How to Register a Business in Colorado

Author: Jason Coles

Updated On:

Updated On:

Colorado is certainly one of the most popular states to live, work, and register a business in due to the state’s efficient and consistent support for new businesses and the business community as a whole.

There are many different support systems in place in Colorado to help entrepreneurs and those with existing businesses flourish and grow in their community and throughout the state. This is further supported by the strength of Colorado’s economy, with US News & World Report ranking Colorado as #1 for economic strength.

Colorado’s support for small businesses is evident in its approach to encouraging new businesses to register in the state. After a dramatic cut to red tape in 2014, a lack of franchise taxes for LLCs and corporations, low business licensing fees, and affordable registration fees, you can see why so many people register a new business in Colorado.

The state is incredibly business-friendly and it means that for a small capital outlay you can get your new business started and registered in Colorado conveniently, and cost-efficiently.

How to register a business in Colorado

How to Register a Business Name in Colorado – 7 Easy Steps

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The Colorado corporations division makes it relatively easy to register your business name. There are three ways you can do this:

  • 1. Do it yourself directly on their website.
  • 2. Pay a document filing company that can register everything online for you – there is a modest fee for this.
  • 3. Hire an attorney to file and register your new company – there are higher fees associated with this.

Step 1 – Determine your registered name

Firstly, you must determine that your business name is unique and not being used by someone else. A business registration company can do this on your behalf or alternatively, you can search directly on the Colorado Secretary of State.

Once you have established your name is available you can register a business name in Colorado directly on their website or use an online registration service to do this for you. Before doing this, you must decide on the right structure.

Step 2 – Choose the right entity

You need to choose the right type of business to register and the most common options are a limited liability company (LLC) or an incorporated company (Inc.). If you are keeping things really small and simple (one or two people), then you may consider a sole proprietorship or a general partnership.

Even if you plan to be a solopreneur, it still might be more beneficial for you to register an LLC to make sure, as the owner, you have limited liability under this structure, and so you can benefit from the pass-through tax advantages.

Here is a quick rundown of the various options and what they might mean to you:

  • Limited Liability Company: This is often the best route for most entrepreneurs because the structure comes with personal asset protection, no double taxation, it is fairly easy to maintain, and does not have high registration or annual renewal costs.
  • Incorporated Company: Corporations offer personal asset protection and your company can own property, vehicles, incur liabilities, and is responsible for its own debts and can conduct business without the owners risking their personal assets such as their homes, cars, personal savings, retirement, etc. On the flip side, owners of sole proprietorships or partnerships face unlimited liability for both business and personal assets.

Step 3 – Make sure your name is not being used by another company

This may seem obvious, but if you check the State of Colorado Secretary of State website and see that your chosen business name is available, that is all well and good, but that doesn’t mean someone else is not using that same name, particularly in another state.

Many people register an “official name” and trade under a different name. This is called a dba, or “doing business as” name or assumed trading name, and needs a separate DBA certificate.

You will want to do a Google search for your official name and your desired trading name (if different) to make sure no one else is using this name. Most importantly, you will want to make sure you can get an easy-to-remember website domain name that is not being used by someone else.

Having an awesome name or trading name for your business can be crucial to your success, so make sure the domain name is available too.

Finally, if you go to the Colorado Secretary of State website and find that someone else has registered the name you would like, you can search for variations of that name by adding a word before it or after it, or using some other variations until you find a name that is available and acceptable for you.

Step 4 –  Request an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Once you have registered your new business in Colorado you will need to get an EIN for a number of reasons. These include paying taxes for your business, opening a bank account, obtaining credit cards or lines of credit, establishing terms with vendors and suppliers, hiring employees, and more.

There are only a few instances where you likely won’t need an EIN. More often than not, many business activities are just not possible without having an EIN.

An EIN is the business equivalent of a social security number and is used to track your business dealings. Even if you do not intend to hire employees, you will almost certainly still need an EIN for your Colorado company.

For more information on how to get an EIN number in Colorado use our guide where you will find downloadable forms and links to the online process.

An EIN is free to obtain from the IRS and you can apply online but if you are not comfortable filling in forms you can use a third-party document filing service to do this for you for a small fee. This ensures you are 100% compliant with the law and they handle everything with the IRS.

Step 5 – Obtain the Required Business Licenses and Permits

To operate your business in Colorado you must comply with federal, state, and local government regulations. Colorado does not require businesses to have a “general” license to operate. So, once you have obtained a valid business tax certificate, your business can legally operate throughout the entire state.

You will, however, need specific permits for specific businesses. For example, if you open a restaurant or similar food-related business you will most likely need a health permit, sales tax permit, facilities permit, and others. If you plan to sell alcohol, you will need a liquor license.

