How to Start an LLC in Colorado

Starting an LLC in Colorado requires choosing a business name, designating a registered agent, and filing Articles of Organization with the Colorado Secretary of State ($50) online. Once you file, your LLC will be approved instantly, but you’ll need to take a few more steps to get it ready to do business.

Create a Colorado LLC in 5 Steps:

1. Name your Colorado LLC
2. Choose a Registered Agent
3. File Articles of Organization
4. Set up Business Operations
5. File BOI Report

Step 1: Name Your Colorado LLC

You’ll need a business name that meets Colorado’s rules (found in C.R.S. 7-90-601).

Your Colorado LLC name must:

• Be unique in Colorado. If another entity is using your name, or one very similar, your LLC’s registration will be rejected. You’ll want to check via Colorado’s Business Name Availability Search.
• Include an identifier like “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company.”

Those are the two main rules, but you should also look online to see if your business name is available as a domain name and to check if it might be federally trademarked.

Can an LLC go by a different name in Colorado?

Yes. If you use a different business name than the one on your formation documents, that name is called a trade name or “doing business as” name. In Colorado, trade names do not have to be unique—while you can’t use the same name as another registered business entity, you can use a trade name that another business is using as a trade name. Any LLC using a trade name needs to file a Statement of Trade Name of a Reporting Entity online with the Colorado Secretary of State.

Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent

The next step in preparing to file your LLC is finding a Colorado registered agent. This is an individual or company tasked with receiving legal mail on behalf of your business in person and getting that mail to you ASAP.

LLCs in Colorado are required by law to appoint and maintain a registered agent. At a minimum, your registered agent must:

• Have a physical address in Colorado
• Be present at that address during business hours

Registered agents serve as the public’s point of contact for your business. You can be your own registered agent, but this requires listing your private information on the public record and risking being served a lawsuit in front of customers or clients. For this reason, many business owners decide to appoint a professional registered agent.

Can you use a PO box for a registered agent in Colorado?

No. You must list a physical address in Colorado for your registered agent’s address. Otherwise, your paperwork will be rejected.

Step 3: File Articles of Organization

Once you have your business name and your registered agent, you’re ready to fill out your Colorado Articles of Organization. This is the paperwork that—once approved by the Colorado Secretary of State—officially forms your LLC. Here’s what you need to provide.

• LLC Name. Make sure it’s unique in Colorado and include a designator like “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company.”
• Principal Office Address. Must be a physical address. When you hire us, we provide our office address for use here.
• Mailing Address. If you want to get mail at a different address, you can list that address here.
• Registered Agent. List the name and address of the individual who will accept service of process on behalf of your LLC in person (or hire us and we’ll list our info here).
• Registered Agent Consent. This is just confirmation that your registered agent has consented to fulfill this role.
• Management. Specify whether your LLC will be managed by members (owners) or managers.
• At least one member. Your LLC must have at least one member (owner)—check the box to confirm this is true.
• Delayed effective date. Here, you can choose to add a future start date for your LLC. Most people skip this and have their LLC start immediately.

Note that everything on this form becomes part of the public record, easily found online. We recommend minimizing the use of personal information (like home addresses) wherever possible. When you hire us, we provide a business address you can use in these fields in place of your own.

How much does it cost to set up an LLC in Colorado?

The cost to form an LLC in Colorado is $50. The $50 is due when you file your Articles of Organization with the state. After that, you’ll have to pay $10 every year to file a periodic report.

How long does it take to get an LLC approved in CO?

Colorado approves filings immediately, as soon as you pay. Colorado only accepts online LLC filings.

Step 4: Set up Business Operations

Once you submit your Articles of Organization to the Colorado Secretary of State, you’ll have an LLC. But to truly set up your LLC and ensure it’s ready to do business and protect your personal assets, you’ll need to do more.

Adopt an LLC Operating Agreement

While not required by law in Colorado, keeping an operating agreement on record internally is vital for the health of your LLC. It’s a contract that defines how your LLC will do everything important, like voting, distributing money, handling disputes, transferring membership, and more.

When you hire us, we provide an operating agreement you can customize to suit your needs.

Get an EIN from the IRS

This is a tax ID you can get through the IRS online. You’ll need one when you open your business bank account or if you’d like to hire employees.

Open a Business Bank Account

In order to protect your liability protection, you need to keep your business finances separate from your personal ones. To do this, you need a business bank account. This is where your members will make their initial contributions. To start one, just go to the bank of your choosing with your EIN and operating agreement.

Register your Domain Name

Even if you’re not ready to build a business website, it’s smart to register your domain name now (if it’s available). Your domain name doesn’t have to match your business name exactly—in fact, if your business name is long or has any tricky words in it, it might be better to come up with a domain name that complements your business name instead. In any case, when you hire us to form your LLC, we’ll register your domain name at the same time, free for a year.

Step 5: File BOI Report

The Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report is a mandatory federal filing that discloses ownership information to the federal government. The BOI Report is a result of the Corporate Transparency Act, a new law which aims to combat money laundering and other financial crimes. In 2024, you 90 days from registration to file your BOI Report.  In 2025, that window shrinks to 30 days. We can take care of this requirement for you when you hire us to form your LLC.

Frequently Asked Questions