Herriman Utah
Spanish Fork Utah
Roy Utah
Pleasant Grove Utah
Kearns Utah
Tooele Utah
Cottonwood Heights Utah
Midvale Utah
Springville Utah
Eagle Mountain Utah
Cedar City Utah
Kaysville Utah
Clearfield Utah
Holladay Utah
American Fork Utah
Syracuse Utah
Saratoga Springs Utah
Magna Utah
Washington Utah
South Salt Lake Utah
Farmington Utah
Clinton Utah
North Salt Lake Utah
Payson Utah
North Ogden Utah
Brigham City Utah
Highland Utah
Centerville Utah
Hurricane Utah
South Ogden Utah
Heber Utah
West Haven Utah
Bluffdale Utah
Santaquin Utah
Smithfield Utah
Woods Cross Utah
Grantsville Utah
Lindon Utah
North Logan Utah
West Point Utah
Vernal Utah
Alpine Utah
Cedar Hills Utah
Pleasant View Utah
Mapleton Utah
Stansbury Par Utah
Washington Terrace Utah
Riverdale Utah
Hooper Utah
Tremonton Utah
Ivins Utah
Park City Utah
Price Utah
Hyrum Utah
Summit Park Utah
Salem Utah
Richfield Utah
Santa Clara Utah
Providence Utah
South Weber Utah
Vineyard Utah
Ephraim Utah
Roosevelt Utah
Farr West Utah
Plain City Utah
Nibley Utah
Enoch Utah
Harrisville Utah
Snyderville Utah
Fruit Heights Utah
Nephi Utah
White City Utah
West Bountiful Utah
Sunset Utah
Moab Utah
Midway Utah
Perry Utah
Kanab Utah
Hyde Park Utah
Silver Summit Utah
La Verkin Utah
Morgan Utah