You must find out how to obtain the necessary Colorado business licenses and permits for your business and fill out the appropriate forms. Alternatively, you could hire a professional document filing company to do this for you. It eliminates a lot of time and hassle and ensures you are correctly complying with the law.

What makes Colorado’s licenses and permits a little more complex is that they differ depending on the location of your proposed business. So, here is a checklist to help you familiarize yourself with each main city’s licenses and permits.

  • Denver – The City of Denver requires several specific business licenses in order to register specific businesses, these licenses can be found and obtained through the Denver Business Licensing Center.
  • Colorado Springs – There are different licenses for different businesses operating out of Colorado Springs, to see what you might need to obtain, visit the City Clerk’s Office.
  • Aurora – The City of Aurora requires any and all businesses operating within the city to obtain a business license, this license application will cost $15 and an initial license fee of $26.
  • Fort Collings – For any business operating out of Fort Collings, you will need to acquire a city sales and use tax license, which is free! Also, in addition to this, bowling alleys, contractors, establishments serving liquor, pawnbrokers, and these types of businesses will require more licensing.
  • Lakewood – The City of Lakewood requires all businesses to obtain their sales and use tax license, which will cost $15.

Step 6 – Determine Your Business Employer Requirements

There are several things you need to check regarding your responsibilities as an employer in Colorado because there are requirements you must meet at the federal and state level. These could include various workforce commissions, safety, and tax obligations, as well as labor law requirements including the minimum wage in Colorado and employee rights and remedies under the Colorado minimum wage act.

To learn more about Colorado employer resources then take a look at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment website.

Step 7 – Open a Business Bank Account for your Colorado Company

As a new business owner, you should seriously consider separating your personal and business bank accounts to make it easier to track and account for your income and expenses. For certain business types, such as an LLC or a Corporation, it is essential that you open a separate business bank account to maintain your liability protection.

Once you have your EIN and your company registration documents, coupled with your driver’s license, you are ready to go to the bank and open your business checking account.

Don’t worry, this won’t be expensive or leave you burdened with hefty monthly fees to pay – there are many free business bank accounts out there for you to choose from. Each has its different features and benefits, so you can decide what bank and checking account best suits your needs.

Summarizing Registering a Business in Colorado

Colorado offers one of the top business ecosystems in the nation. The barriers to entry for those looking to start a business in Colorado are comparatively low and the resources at your disposal are high – creating a win-win for entrepreneurs.

Small Businesses thrive in Colorado because of its excellent geographic location, low tax burden, reasonable cost of living, a predictable regulatory environment that won’t slow down your progress and expansion, a highly-skilled workforce, and overall, a business-friendly climate!

The Centennial State is committed to your success and has many resources at your disposal that you can take advantage of.

Resources for Small Businesses in Colorado

Whether you decided to register as an LLC, Corporation, or simply as a Sole Proprietor in Colorado you are going to need to tap into the resources available to you to drive your small business forward.

Colorado has an abundance of small business development centers that are dedicated to supporting the development and retention of small businesses. The support they provide to entrepreneurs covers everything from crafting business plans to navigating the state’s tax codes. Visit the Colorado Small Business Development Center website to find out more.

Here are some additional small business resources in Colorado:

  • SCORE Colorado: Not only are there small business development centers tailored around working with small businesses and startups for growth and development, but SCORE’s volunteer business professionals and expert mentors are readily available and are free to use for those looking to begin their entrepreneurial journey. In Colorado, there are two available chapters in two different locations, so pick the closest to your business and let the help and support commence, they are available in Denver, and Colorado Springs.
  • Colorado SBA: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. The SBA is dedicated to small businesses and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.
  • Boomtown Accelerator: Boomtown Accelerator offers a 12-week accelerator program that focuses on helping launch hundreds of startups by building the right foundation, there are dozens of mentors and professional advisors to help entrepreneurs gain valuable experience and grow businesses the right way.

These services are very useful and cost-efficient, and it makes perfect sense to arm yourself with all the help and information you can get.

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Jason Coles

Jason Coles is the Founder of Foreign USA and its Chief Content Writer and Editor. Recognized as a prolific business plan writer by many prominent immigration attorneys in the U.S. who refer his services to their clients regularly, Jason has written over 1,340 business plans across the past 17+ years for start-up companies and franchises looking to expand their footprint in the United States. Jason is considered a seasoned expert in his field. He creates detailed business plans for his clients that include five-year financial projections, market and industry analysis reports, demographic studies, organizational charts, job descriptions, employee hiring plans, and more.