Filing a DBA in Colorado can be simple to do and gives you the freedom to do business in the state. A DBA, short for Doing Business As, is a fictitious name that can be used as another moniker for your business entity. To use the name in Colorado, you must have it registered with the secretary of state to avoid fines. While it may not give your name protection from others in the s`tate using it, registering the trade name will allow you to use it freely. The state may be able to offer your DBA some protection from a federal trademark through the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.

Who Must File a DBA?

If you plan to operate your business in Colorado under a different name, you must register it with the state. However, if you run a nonprofit entity and filed the Articles of Incorporation with the state, you may not have to register a trade name.

How to File a DBA in Colorado

  • Verify your DBA name. In Colorado, your DBA does not have to be different from other registered entities. If you want it to be different, you can do a name search to see if it's in use. You may call the county recorder or visit the website to search registered names.
  • Download and complete the registration form. Colorado doesn't require you to print out forms for registering a DBA; everything can be done online. All you have to do is visit the Colorado secretary of state website, find the trade name filing page, and choose your business entity. After selecting the type of business entity, you will be asked to fill in details about yourself and the company, such as your name, the trade name you're registering, and what the business is for. You may be able to choose if you want the name to be in use immediately or set a future effective date.
  • Submit online. After checking that all the information on the application is correct, you can submit your application, where it will then ask for payment of the filing fee. Any major credit card will do for payment. If you would like to use the DBA on property, you will have to get an affidavit from the secretary of state and file it with the county clerk.

What Is the Timeframe of a Trade Name or a DBA?

Your business entity type will determine how long your trade name will be valid for before renewal is required. For a general partnership or sole proprietorship, a trade name should be renewed every year. This can be done as early as three months before the name expires. Corporations and LLCs, however, do not need to renew the DBA while the business is in good standing. However, if the business enters delinquency, they only have a year of protection before having to renew the DBA.

Do You Have to Publish Your DBA's Registration in Colorado?

Colorado does not need you to publish the registration of your DBA.

Colorado Business Facts

  • The state is known as The Centennial State because it joined the United States 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
  • Denver is home to the cheeseburger, which was trademarked in 1935 to Louis Ballast.
  • The United States government owns one-third of the land in the state.
  • It is the eighth largest state based on land area.
  • Colorado is known for being a huge mining state due to its richness in minerals, coal, and natural gas.
  • The state's major industries include tourism, professional services, and real estate.

Colorado Statistics

The state has more than 50,000 small businesses that employ 1 million people. This is about half of Colorado's workforce. Around 98 percent of the private companies in the state are considered small businesses. The Denver tech scene is growing, while the cost of living in the state is less than others. Startup resources and help in raising capital are offered in Boulder and Denver. Some major companies in the state include Coors, Frontier Airlines, and Aimco.

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