Colorado's LLC filing costs $50 for your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State, plus a $25 annual Periodic Report each year. No franchise taxes apply to Colorado LLCs, and no additional forms are required.
File online through the state's portal (paper filing is not available). Filers can select either an immediate effective date or a delayed effective date of up to 90 days. Colorado's online-only system eliminates the processing delays common in states that still accept paper.
Colorado's Secretary of State charges a flat $50 for Articles of Organization filed online. You won't pay anything else until your annual Periodic Report comes due.
Colorado only accepts online filings for new LLCs; the state has discontinued paper filing for Articles of Organization and other standard LLC transactions. That $50 fee creates your LLC's legal existence.
Your LLC stays in good standing with a $25 annual Periodic Report. Each LLC is assigned a Periodic Report Month, and the report is due by the last day of the second month following that assigned month. If your Periodic Report Month is January, your deadline is March 31. You can find your assigned month on your entity's record in the SOS business database.
Missing the deadline triggers a three-stage escalation: first noncompliant status, then delinquent status under C.R.S. § 7-90-901, and eventually your entity name is altered on the 401st day of delinquency per the Colorado SOS delinquency FAQ. A $50 late filing penalty applies on top of the $25 report fee. Entities delinquent for five or more years must submit an affidavit and government-issued photo ID per C.R.S. § 7-90-904 before the Secretary of State will process reinstatement.
Colorado's $50 Articles of Organization fee has been stable for years, and the $25 annual Periodic Report reflects a 2024 update from the prior $10 fee. Even at the new rate, Colorado sits well below what neighboring and nationally prominent states charge.
Compare that with neighboring states:
Across the country, Colorado holds an attractive middle-low position:
Colorado avoids both scenarios: no franchise tax, no surprise fees, and an immediate effective date option removes waiting periods.
Beyond the $50 Articles of Organization and $25 annual Periodic Report, several smaller costs can arise during your LLC's life. Knowing these upfront helps you plan a realistic first-year budget.
Most cities and counties impose their own licensing requirements, and fees vary by municipality. In Denver, the most commonly required sales/use tax licenses are issued at no charge. Industry-specific licenses (liquor, marijuana, contractor permits) carry separate fees set by each municipality.
Discern processes your Colorado LLC formation and compliance filings in minutes and handles ongoing obligations from there. No more tracking Periodic Report Month deadlines, monitoring delinquency escalation windows, or managing registered agent responsibilities manually.
For firms managing entities across multiple states, Discern's platform covers registered agent services, annual report filings, entity formations, and foreign registrations across 51+ jurisdictions. That means one system for your Colorado LLC and every other state where you operate, with automated tracking that keeps each entity in good standing.
Book a demo with Discern today
What does it cost to form an LLC in Colorado?
The Articles of Organization filing fee is $50, paid online through the Colorado Secretary of State's portal. Paper filing is not available. Filers can choose an immediate effective date or delay it up to 90 days.
Does Colorado charge a franchise tax on LLCs?
No. Colorado does not impose a franchise tax on LLCs. The state generally treats LLC income as reported on the federal return, per the Colorado Department of Revenue. The optional SALT Parity Act entity-level income tax election (C.R.S. § 39-22-343), previously available for LLCs taxed as partnerships, was designed to operate while the federal TCJA's $10,000 SALT deduction cap remained in effect. With the TCJA SALT cap expiring after 2025 under current federal law, the election would no longer apply for 2026 and beyond, though federal legislation could extend the cap. Confirm availability against current Colorado Department of Revenue guidance each year.
How much is Colorado's annual report for LLCs?
The Periodic Report costs $25 per year. This fee increased from $10 to $25 effective July 1, 2024. Missing the deadline adds a $50 late penalty.
When is the Colorado LLC Periodic Report due?
Each LLC is assigned a Periodic Report Month visible on its entity record. The report is due by the last day of the second month following that assigned month. An LLC with a January Periodic Report Month has a March 31 deadline.
Can I file Colorado LLC paperwork on paper?
No. Colorado requires all standard LLC filings, including Articles of Organization, Periodic Reports, name reservations, and trade names, to be submitted online. The state has discontinued paper filing for these transactions.
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