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Northwest
$29 TRUiC partner offer + Colorado state fee
Form with NorthwestColorado LLC guide
How to Start an LLC in Colorado
To form a Colorado LLC, you'll need to appoint a registered agent with a registered office in Colorado, file the Articles of Organization with the Colorado Secretary of State, and pay the $50 filing fee. You'll also need to file an annual Periodic Report, which has a five-month window around your assigned report month.
- State filing fee
- $50 The current Secretary of State business-fee schedule lists the Articles filing fee.
- Formation filing
- Online Articles of Organization filing Colorado Secretary of State
- Registered Agent
- Required Colorado street address
- Ongoing report
- Periodic Report Annually in the assigned reporting period
- Publication requirement
- Not required No statewide newspaper publication requirement.
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$249 LegalZoom Pro plan + Colorado state fee
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The filing path
Form your Colorado LLC in five steps
Use the Colorado LLC Launchpad to check your proposed name, review the state's registered agent rules, and get a formation plan matched to your priorities before you begin Step 1.
Colorado LLC Launchpad
Step 1 of 5
Name Your Colorado LLC
The first step is picking a business name for your Colorado LLC
State
Step 1: Name Your Colorado LLC
Before you get started, you will need to pick a suitable name for your Colorado LLC.
Your business name should be memorable, easily searchable for potential customers, and follow the Colorado state naming guidelines.
1. Important Naming Guidelines for Colorado LLCs:
- Your name must include the words “limited liability company” or an applicable abbreviation. Examples include “Ltd. liability company,” “limited liability co.”, “limited”, “L.L.C.”, or “LLC”.
- Your name cannot include words that could confuse your LLC with a state or government agency, such as “State Department”, “FBI”, and “Treasury”.
- Certain restricted words may require additional legal paperwork and/or approval from a state agency in order to be allowed. Examples include “Bank”, “Attorney”, and “University”.
For a full list of these rules, have a look at the official Colorado Business Naming Guidelines.
2. Conduct a Business Name Search in Colorado
To check whether your desired name has already been taken by another business entity in Colorado, you can perform a business entity search online through the Colorado Secretary of State Business Database Search.
Keep in mind that if you’re not going to start your LLC right away, you may want to consider reserving your name for up to 120 days. You can do this by filing a Statement of Reservation of a Name ($25 fee).
For more information, you can have a look at our Colorado LLC Name Search guide.
3. Conduct a Domain Name Search
We recommend that you check online to see if your business name is available as a web domain. Even if you don’t plan to make a business website right away, this is an extremely important step as it will prevent others from acquiring it.
Once you have verified your name is available, you may now select a professional service to complete the LLC formation process for you.
FAQ: Naming a Colorado LLC
LLC is short for “limited liability company.” It is a simple business structure that offers more flexibility than a traditional corporation while providing many of the same benefits. Read our What is a Limited Liability Company guide for more information.
Or, watch our two-minute video: What is an LLC?
Most LLCs do not need a DBA, known in Colorado as a trade name. The name of the LLC can serve as your company’s brand name and you can accept checks and other payments under that name as well. However, you may wish to register a DBA if you would like to conduct business under another name.
To learn more about DBAs in your state, read our How to File a DBA in Colorado guide.
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent in Colorado
After you find the right name for your LLC, you will need to nominate a Colorado registered agent. This is a requirement for all LLCs in Colorado.
What is a registered agent? A registered agent is an individual or a company that is your LLC’s official point of contact with the state in order to receive state documents and service of process. You can think of your registered agent as your LLC’s main point of contact with the Secretary of State.
Who can be a registered agent? A Colorado registered agent can be either an individual or entity, as long as the following requirements are met:
- Individual: Must be over the age of 18 and reside in the state of Colorado
- Business Entity: Must have a usual place of business in Colorado or – if a foreign business entity – be authorized to transact business in Colorado.
Get Free Registered Agent Services
Form an LLC with Northwest Registered Agent to get one year of registered agent services free of charge.
FAQ: Nominating a Registered Agent
Yes. You can be your own registered agent as long as you are over 18 years old and are a resident of the state of Colorado.
Have a look at our Can I Be My Own Registered Agent article for more information.
