Filing fees for Colorado LLCs

Colorado's LLC filing structure keeps LLC costs refreshingly simple: $50 for your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State, plus a $25 annual Periodic Report due every anniversary month. No sneaky franchise taxes or hidden forms to worry about.

File online through the state's portal (paper filing is not available), with filings typically processing instantly upon submission. Colorado's digital-first approach eliminates the delays found in other states that still rely on paper processing.

Current Colorado LLC filing fees

Colorado maintains its straightforward approach with transparent filing fees. The Secretary of State charges a flat $50 for your Articles of Organization online, and you won't pay anything else until your annual Periodic Report comes due a year later.

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Colorado only accepts online filings for new LLCs; the state has discontinued paper filing options to streamline the process. That $50 filing fee creates your LLC's legal existence. 

Your LLC remains in good standing with a $25 annual Periodic Report due each year in the month of your formation. There's no separate annual report to file; only the fee is required.

How do Colorado's LLC filing fees compare to other states?

Colorado's structure ($50 to file and $25 annually) has remained stable for years, providing the predictability that makes planning easy.

Compare that with neighboring states: 

• Wyoming starts at $100 and takes $62 annually. 
• Utah charges $54 upfront with $18 yearly fees. 
• Kansas gets expensive quickly at $160-$166 to start and $50 each year. 
• Nebraska costs $110 to file, with $13 biennial reports.

Across the country, Colorado holds an attractive middle-low position: 

• Massachusetts costs $500 just to get started, followed by an additional $500 every year.
• Tennessee hits you with $300 upfront and the same amount annually. 

Colorado avoids both problems: no franchise tax, no surprise fees, and instant processing eliminates waiting periods.

The state’s online filing system works efficiently, with same-day processing as standard. You get predictable costs without the headaches of budget states or the sticker shock of premium ones. For business owners who want straightforward compliance and stable fees, Colorado delivers exactly that.

Additional filing fees to consider for Colorado LLCs

While Colorado's $50 Articles of Organization and $25 annual Periodic Report cover the basics, several smaller costs might pop up during your LLC's life. Knowing these upfront helps you build a realistic budget for your first year.

• Name reservation costs $25 if you want to hold your LLC name for 120 days while finalizing paperwork.
• Registered agent costs vary widely based on your approach. Being your own agent costs nothing if you have a reliable Colorado street address during business hours. If privacy matters to you, commercial services typically charge $100–$300 annually.
• Certified copies of formation paperwork or certificates of good standing in Colorado run $10–$15 each. 
• Out-of-state LLCs need a Certificate of Authority for $100 to operate in Colorado.
• Trade name (DBA) registration costs $20 initially, with a $5 renewal fee. Local governments add another layer. 

Most cities and counties require business licenses, typically costing $30–$100 or more, depending on your industry.

Let Discern handle your Colorado LLC filings

Discern processes your Colorado LLC filings in minutes and then handles ongoing compliance from there. No more tracking anniversary-month deadlines or worrying about registered agent responsibilities. 

Book a Discern demo today and see how we handle compliance complexity with ease.