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<v Dan>To start an LLC in Colorado, you file Articles of Organization online with the

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<v Dan>Secretary of State, and pay the $50 filing fee.

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<v Maya>Online only?

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<v Dan>Online only. There's no paper option, and you pay by card, debit, or a prepaid

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<v Dan>account.

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<v Maya>This is The Business Formation Podcast.

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<v Maya>Today, Colorado for 2026, in six steps, with what it all costs and the three best

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<v Maya>ways to have it filed for you.

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<v Maya>What comes first?

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<v Dan>Colorado wants limited liability company, LLC, L.L.C., limited, or

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<v Dan>ltd. in the name. And it has to be distinguishable on the Secretary of State's

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<v Dan>records.

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<v Maya>How do I check what's taken?

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<v Dan>The state's business database is free to search.

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<v Dan>To hold a name, you can reserve it online for 120 days at $25.

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<v Maya>Is reserving worth it?

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<v Dan>Only if you won't file right away.

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<v Dan>Filing online is real time, so most people just file.

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<v Maya>Who can be my registered agent in Colorado?

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<v Dan>An adult with a Colorado driver's license or ID, or a business in good standing.

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<v Dan>Either one needs a physical Colorado address.

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<v Maya>What kind of address doesn't count?

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<v Dan>A commercial mailbox or a P.O.

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<v Dan>box can't be the agent's street address.

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<v Maya>Does the agent have to agree?

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<v Dan>Yes, the agent consents. The details are public record, which is why many owners

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<v Dan>hire a commercial agent. Changing agents later costs $10.

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<v Maya>How do I file?

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<v Dan>Online with the Secretary of State.

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<v Dan>The fee is $50, paid by card.

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<v Maya>What does it ask for?

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<v Dan>The name, a principal office, your registered agent and their consent, whether

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<v Dan>members or managers run the LLC, and who is forming it.

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<v Maya>I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan.

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<v Dan>Nice to meet you, Maya. One more point: whatever you enter on the form is public.

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<v Maya>And how long does it take?

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<v Dan>Online filings are processed in real time.

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<v Dan>Unless you pick a later date, the LLC exists as soon as the payment goes through.

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<v Maya>Do I send my operating agreement to the state?

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<v Dan>No. It isn't filed, and there's no fee.

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<v Dan>You keep it with your records.

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<v Maya>What if I don't write one?

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<v Dan>Colorado's default rules decide things like how profits are split.

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<v Dan>So put yours in writing. Who owns what, who makes decisions, and what happens if a

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<v Dan>member leaves.

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<v Maya>Now the federal side.

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<v Dan>Apply for your EIN free with the IRS at IRS.gov, after the state files your

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<v Dan>Articles.

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<v Maya>Can I use the number the Secretary of State gave me?

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<v Dan>No. That ID number isn't an EIN.

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<v Dan>They're two different things.

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<v Maya>How fast is the IRS?

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<v Dan>If the online application is approved, the number is issued right away.

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<v Dan>Have the Social Security number or ITIN of the person in charge ready.

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<v Maya>And the beneficial ownership report?

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<v Dan>You can skip it. FinCEN no longer requires it from U.S.

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<v Dan>companies.

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<v Maya>What do I owe after the first filing?

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<v Dan>A periodic report, filed online every year.

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<v Dan>The fee is $25.

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<v Maya>When is it due?

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<v Dan>Around the month you formed. You have a window that opens two months before and

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<v Dan>closes two months after.

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<v Maya>What if I miss the window?

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<v Dan>The LLC becomes noncompliant, with a $50 late penalty.

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<v Dan>Two more months and it's delinquent, and curing that costs $100.

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<v Maya>And if I ignore it for a long time?

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<v Dan>After 400 days delinquent, your name becomes available to others.

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<v Maya>Give me the do-it-yourself total.

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<v Dan>$50 to form. Then $25 a year for the periodic report.

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<v Dan>The EIN is free.

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<v Maya>And the extras?

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<v Dan>A name reservation is $25. Changing your registered agent is $10.

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<v Maya>What's a clean first-year number?

