Whether you’re starting a new LLC or updating the registered agent for your existing business, it’s important to choose the best Colorado registered agent for your needs.

This article will help you to choose the registered agent that best fits your business, go over the basic functions of registered agents, and answer common questions about registered agents.

If you haven’t yet formed your LLC, you can get one year of registered agent services for free if you form your LLC with Northwest Registered Agent ($29 + state fees). (This is a great deal!).

Best Colorado Registered Agent Service

When choosing a registered agent service, you want someone who understands the importance of staying compliant and being diligent about legal processes and paperwork. That’s why Northwest Registered Agent is our #1 registered agent service choice for Colorado businesses.

We recommend Northwest Registered Agent, which offers everything that you need to form your LLC along with Registered Agent services. The company boasts over 20 years of operations helping small businesses start or grow.

Northwest has a 100% Error-Free Guarantee with outstanding customer support, exceptional services, and high prices to match. If data privacy and access to customer support are top on your list, the extra costs of working with Northwest Registered Agent may be well worth it for you and your business.

What Does a Colorado Registered Agent Do?

A registered agent does a few things for a company. Their main task is to be present when or if the company needs to receive tax or legal paperwork. These would be documents that can’t be sent to a mailbox or delivered to a front desk; rather, documents that must be handed directly to the person who represents the company.

A simple example would be a service of process, which is the delivery of legal documents in a lawsuit. These service documents must be delivered directly to the company’s representative – the registered agent – to ensure they are received.

This may seem like a small task, but the caveat that makes this a critical position is that the registered agent is required to be at the documented location to receive these papers during all “regular business hours.” This is the main reason that most people choose to use a registered agent service rather than operating as their own agent.

Other forms that your registered agent may receive on your behalf are:

• Tax forms
• Legal documents
• Official government correspondence
• Service of process

Another function of a registered agent is to file official documents with the state in which the LLC or corporation is established. In most states, businesses are required to file an annual report once per year to keep the business in “good standing” with the state.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Colorado?

The short answer is yes, you can be your own registered agent.

Whether or not that’s the best plan for you or your company is another question entirely. If you are looking to spend the absolute, bare minimum amount of money on your business, then being your own registered agent may not be a terrible choice. Still, even in that scenario, we don’t recommend it.

Benefits of Using a Registered Agent Service

There are only a few realistic options when it comes to whom you file as your registered agent:

• Yourself
• An attorney
• A registered agent service

As mentioned above, being your own agent has pitfalls and isn’t recommended. What’s more, an attorney in this position would be quite expensive and is generally only a viable option if you had them form your business for you.

So, that leaves you with the option of using a service. Here are the biggest benefits of using a professional registered agent service:

Privacy

When you form an LLC or corporation, your formation data goes into a state database which is open and searchable to the public. The information in this database can include:

• Business name
• Formation date
• Registered agent name
• Registered agent address

While you can’t stop the state from publishing this information, you can retain the privacy of your name and your address by using a registered agent service. Since this information is public, marketing companies use these databases to gather information to market their products and services to business owners. Your mailbox will thank you for keeping your business address private.

Another major privacy benefit is having legal documents delivered to your agent and not you personally. If, for some reason, someone brings a lawsuit against your company, would you rather have your agent call you with these documents or have them served to you in front of your customers, clients, or employees?

Easy Compliance

Along with privacy, another of the main benefits of using a registered agent service is that they will help to keep your business in “good standing” with the state.

Some states require LLCs and corporations to file annual reports or other timely documents. While these generally aren’t difficult tasks, they are often easily forgotten or lost in the day-to-day work that your business hands you.

Your registered agent will send you reminders that this work needs to be completed, and some will even provide you with the proper documents to make your work even easier.

How Do I Elect a Registered Agent in Colorado?

All businesses in Colorado are required by state law to designate a registered agent. The registered agent of an LLC serves as that business’s contact with the state, receiving tax notifications and other official correspondence. The registered agent also may have to accept service of process if the LLC is named in a lawsuit.

Your chosen registered agent should generally be available during business hours and willing to sign for mailed documents, so they can fully carry out these responsibilities. They also must be physically located in Colorado.

You can designate a registered agent when you file the Articles of Organization as part of LLC formation in the state of Colorado. If you’re using an LLC formation service, it’ll take care of filing and designating your chosen registered agent.

Colorado is only set up to receive Articles of Organization online, which can be filled out and submitted on the Colorado Secretary of State website. This includes listing the name and address of your LLC’s registered agent. The new Colorado LLC filing fee is $50 and must be paid at the time of filing. While the questions are fairly straightforward, the Secretary of State also provides an LLC filing checklist.

How Do I Change My LLC’s Registered Agent in Colorado?

If you need to change your LLC’s registered agent for whatever reason, your LLC is responsible for updating the official point of contact. The process for changing a registered agent is simple and inexpensive.

You will need the new registered agent’s name and address, which must be a physical address and can’t be a post office box.

You additionally need the new registered agent’s consent, indicating that they’re aware of and accept the designation. Consent doesn’t actually require a statement from the registered agent. You can simply check a box to state that the new registered agent has consented.

How you go about it depends on when your LLC is changing its registered agent:

• If you’re within your LLC’s periodic report window, you can simply list a new registered agent on your LLC’s periodic report. The report consists of your LLC’s principal address, the LLC’s principal mailing address, the registered agent’s name and contact information, and the individual who files the report. You can file online with the Secretary of State and pay the $10 filing fee.
• If you’re outside of the periodic report filing period, you can change your registered agent online by completing a Statement of Change Changing the Registered Agent Information form with the Secretary of State. This form is short and fairly straightforward, but the Secretary of State provides detailed instructions should you need clarification. A $10 fee must be paid by credit card each time your LLC changes its registered agent.

Again, Colorado only accepts registered agent changes online via the Secretary of State’s website. The state doesn’t have a physical form that can be printed out and mailed in.

If you choose to use or switch to a registered agent service, they should complete and file the changes for you. For more information about our recommended Registered Agent service for your LLC, check out our Northwest Registered Agent review.

Colorado Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing/Physical Address

Colorado Secretary of State
Business & Licensing
1700 Broadway
Suite 550
Denver, CO 80290

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Phone: (303) 894-2200

Email: sos.business@coloradosos.gov