Colorado LLC Cost (2026): $50 Online and a $25 Periodic Report
Colorado is one of the least expensive states for an LLC. It costs $50 to form, all online, and $25 a year for the periodic report. The yearly fee went up in 2024, from $10 to $25, so older guides understate it. The real cost risk in Colorado is letting the LLC slip into delinquency, which is easy to do because the deadline is tied to your formation month.
The $50 Online-Only Articles
Colorado LLCs are formed by filing Articles of Organization with the Colorado Secretary of State. There is no paper option: filings are made online, and the fee is $50. Approval is usually immediate once the filing is accepted. You need the LLC name, a principal office address, a registered agent with a Colorado address, and the name and address of the person forming it.
If you want to hold a name before filing, a name reservation costs $25.
Northwest Registered Agent
Colorado’s business database shows your registered agent address publicly. $39 formation + $50 state fee, free registered agent for year one, then $125/yr.
$39 formation fee · Free registered agent for 12 months · Your address stays off public records · No data selling · No hidden fees
Form Your LLC with Northwest ($39) →Lowest 3-year cost we found: Northwest $289 vs Bizee $298 vs ZenBusiness $497 (service fees; state fees extra). Northwest also puts its address on your public filings instead of yours where the state allows.
The $25 Periodic Report
Colorado’s annual filing is called the periodic report. It is due every year, starting the year after formation, in a filing window built around the month your LLC was formed. The fee is $25. It was $10 until July 1, 2024, when the fee was raised under Senate Bill 23-276.
The Secretary of State sends reminders by email to the address on file, so keeping that email current matters.
The $50 Late Fee and the $100 Cure
A periodic report filed after the regular window adds a $50 late fee. If it is still not filed after the late period, the LLC becomes delinquent. A delinquent LLC keeps existing but loses good standing, and another business can take its name.
To fix it, you file a Statement Curing Delinquency for $100 along with the missing report. Curing resets your periodic report month to the month you cure.
Trade Names, Sales Tax License, and Other Small Fees
- Trade name: filing a statement of trade name (a DBA) costs $20.
- Sales tax license: if you sell taxable goods, the state sales tax license costs $16 for a two-year period, and some home-rule cities license separately.
- No franchise tax: Colorado does not tax LLCs at the entity level by default. Owners pay state income tax on their share of profit.
Colorado 3-Year Cost
| Scenario | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | $89 ($50 filing + $39, RA free) | $150 ($25 periodic report + $125 RA) | $150 (same) | $389 |
| ZenBusiness (Starter) | $149 ($50 + $0 + $99 RA) | $224 ($25 + $199 RA) | $224 (same) | $597 |
| DIY, self as registered agent | $50 (Articles of Organization) | $25 (periodic report) | $25 (periodic report) | $100 |
At $100 DIY over three years, Colorado is near the bottom of the national range. With Northwest Registered Agent the extra $289 is registered agent service, which keeps your home address off the Secretary of State’s public database.
Form your Colorado LLC for $39 + $50 state fee.
Northwest Registered Agent: $39 formation, free Year 1 registered agent, compliance reminders, and your home address kept off public records.
Form My Colorado LLC for $39
Prefer a $0 upfront starter plan? Compare ZenBusiness (registered agent $199/yr).
When a Colorado LLC may not be worth it yet: the fees are low enough that cost is rarely the obstacle. If you have no customers or liability yet, it can wait, but a $50 filing is inexpensive protection once you do.
Why I Choose Northwest Registered Agent
After forming 3 LLCs myself and helping clients through the process, I keep coming back to Northwest Registered Agent. Here is why:
- Remarkable Customer Support: Quick, human responses every time.
- Caring & Privacy-Focused: Genuine service with full respect for your privacy.
- Lightning-Fast Formation: Often faster than promised.
- Incredible Value: $39 includes a free business address, mail scanning, and more.
- Clear & Transparent: No hidden fees or surprises.
Ready to form your business? Choose Northwest today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Colorado?
$50 to file Articles of Organization online with the Colorado Secretary of State. With Northwest Registered Agent the first-year total is $89 including a free first year of registered agent service.
How much is the Colorado LLC periodic report?
$25 per year, filed in a window around the LLC’s formation anniversary month. It was $10 before July 1, 2024.
What happens if I file the Colorado periodic report late?
A $50 late fee applies. If it stays unfiled the LLC becomes delinquent and needs a $100 Statement Curing Delinquency plus the report.
Can I file Colorado LLC paperwork by mail?
No. Colorado Articles of Organization are filed online only.
