Colorado Registered Agent (you have 4 options)

What is a Colorado Registered Agent?

A Colorado Registered Agent is a person or company who agrees to accept legal documents delivered to your business. These documents include notices, summons, and complaints – anything related to a lawsuit.

This is known as receiving Service of Process.

The requirements to be a Registered Agent are:

1. Must have a street address in Colorado (P.O. boxes are not allowed)
2. Must be available during normal business hours
3. Must be willing to accept documents on behalf of the business
4. Individuals must be 18 years of age or older

Colorado law requires legal entities (LLCs and Corporations) to have a Registered Agent listed when they file their Articles of Organization/Articles of Incorporation.

Most Websites Hide the Truth

Most websites start with a definition of what a Registered Agent is and end with a sales pitch.

They use scary language like “Your LLC is required by law to list a Registered Agent”… and they don’t say anything else.

Of course it’s the law, but any person, or company, can be your Registered Agent (as long as they have a street address in Colorado).

These websites won’t tell you this fact because they make more money if THEY are your Registered Agent.

Even worse, a lot of incorporation websites force you into hiring them when you form your business. If you look at their pricing page, using them as your Registered Agent is checked off by default and there is no option to uncheck it.

Even worse still, if you look at the fine print (at the bottom of the checkout page), this forced fee is automatically charged to your credit card every year.

They won’t tell you that you don’t have to spend anything on a Registered Agent.

They won’t tell you that you have 3 other options in Colorado (aside from them).

But, we will.

You Have 4 Registered Agent Options in Colorado

If you have a street address in Colorado, your options for a Registered Agent are:

1. you can be the Registered Agent for your business
2. your LLC can be its own Registered Agent

If you don’t have a street address in Colorado, we recommend using a friend or family member (#3) who does have a street address in Colorado.

If you, or your friends and family don’t have a street address in Colorado (or do have an address and would prefer privacy), then you’ll need to hire a Commercial Registered Agent (#4).

Commercial Registered Agent

If you want to hire a Commercial Registered Agent, we recommend Northwest Registered Agent ($125 per year).

They’ve been in the business for 20 years and have excellent customer support.

Conclusion

Decide if you (or a friend or family member) will be the Registered Agent for your Colorado business.

If not, then hire a Commercial Registered Agent.

If you need to form an LLC in Colorado, watch our free video lessons.

Matt Horwitz

Founder & Educator, LLC University®

Matt Horwitz has been the leading expert on LLC education for the past decade. He founded LLC University in 2010 after realizing people needed simple and actionable instructions to start an LLC that other companies weren't offering. He's cited by Entrepreneur Magazine, Yahoo Finance, and the US Chamber of Commerce, and was featured by CNBC and InventRight.
 
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.