Using a professional registered agent service is an affordable way to manage government filings for your Colorado LLC. For most businesses, the advantages of using a professional service significantly outweigh the annual costs.
Step 3: File Your Colorado LLC Articles of Organization
To register your Colorado LLC, you will need to file the Articles of Organization with the Colorado Secretary of State. You can do this online.
The Secretary of State has a useful LLC Filing Checklist, which includes the information needed to complete your Articles of Organization correctly.
File the Articles of Organization
File Online With the State of Colorado
File OnlineFee: $50
For help with completing the form, visit our Colorado Articles of Organization guide.
If you’re expanding your existing LLC to the state of Colorado, you will need to form a foreign LLC.
FAQ: Filing Colorado LLC Documents
Since Colorado only offers online filing, all LLC applications are processed in real time. This means that there is virtually no waiting time (after payment has been received by the Secretary of State).
For more information, we recommend having a look at our How Long Does it Take to Form an LLC in Colorado guide.
An LLC is referred to as a “domestic LLC” when it conducts business in the state where it was formed. A foreign LLC must be formed when an existing LLC wishes to expand its business to another state.
Read our What Is a Foreign LLC article to learn more.
The cost to start a Colorado LLC is $50.
Keep in mind that this is the cost of submitting your Articles of Organization (i.e., your filing documents) to the Secretary of State and does not include additional costs that you may need to incur (e.g., using an LLC formation service, business attorney, etc.).
For more information, we recommend having a look at our guide on the cost to form a Colorado LLC.
Step 4: Create Your Colorado LLC Operating Agreement
An operating agreement is not required for an LLC in Colorado, but it’s a good practice to have one.
An operating agreement is a legal document outlining the ownership and operating procedures of an LLC.
A comprehensive operating agreement ensures that all LLC owners are on the same page and reduces the risk of future conflict.
You can use the free tool in our Business Center to create a custom operating agreement in minutes — or download our free templates:
FAQ: Creating a Colorado LLC Operating Agreement
No. The operating agreement is an internal document that you should keep on file for future reference. However, many states do legally require LLCs to have an operating agreement in place.
Step 5: Get a Colorado LLC EIN
You can get a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS for free. It is used to identify a business entity and keep track of a business’s tax reporting. It is essentially a Social Security number (SSN) for the company.
Why do I need an EIN? An EIN is required for the following:
- To open a business bank account for the company
- For federal and state tax purposes
- To hire employees for the company
Where do I get an EIN? An EIN, or Federal Tax Identification Number, is obtained from the IRS (free of charge) by the business owner after forming the company. This can be done online or by mail.
FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS: You do not need an SSN to get an EIN. Learn more here.
Get an EIN
Option 1: Request an EIN from the IRS
– OR –
Option 2: Apply for an EIN by Mail or Fax
Mail to:
Internal Revenue Service
Attn: EIN Operation
Cincinnati, OH 45999
Fax: (855) 641-6935
Fee: Free
FAQ: Getting an EIN
A Social Security number is not required to get an EIN. You can simply fill out IRS Form SS-4 and leave section 7b blank. Then call the IRS at (267) 941-1099 to complete your application.
All LLCs with employees, or any LLC with more than one member, must have an EIN. This is required by the IRS.
Learn why we recommend always getting an EIN and how to get one for free in our Do I Need an EIN for an LLC guide.
When you get an EIN, you will be informed of the different tax classification options that are available. Most LLCs elect the default tax status.
However, some LLCs can reduce their federal tax obligation by choosing the S corporation (S corp) status. To learn more, read our LLC vs. S Corp guide.
Best LLC Services in Colorado Compared
| Service | Total Cost* | Filing | Registered Agent | EIN | Operating Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Northwest
TOP PICK
25% TRUiC Discount
|
$129 | $29 | Free 1st Year $125/yr after | $50 | Free |
|
Tailor Brands
35% TRUiC Discount
|
$377 | $0 | $199/yr | $99 | $29 |
|
ZenBusiness
|
$347 | $0 | $99 1st Year $199/yr after | $99 | $99 |
|
LegalZoom
|
$477 | $0 | $249/yr | $79 | $99 |
For a comprehensive comparison, read our Best LLC Service review. We reviewed and ranked the top LLC formation services to help you determine the best fit for your new business.
