How to Start an LLC in Colorado
Forming an LLC in Colorado costs $50 in state filing fees, paid to the Colorado Secretary of State. Here is the full process, the real costs and the Colorado-specific rules most guides skip.
What it costs
| Item | Cost | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee (Colorado Secretary of State) | $50 | Yes, one time |
| Annual report | $25 periodic report | Yes, recurring |
| Registered agent service | $100–$200 / year | Optional (you can be your own) |
| EIN from the IRS | Free | Yes, for banking and taxes |
| Operating agreement | Free–$200 | Strongly recommended |
Step by step
Choose and check your LLC name
Your name must be distinguishable from existing Colorado entities and include "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company". Search availability for free on the Colorado Secretary of State website before you fall in love with a name.
Appoint a registered agent
Required by law: a person or company with a physical street address in Colorado, available during business hours to receive legal mail. You can be your own agent if you live in the state; most founders who value privacy or don't live there use a service ($100 to $200 per year).
File your formation documents ($50)
File Articles of Organization (in some states called a Certificate of Formation) with the Colorado Secretary of State. Standard processing: immediately online. This is the step that legally creates the LLC.
Get your EIN from the IRS (free)
The Employer Identification Number is your LLC's federal tax ID, needed for bank accounts, hiring and tax filings. The IRS issues it free. If the LLC's principal place of business is in the US and the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN, the IRS online application issues the number immediately (one EIN per responsible party per day). Owners without an SSN or ITIN, including most non-US founders, cannot use the online tool: they file Form SS-4 by fax (about 4 business days), by mail (about 4 weeks) or, for international applicants, by phone at 267-941-1099. Details and the exact numbers are in our non-resident guide. Never pay a service just for an EIN.
Create an operating agreement
Colorado does not legally require an operating agreement, but banks, investors and courts expect one, and it is the document that protects your limited liability if ownership is ever disputed.
Handle ongoing compliance
Colorado requires an annual report of $25 periodic report. Calendar it the day your LLC is approved, missing it risks late fees and eventually administrative dissolution.
Every Colorado fee that matters
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $50 | Filed online and approved in real time |
| Periodic report | $25 a year | Raised from $10 on July 1, 2024 |
| Late periodic report penalty | $50 | Once the entity is marked Noncompliant |
| Statement Curing Delinquency or reinstatement | $100 | If the LLC becomes Delinquent |
| Name reservation (optional) | $25 | Holds a name for 120 days, renewable |
| Trade name (DBA) | $20 | Only if trading under another name |
| State sales tax license | $16 prorated + $50 deposit | Only if you sell taxable goods or services |
Source: Secretary of State business fee schedule. A Colorado resident acting as their own agent pays $50 in year one and $25 a year after, among the lowest totals in the country.
The periodic report window, and how delinquency works
- The report is tied to your anniversary month. You can file from two months before that month until the end of the second month after it, with no penalty. An LLC with a January report month has until March 31.
- After the window closes the LLC is marked Noncompliant and the $50 late penalty applies.
- Two months later it becomes Delinquent. It still exists, but must file a $100 Statement Curing Delinquency to return to good standing.
- Colorado holds the name for 400 days after delinquency. After that the record is renamed to include "delinquent" and the original name is released for anyone to take.
The rules and examples are in the Secretary of State periodic report FAQ.
Colorado details most guides skip
- Online only in practice. Formation and reports are filed on the Secretary of State website and processed instantly. Paper-only documents take 7 to 10 business days, with a $150 paper expedite.
- Public record: the Articles show the registered agent, the principal street address (no PO Box) and the name and address of the person who files. Members and managers are not required, but if you file yourself, your name is public.
- Home-rule cities. Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs and dozens of other home-rule cities license and collect their own sales tax, separately from the state license.
- No franchise tax. Profit passes through to the owners' Colorado income tax returns.
Mistakes we see with Colorado LLCs
- Missing the periodic report window, sliding into Delinquent, and losing the name after 400 days.
- Filing the Articles personally and being surprised your home address is public; use your agent or a business address.
- Getting the state sales tax license and not the separate home-rule city license.
- Trading under a brand name without filing the $20 trade name.
Official Colorado links
Colorado LLC: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Colorado?
The state filing fee is $50, paid to the Colorado Secretary of State. Ongoing state cost: $25 periodic report. Optional costs include a registered agent service (typically $100 to $200 per year) if you don't act as your own.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Colorado?
Typical processing time: immediately online. Many states offer paid expedited options if you need the LLC approved faster. The clock starts when the Colorado Secretary of State receives your filing.
Do I need a registered agent in Colorado?
Yes. Every Colorado LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state to receive legal and official mail. You can serve as your own agent if you have a Colorado address and are available during business hours, or hire a commercial registered agent service.
What happens if I miss the Colorado annual report?
The report costs $25 periodic report and missing the deadline typically triggers late fees, loss of good standing and eventually administrative dissolution of the LLC. Reinstatement is possible but costs more than filing on time.
When is the Colorado LLC periodic report due?
It opens two months before your anniversary month and closes at the end of the second month after it. File within that window and the fee is $25. After it the LLC becomes Noncompliant and owes a $50 penalty, and two months later it becomes Delinquent.
What happens to a delinquent Colorado LLC's name?
Colorado holds it for 400 days after the LLC becomes delinquent. After that the record is renamed to include the word delinquent and the original name becomes available to others. A $100 Statement Curing Delinquency restores good standing before then.
Not sure whether Colorado fits your situation?
Before you choose a filing package, talk through your business, location and goals with a real setup specialist. Get a clear formation roadmap at no cost and with no purchase obligation.
Request my free setup callLaunch.llc is free. If a formation partner fits and you choose to move forward, the partner may pay us a referral fee.
Compare with other states
Fees and rules last reviewed September 2026. State fees change; always confirm with the Colorado Secretary of State before filing. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.