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<v Dan>$50 for most people. With a reservation, $75.

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<v Maya>Let me test the late math. I miss the whole window.

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<v Dan>Then you owe the $25 report plus the $50 late penalty, which is $75.

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<v Maya>And if it goes delinquent?

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<v Dan>Curing it costs $100, on top of the report you still need to file.

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<v Maya>So it's cheapest to just file on time.

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<v Dan>Yes. The $25 is small. The trouble comes from letting it slide.

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<v Dan>The window is wide, four months in all, so there's plenty of room.

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<v Maya>Could I be my own agent?

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<v Dan>If you're an adult with a Colorado driver's license or ID and a physical Colorado

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<v Dan>address, yes.

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<v Maya>And a friend?

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<v Dan>Same test. They need the license or ID, a physical address that isn't a mailbox, and

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<v Dan>they have to consent.

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<v Maya>What about a company as agent?

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<v Dan>A business in good standing works, at a physical Colorado address.

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<v Dan>That's the commercial agent route.

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<v Maya>And if I want to change?

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<v Dan>Ten dollars. It's a short statement of change with the Secretary of State.

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<v Maya>You said filing is real time. What does that change?

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<v Dan>The LLC exists as soon as your payment goes through.

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<v Dan>You can start the next steps the same day.

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<v Maya>Can I pick a different start date?

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<v Dan>Yes. Choose a later effective date, and the LLC begins then.

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<v Maya>What's the next step after filing?

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<v Dan>Your EIN, since the state has filed your Articles.

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<v Dan>Then sign your operating agreement.

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<v Maya>Give me the order of operations.

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<v Dan>Search the name. Settle your registered agent at a physical Colorado address.

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<v Dan>File your Articles online for $50.

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<v Dan>Then get your EIN, and write your operating agreement.

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<v Maya>And the calendar?

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<v Dan>Your periodic report. Mark the window around your formation month, two months before

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<v Dan>through two months after.

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<v Maya>And the amount to remember?

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<v Dan>$25 a year.

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<v Maya>What if I want someone else to file it?

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<v Dan>Here are the three best ways to file in Colorado.

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<v Dan>Number one, our pick, is Mainstay Filing, $199 a year plus the state fee.

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<v Dan>With the $50 state fee, checkout comes to $249.

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<v Maya>What does it cover?

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<v Dan>Your Articles filed, your EIN application, and your registered agent every year.

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<v Dan>It renews at the same $199.

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<v Maya>And the periodic report?

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<v Dan>In Colorado, Mainstay prepares and files it in its window every year.

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<v Dan>You pay only the $25 state fee.

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<v Maya>Number two?

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<v Dan>CO Registered Agent.org. It prepares and files your Articles for $199 plus

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<v Dan>the state fee, which is also $249 at checkout.

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<v Dan>Your first year of agent service is free, then it's $99 a year.

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<v Maya>And number three?

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<v Dan>Colorado Registered Agent.co. Same offer.

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<v Dan>$199 plus the state fee, first year of agent service free, then $99 a

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<v Dan>year.

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<v Maya>How do I choose?

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<v Dan>If you'll file your own periodic report, numbers two and three cost less from year

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<v Dan>two, at $99 a year for the agent alone.

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<v Dan>The $25 state fee is the same either way.

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<v Dan>If you want the report filed for you at one steady price, that's Mainstay.

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<v Maya>Three-year number?

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<v Dan>Mainstay is $199 a year, so $597.

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<v Dan>Number two or three is $199 in year one, then $99 in each of the next two

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<v Dan>years, for $397.

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<v Maya>A $200 gap.

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<v Dan>Yes, and in Colorado, that gap covers having the periodic report filed in its

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<v Dan>window.

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<v Maya>One more time through it?

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<v Dan>Choose a name with LLC in it, name an agent at a physical Colorado address, file

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<v Dan>Articles online for $50, write an operating agreement, get your free EIN, and file

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<v Dan>your $25 periodic report every year.

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<v Maya>The links to all three services and every official source are in the show notes.

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<v Maya>Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast, and good luck with your new

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<v Maya>Colorado LLC.