Step 1: Choose a name Colorado will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “Ltd. Liability Company”, “Limited Liability Co.” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Colorado Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Colorado against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $25, for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Colorado who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Colorado companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Colorado Secretary of State. The fee is $50. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Online filings at once, on payment; paper 7 to 10 business days. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Colorado doesn't require one (C.R.S. § 7-80-108(1)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Colorado LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Colorado has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Colorado LLC annual report
Fee: $25 Periodic Report (raised from $10 effective July 1, 2024); $50 late filing penalty. Due: Annually; may be filed from two months before to two months after the entity's Periodic Report month (shown on the entity summary page) without penalty. (Source: Reports, sos.state.co.us.)
| After formation | Colorado |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $25 periodic report each year |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, free |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Colorado certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Colorado
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $50 |
| First year, state fees | $50 |
| Each year after | $25 |
Over five years, Colorado's state fees come to $150. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Business, sos.state.co.us, checked 2026-10-07
Entity names, sos.state.co.us, checked 2026-10-07
Designators, sos.state.co.us, checked 2026-10-07
Reports, sos.state.co.us, checked 2026-10-07
Press release on fees (June 17, 2024), coloradosos.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Filing, sos.state.co.us, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Colorado
- Choose a name Colorado will accept and check it against the Colorado Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Colorado.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Colorado Secretary of State ($50).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Colorado?
$50 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $50 in the first year and $25 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Colorado?
The Colorado Secretary of State gives online filings at once, on payment; paper 7 to 10 business days.
Do I need an operating agreement in Colorado?
Colorado doesn't require one (C.R.S. § 7-80-108(1)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Colorado online?
Yes. The Colorado Secretary of State takes the Articles of Organization online, for $50.
When is the Colorado LLC annual report due?
Annually; may be filed from two months before to two months after the entity's Periodic Report month (shown on the entity summary page) without penalty.
Does Colorado require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Colorado's recurring filing: $25 periodic report each year.