To file Articles of Organization (LLC), Colorado charges a $50 filing fee. The Articles of Organization are a document that you file with the state in order to form your new limited liability company. This document lists important details about your LLC and must include certain information required by the state of Colorado.

Registering Your LLC

To form an LLC in Colorado, you'll file your Articles of Organization with the state. You can do so by mail or online. 

If you file online, the Secretary of State will instantly approve your LLC as long as you submit properly completed documents and the necessary fees. At the online summary page, you'll be able to save a copy and/or print a copy of your approved Articles. The approved document is proof that your LLC is a legal business in the state.

Your LLC's Articles of Organization will include the following information: 

  • Your business's name 
  • Your business's principal address 
  • The registered agent's name and address 
  • Your business's effective date, if it's different than your filing date 
  • The management type (i.e., manager-managed or member-managed) 
  • The name, address, and signature of all organizers

Forms and Fees

You'll submit your completed Articles of Organization to Colorado's Secretary of State office. When you submit your paperwork, you'll also have to include a $50 filing fee. It's a one-time fee that you can pay with a debit or credit card. The state accepts MasterCard, Visa, and American Express.

If you want your paper filing processed more quickly, you'll pay fees to expedite the service. There are no expediting fees for online filings.

Naming Requirements

Requirements for naming LLCs can sometimes be confusing, but it's more likely that your business name will be approved if you stick to the stated guidelines. One of the easiest rules to remember is that your LLC name has to be unique and distinguishable. It must also include certain phrases or abbreviations as identifiers — or designators — at the end.

Before filing your Articles of Organization, you may want to check the availability of your desired business name at the Secretary of State website. 

Your LLC name must end with a designation that specifies this business structure. The following are examples of designators you can use: 

You can reserve an LLC name for up to 120 days by filing a name reservation form and paying a small fee. When filing paperwork to hold a name, include the name you wish to reserve as well as your name, address, date, and signature.

Operating Agreement and Agent for Service of Process

Colorado recognizes a business's operating agreement as a governing document. You're not required to have an operating agreement for a Colorado LLC, but it's considered good practice to have one, especially if your business has more than one member.

Your registered agent should file a copy of this agreement.

All LLCs in Colorado must have an agent for service of process, also known as a registered agent, resident agent, or statutory agent. This is a person or company that accepts legal paperwork and service of process for your business. Whoever you choose to fill this role should agree to accept this official mail on behalf of your company before you list him or her as your agent.

Registered agents may be any of the following: 

  • A resident of Colorado 
  • A business in the state with a principal address in Colorado 
  • A foreign entity that's authorized to conduct business in the state

Any individual who acts as an agent for service of process must provide a full name and be at least 18 years old. This person must also have a physical street address. Registered agents can't list a P.O. box as an address where they accept mail.

To make your LLC formation go as smoothly as possible, make sure you complete all the necessary paperwork and submit it, along with all required fees. You can do many tasks online, which makes forming an LLC easy and quick. For more information, refer to the Secretary of State website, which lists specific requirements for business owners as well as helpful tips for starting new businesses.

If you need help with filing Articles of Organization in Colorado or another state, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.