Important Next Steps to Protect Your Colorado LLC
After you’ve formed your LLC, you’ll need to complete key steps in order to:
- Separate your personal and business assets
- Stay compliant with state and federal laws
File the Periodic Report
Your LLC will be required to file a yearly periodic report with the Secretary of State and pay Colorado state fees in order to avoid becoming a “delinquent” entity. This report can be filed online alongside a filing fee of $25.
Periodic reports are due within a five-month period that starts two months before your LLC’s formation date and ends two months after.
For more information, visit Colorado’s Secretary of State website.
To stay on top of this deadline and other important compliance tasks, we recommend hiring a professional registered agent service — they can help ensure you never miss a filing.
Get a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
Using a dedicated business banking account and business credit card is essential for personal asset protection.
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. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
You can protect your business with these two steps:
1. Opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
2. Getting a business credit card:
- Helps you separate personal and business expenses.
- Builds your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise capital later on.
Get Insurance
Even though an LLC offers limited liability, you’ll still likely need to purchase some form of business insurance to protect your LLC’s assets. The most common types are:
- General Liability Insurance: A broad insurance policy that protects your business from lawsuits. Most small businesses get general liability insurance.
- Professional Liability Insurance: A business insurance for professional service providers (consultants, accountants, etc.) that covers against claims of malpractice and other business errors.
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance: A type of insurance that provides coverage for employees’ job-related illnesses, injuries, or deaths. In Colorado, businesses with one or more employees, including LLC members and corporate officers, are required by law to have workers compensation insurance.
What This Means:
Without insurance: If someone sues your bakery for $40,000, they could take your commercial mixer and empty your business account ($25,000 total), but won’t be able to touch your house or personal savings.
With insurance: Your business liability policy could cover the $40,000 claim, meaning that both your personal and business assets would remain untouched.
That’s why many small business owners turn to providers like Ergo Next Insurance for affordable, tailored coverage. Get a free quote today.
Want to learn exactly what coverage your Colorado business may need? Read our full Colorado Business Insurance Guide.
Obtain Business Licenses If Needed
While Colorado doesn’t require a general state business license, your LLC may need specific licenses or permits based on its industry, location, and activities.
- State-Level Licenses: Check the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies website to determine if your business requires any state-issued licenses or permits.
- Local Licenses: Check with your city or county clerk’s office to identify any local licensing requirements, such as zoning permits or health department approvals.
- Federal Licenses: If your business activities are regulated by a federal agency (e.g., selling alcohol, firearms, or operating in transportation), consult the U.S. Small Business Administration’s guide to determine necessary federal licenses or permits.
For a comprehensive overview and step-by-step instructions, refer to our Colorado Business License Guide.
If you’d rather have a service handle this step for you, we recommend checking out LegalZoom’s Business License service.
Pay Your Colorado LLC Taxes
Your Colorado LLC will have several key tax obligations:
Income Tax
In Colorado, there are two main types of taxes imposed by the state government on the earnings of individuals and entities operating within the state: personal and corporate income tax.
Both are imposed at a flat rate of 4.4%.
Local Taxes
Many localities in Colorado levy a local income tax rate on businesses and individuals, including Aurora, Denver, and Greenwood Village (among others).
Additionally, many localities in Colorado opt to impose their own additional sales and use taxes. These rates vary from 0%-8.3%.
It’s best to refer to the official body’s website in your local area for the most up-to-date information on its local tax rates and how much your LLC will be expected to pay.
Sales Tax
In Colorado, sales tax is applied at a flat rate of 2.9% to the price of tangible goods sold within the state and paid by consumers.
In order to collect and remit sales tax to the Department of Revenue, you’ll need to apply for the Colorado Sales Tax License relevant to the types of goods your LLC sells.
Most Colorado LLCs must file their state tax returns by April 15. For help understanding your full tax obligations — and making sure nothing gets missed — check out our full Colorado LLC Tax Guide.
Need personalized help? Schedule a free consultation with 1-800Accountant to get expert guidance from CPAs who specialize in small business taxes.