The minimum Colorado LLC cost is $50, which covers the processing fee for filing your LLC formation documents, known as the Articles of Organization.

Having said that, the total cost of forming a Colorado LLC will depend on several factors, including your personal preferences and business needs.

In our How Much Does an LLC Cost in Colorado article, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about the different costs associated with launching and maintaining an LLC.

Colorado LLC Cost

In the table below, you can find a summary of the main requirements of forming a Colorado limited liability company (LLC) and their associated fees.

                                                         

Requirement	Fee
Articles of Organization	$50
Registered Agent	$35 – $150+
LLC Name	$0-$45+
Operating Agreement	$0+

Colorado LLC Filing Fee ($50)

In Colorado, all LLCs must file their Articles of Organization to register with the state.

The filing fee for the Articles of Organization is $50, and is paid directly to the Colorado Secretary of State when submitting your LLC formation documents online or via mail.

Having said that, if you choose to use an LLC formation service, the cost will be a little higher as it will include a small service fee in addition to Colorado’s state filing fee.

The fees for an LLC formation service can range significantly, but can start from as low as $29, increasing if you decide to purchase any additional offerings.

Note: For more details on the formation process you can check out our Colorado LLC Formation guide.

Colorado Registered Agent ($0-$35+)

When you file the Articles of Organization to form your LLC in Colorado, you will be required to appoint a registered agent as part of the process.

This is a person or entity that you must assign to receive tax, legal, and governmental correspondence on behalf of your Colorado LLC.

While you can act as your own registered agent at no extra cost, it’s often recommended to hire a professional service so you avoid any potential penalties or legal issues caused by non-compliance with state regulations.

Professional registered agent services can start as low as $35 annually, and offer many added benefits. This includes the use of the agent’s address to keep your personal information private and real-time reminders for report filings and updates.

Alternatively, you can find some of the top recommendations for professional RA services in our Best Registered Agent Services of 2024 article.

Naming Your Colorado LLC ($0-$45+)

When forming your Colorado LLC, you’ll be required to pick a suitable name that’s available to use.

While registering a name in itself has no cost, there are two potential costs to be aware of when naming your LLC.

Reserving Name

If you’re not ready to officially form your Colorado LLC but want to ensure your chosen name remains available, you can reserve it for up to 120 days.

This reservation is accomplished by filing a Statement of Reservation of Name with the Colorado Secretary of State, which carries a fee of $25.

To check whether your desired name has already been taken by another business entity in Colorado, you can perform a Name Availability Search online through the Colorado Secretary of State website.

When choosing a name for your LLC, it’s important to select one that corresponds to an available domain. This is because a matching domain ensures consistency between your LLC’s name and its online presence, which helps to strengthen its brand recognition and credibility.

Doing Business As (DBA) Name

To conduct business under a name different from your legal business name, you will need to register a Doing Business As (DBA) name, also referred to as a trade name in the state of Colorado.

This process is managed through the Colorado Secretary of State and will require you to submit a Trade Name Statement and an accompanying $20 fee.

It’s important to note that while sole proprietors and general partnerships must renew their trade name registration annually for a $5 fee, corporations and LLCs in good standing with the state will not need to do so.

Note: You are permitted to register multiple DBA names for your business, provided each name is uniquely identifiable and follows Colorado’s naming guidelines.

Colorado LLC Operating Agreement ($0+)

While not mandatory, it’s good practice for LLCs to have an operating agreement (or “company agreement” as it’s known in Colorado).

This document defines the roles and responsibilities of the members or managers in your LLC and will help prevent and solve any business disputes that may arise later on.

While you can opt to hire an online service or Colorado business attorney to draft this document for you (which typically costs at least a few hundred dollars), it’s actually quite straightforward to do it yourself at no extra cost.

It’s also important to note that this doesn’t actually need to be filed with the Colorado Secretary of State — it’s purely an internal document.

Additional Colorado LLC Formation Costs

On top of the more common fees outlined above, there are a number of additional formation costs that LLCs in Colorado may encounter depending on their circumstances.

We’ve summarized some of these additional costs below:

Local Business Licenses

The cost of acquiring a business license in Colorado varies widely and is determined by the city or county where your business operates.

This fee can range from as low as $25 to several hundred dollars, depending on the specific requirements and regulations of the local jurisdiction.

For instance, in Denver, the fee for a general business license is approximately $50.

Certificate of Good Standing

A Colorado certificate of Good Standing is a document often required to open a business bank account, or by lenders in order to check that your LLC is properly registered and legally authorized to conduct business with the state.

You can obtain an official Certificate of Good Standing free of charge by using the Colorado Secretary of State website.

It’s important to note that this certificate does not require renewal and will remain valid as long as your business maintains its Good Standing status with the Colorado Secretary of State.

Note: For trade names, a “Certificate of Fact of Trade Name” is available instead.

Certified Copies of Business Documents

In the course of conducting business, there may be instances where you will need certified copies of your LLC’s formation documents or other official filings.

These documents can include your LLC’s Articles of Organization, amendments, and annual reports, which serve as official records of your business’s compliance and status.

You can request certified copies of business documents from the Colorado Secretary of State’s office, which are provided free of charge (for documents under 20 pages).

Cost to Maintain an LLC in Colorado

In addition to the cost of forming an LLC in Colorado, there are also several ongoing costs you’ll be responsible for paying each year.

We’ve outlined these recurring costs associated with maintaining a Colorado LLC below.

Annual Report

Your Colorado LLC will be required to submit an annual Periodic Report to the Secretary of State to maintain its company’s good standing.

This report — which is due during a specific five-month window starting two months before and ending two months after your LLC’s formation anniversary — serves to update or confirm your business’s core information.

This includes updating the principal office address and registered agent’s details to keep your LLC’s records with the state both current and accurate.

You can easily file this report online through the Colorado Secretary of State website for a small fee of $10.

Note: It’s important to mark your calendar and meet this deadline, as a late filing comes with a penalty fee of $50.

Registered Agent Maintenance

If you decide to take advantage of a professional registered agent in order to handle your legal documents, you’ll be required to pay an annual fee in return for their services. This fee commonly ranges between $35 and $300 depending on the provider and features you select.

While you’re not required to use a professional registered agent service, it’s highly recommended.

Taxes

In addition to the federal taxes your LLC is required to pay regardless of the state it’s based in, there are a variety of state-specific taxes in Colorado you need to be aware of, including:

• Sales tax
• Employment taxes
• Business privilege taxes
• Property taxes

Additionally, there are various local taxes your LLC may need to pay depending on the municipality or county it’s based in, such as:

• Sales and use taxes
• Property tax

Colorado vs Other States

Colorado is known for its generally modest filing and maintenance fees, which makes it competitive nationwide.

The state even provides certain services for free (e.g., obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing, etc.), which further boosts its appeal to business owners.

Having said that, it’s important to note that the best state to form your LLC is generally the one in which you plan to primarily operate your business from.

This is because this makes it far easier to stay legally compliant on a number of levels, including taxation, licensing, and filing requirements, as you’ll only need to deal with one state’s set of rules.