Filed with
Colorado Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your Colorado LLC
Colorado Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division business filings →The name must contain "limited liability company", "ltd. liability company", "limited liability co.", "ltd. liability co.", "limited", "l.l.c.", "llc" or "ltd.". It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Colorado register.
Search the Colorado Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Colorado LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Colorado, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Articles of Organization
Colorado Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Colorado Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
Colorado operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
Colorado business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Colorado requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for Colorado sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Colorado LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Colorado LLCs file a Periodic Report every year. It is due by the last day of the second month after the LLC's periodic report month (the anniversary month of formation). It can be filed from two months before that month without penalty.
Worth knowing in Colorado
- Articles of Organization and Periodic Reports must be filed online; paper filings are not accepted.
- An LLC may file a Statement of Election of Alternative Anniversary Month to change its periodic report month.
- The principal office must be a street address, not a P.O. box, and the registered agent must consent to the appointment.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the Colorado Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division and pay the state fee, act as your Colorado registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
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Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Colorado?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Colorado, and file a Articles of Organization with the Colorado Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division. Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Colorado?
Colorado charges a filing fee for the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our Colorado LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Colorado LLC have to file an annual report?
Colorado LLCs file a Periodic Report every year. It is due by the last day of the second month after the LLC's periodic report month (the anniversary month of formation). It can be filed from two months before that month without penalty.
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the Colorado Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Colorado, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Colorado?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Colorado and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
