How to File the Colorado LLC Articles of Organization

The Colorado Articles of Organization is the LLC form you fill out and file with the state to form an LLC.

Follow the steps in our How to File the Colorado LLC Articles of Organization guide below to get started.

Or simply use a professional service:

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

Filing the Colorado Articles of Organization Is Easy!

We'll take you through three easy steps for filing the Colorado LLC Articles of Organization.

1. Get Your Articles of Organization Forms
2. Fill out the Articles of Organization
3. File the Articles of Organization

Step 1: Get Your Articles of Organization Forms

Colorado only provides an online option for filing the Articles of Organization.

Access the Colorado Articles of Organization

Find the Articles of Organization forms by selecting the "Limited liability company (LLC)" option.

Step 2: Fill Out the Articles of Organization

In this step, we will help you complete the Colorado Articles of Organization.

You will need to know the following information to complete each Article:

1. Entity Name and Principal Address
2. Registered Agent Name and Registered Office Address
3. Governing Authority Type

Entity Name

Having a creative and smart business name is important but not as important as having a legally correct name.

When you choose a name for your business, you have to make sure the name:

• Meets Colorado naming guidelines. 
• Is not already in use by another business in Colorado

Follow the Colorado Naming Guidelines:

• Your name must include one of the following terms or abbreviations: limited liability company, ltd. liability company, limited liability co., ltd. liability co., limited, l.l.c., LLC, or ltd.
• Your name must be distinguishable from any existing business in the state. We will help with this step in the search for your business name section below.
• Your name cannot contain any term that would violate any Colorado law. For example, your business name cannot include obscenities or references to illegal activities.
• Your name cannot include words that could confuse your LLC with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
• In some states, certain words (e.g., Bank, Attorney, University) may require additional paperwork and a licensed individual to be part of your LLC.

Check Name Availability:

Is your name available in Colorado? Make sure the name you want isn't already taken by doing a name search on the Colorado Secretary of State website.

To learn more about naming your business, including best practices and creative branding, visit our How to Name a Business in Colorado guide. 

Not sure what to name your business? Check out our Business Name Generator.

Register Your Domain Name:

We recommend checking to see if your business name is available as a web domain. Even if you don't plan to make a business website today, you may want to buy the URL in order to prevent others from acquiring it.

Registered Agent and Registered Office

A registered agent accepts and sends legal documents on your LLC's behalf. When you register your Colorado LLC, you are required to list your registered agent and your registered office.

Your registered agent can be anyone 18 years or older that lives in Colorado. Your registered agent must always be available at the registered office during regular business hours. Your registered office address cannot be a P.O. box. 

To learn more about choosing a Colorado registered agent, read our How To Choose a Colorado Registered Agent guide.

To learn more about what a registered agent does and how to choose one, read our What is a Registered Agent guide.

Governing Authority

You must state whether or not your LLC will be managed by managers or by its members.

To learn everything you need to know about choosing your management structure, read our Management by Members or Managers guide.

Step 3: File the Articles of Organization

To register your LLC, you will need to file the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. This must be done online.

File the Articles of Organization

File online by selecting the "Limited liability company (LLC)" option. Add the exact name you would like to use as your LLC, and fill out the required fields on the next page.

State Filing Cost: $50

Turnaround Time: Immediate once payment is received.

Steps After Your Colorado LLC Is Officially Formed

Once you’ve filed your Articles of Organization, you should take the following steps:

• Create an Operating Agreement
• Get an EIN
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get Licenses and Permits

Create an Operating Agreement

A Colorado LLC Operating Agreement is a legal document that outlines the ownership structure and member roles of your LLC.

In Colorado, you aren't required to have an Operating Agreement to officially form an LLC, but it's still a good idea to have one. You can start your operating agreement before, during, or after you file your Articles of Organization.

Your operating agreement will be kept in your LLC's private business records; you do not file it with the state.

Use our free Operating Agreement Tool to draft a customized operating agreement for your LLC.

Get an EIN

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is like a social security number for your LLC. You will need an EIN if you want to hire employees or open business bank accounts.

You can get your EIN for free through the IRS website, via fax, or by mail. If you would like to learn more about EINs and how they can benefit your LLC, read our What is an EIN article.

Open a Business Bank Account

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential to protect your business' corporate veil. When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your LLC is sued.

For reviews on some of our most trusted business banks, visit our Best Banks for Small Business review.

Get Licenses and Permits

When you are registering an LLC, you need to determine if your business needs any licenses or permits to remain compliant. On the federal level, there are a handful of business activities that require licenses or permits.

Find out how to obtain necessary licenses and permits for your business or have a professional service do it for you:

• Federal: Use the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guide to federal business licenses and permits.
• State: Apply for or learn more about licenses, permits, and registration with Colorado's Department of Regulatory Agencies.
• Local: Contact your local county clerk and ask about local licenses and permits.

State of Colorado Quick Links

Colorado Online Business Filing

Colorado Checklist for New Businesses

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies

Brand Your Business

The strongest and most memorable businesses are built on a solid brand. When developing your brand, think about what your business stands for. Customers and clients are looking for companies that have a compelling brand, as much as they are shopping for high-quality products and services.

Creating a logo for your business is vital for increasing brand awareness. You can design your own unique logo using our Free Logo Generator. Our free tool can help you design your own unique logo for your new business idea.