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LLCs for $39 (60% off!) See details.
The first step to starting a Colorado LLC is to check that your desired LLC name is available for use. Your LLC name can’t be already taken by another business, and must meet the Colorado business name rules.
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
(check out Northwest vs LegalZoom)
Colorado LLC Name/Business Databases
Colorado Business Database Search
- This database searches all business entities registered in Colorado.
- Don’t enter a designator, such as “LLC”, during the search.
- Get an “available” or “not available” response.
- Enter a designator during this search.
- We recommend using this in addition to the Business Database Search to be certain your Colorado LLC name is unique.
- Most people don’t need to go this “advanced”, but it’s here if needed.
Colorado Secretary of State Contact Info
Colorado Secretary of State
Business Organizations
Phone: 303-894-2200 (Mon. -Fri., 8am – 5pm Mountain Time)
Email: business@sos.state.co.us (they reply fast)
Next Step
After you’ve found an available LLC name, you can then proceed to the next Lesson: Colorado Registered Agent.
And check out TRUIC’s business name generator if you need help coming up with an LLC name.
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
COLORADO LLC GUIDE
Follow the lessons below to form your Colorado LLC.
Wow, what a find your site and videos are Matt! Thank you so much and well done
Thanks Mark! You’re very welcome :)
Hi, thank you for all the information here,
I was wondering, I registered for the EIN before the LLC, It says that its required to inculde one of the LLC abbreviation, so that what I did for the LLC registeration, However I didnt do the same for the EIN, should I change the EIN ?
thank you
Hi Sanaa, you’re very welcome :) So you obtained an EIN for your LLC (“Big Ski Lodge LLC”, as an example) before your LLC was approved. You told the IRS you have an LLC in the “What type of legal structure is applying for an EIN?” section of the EIN application, however, when it came to entering your LLC name, you entered “Big Ski Lodge” and forget to add “LLC”.
In that case, yes, you want the full legal name or your LLC appearing on your EIN Confirmation Letter. While you can change the business name associated with the EIN, you have to mail or fax a letter to the IRS. And because of all their delays right now, you won’t get a response back for at least 2 months.
Here’s an easier solution: Apply for a new EIN for your LLC using “Big Ski Lodge LLC”. And for the original EIN, you can file an EIN Cancellation Letter with the IRS. You can apply for the new EIN right away. You don’t have to wait for the first EIN’s cancellation to be processed. Hope that helps!
Hi I was wondering if I needed to file a DBA with my LLC if they are very similar? Like for example lets say I filed my LLC as Southwest Bakery LLC, would I need a DBA if I refer to my business as Southwest Bakery with No “LLC” at the end?
Hi Minh, yes, you do. Anytime you want the LLC to represent itself without using its true and legal name, you will need to file a DBA. Hope that helps.
Cool, thanks for the help Matt!
This was great and very helpful. Thank You
You’re welcome Dale!