September 23, 2024
Happy September,
Reflecting on the past month, I am proud of the Utah Department of Commerce’s work to enhance customer service and safeguard Utahns against deceptive companies.
First, our Division of Corporations team successfully rolled out its new online business registration system through Civix. This initiative was a major undertaking for our team. We are thrilled to report that we completed the transition earlier this month, ensuring minimal disruption to online business registrations. This included maintaining an online filing option throughout the entire migration and launch process.
The impact of this new system will be felt across the state. Last year, we had nearly 500,000 filings, of which 97,221 were new business registrations, with 72% completed online, and 382,251 renewals with a 98% online completion rate. With the added services and enhanced user experience of the new platform, we anticipate the number of new business registrations completed online to increase to around 98%, aligning with our renewal rate. This improvement streamlines the process for entrepreneurs, saves valuable staff time and resources, and further reinforces Utah’s reputation as a business-friendly, “Startup State.”
While implementing new technology is rarely without challenges, we anticipate continuous improvements to the platform in the coming weeks. I am incredibly proud of the team’s dedication and hard work in bringing this project to fruition. The positive feedback we have received from users so far is a testament to the system’s effectiveness and potential to further stimulate economic growth in Utah.
Another significant accomplishment was that our Division of Consumer Protection team, in collaboration with the Utah Attorney General’s Office, secured a landmark victory against Real Estate Workshop last week. Their relentless efforts in this case have prevented further exploitation of Utahns and held the company and its principals accountable, securing $42.5 million in restitution. This victory underscores our commitment to defending Utah consumers’ rights.
The achievements highlighted reflect our dedication to serving the people of Utah. We are motivated by these successes and remain steadfast in our mission of strengthening trust in Utah’s commercial activities.
Warm Regards,
Margaret Busse
