Ordinary online Articles of Organization cost $50. Optional name reservation and later changes are separate filings. Do not add a paid-agent quote or taxes to the state fee without showing those separately.
Official sourceWhat does Colorado charge to form and maintain an LLC?
| Formation document and method | File Articles of Organization electronically through the Colorado Secretary of State. Choose an eligible consenting registered agent before the filing. Colorado's fee schedule lists the ordinary LLC formation filing as online; it does not offer a paper fee for this document. |
|---|---|
| Formation charges | Ordinary online Articles of Organization cost $50. Optional name reservation and later changes are separate filings. Do not add a paid-agent quote or taxes to the state fee without showing those separately. |
| Recurring filing | The annual periodic report costs $25. Colorado lists a $50 late-filing penalty. Even if the entity details have not changed, a reporting LLC still files its report to maintain good standing. |
| First and later due dates | Unless the entity elects a different reporting month, the first report is due no later than the last day of the second calendar month after the first anniversary of the effective formation month. The SOS allows filing two months before or two months after the reporting month without a penalty. Check the entity summary for its actual reporting month. |
| Registered agent and office | An individual must be over 18, have a primary residence or usual place of business in Colorado, and hold a current Colorado driver's license/ID or complete the SOS alternative residency verification. An entity agent needs good standing and a usual Colorado business location; a foreign entity also needs Colorado authority. All agents need consent and a physical Colorado address. |
| Taxes and other costs | A Colorado LLC can become its own entity agent only after registration and while in good standing: choose an eligible individual or another entity at formation, then file a change. The $25 report is not a tax estimate, and the agent's qualifying address does not promise anonymity. |
When does the first Colorado LLC report fall due?
Unless the entity elects a different reporting month, the first report is due no later than the last day of the second calendar month after the first anniversary of the effective formation month. The SOS allows filing two months before or two months after the reporting month without a penalty. Check the entity summary for its actual reporting month.
The annual periodic report costs $25. Colorado lists a $50 late-filing penalty. Even if the entity details have not changed, a reporting LLC still files its report to maintain good standing.
Who can be the Colorado registered agent?
An individual must be over 18, have a primary residence or usual place of business in Colorado, and hold a current Colorado driver's license/ID or complete the SOS alternative residency verification. An entity agent needs good standing and a usual Colorado business location; a foreign entity also needs Colorado authority. All agents need consent and a physical Colorado address.
What comes after the LLC filing?
Save the articles and locate the periodic-report month in the SOS entity record. Review Colorado DOR tax treatment and any required sales or employer accounts. The DOR generally follows the LLC's federal income-tax classification; formation alone is not a tax filing.
Use the EIN guide for founders without an SSN if it fits your situation. An EIN does not replace state tax registration.
Which costs are outside the state filing fees?
A Colorado LLC can become its own entity agent only after registration and while in good standing: choose an eligible individual or another entity at formation, then file a change. The $25 report is not a tax estimate, and the agent's qualifying address does not promise anonymity.
Compare the known state charges in the calculator and the 50-state and DC fee table. If the business works elsewhere, review when another state can require registration before choosing a formation state.
Which official sources support these figures?
- Colorado business filing fees - reviewed September 30, 2026
- Current registered agent rules - reviewed September 30, 2026
- Periodic report filing and reporting-month window - reviewed September 30, 2026
- 2026 Colorado statute, section 7-90-501 - reviewed September 30, 2026
- Colorado LLC tax classification - reviewed September 30, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Colorado charge each year for an LLC periodic report?
The Secretary of State fee schedule lists $25. Taxes, agent service and the $50 late-filing penalty are separate.
Can I serve as a Colorado agent without a Colorado driver's license?
The SOS allows alternative residency verification. You still must meet the agent requirements and complete the office's verification process before the filing can proceed.
Can the Colorado LLC be its own agent when first formed?
Not in the initial registration. The SOS describes a two-step process: appoint an eligible individual or another entity first, then change the agent to the LLC after registration and while in good standing.
When can I file the Colorado periodic report without a late penalty?
The SOS permits filing two months before or two months after the entity's periodic-report month. Find that month on the entity summary rather than assuming one date fits every LLC.
Do I file a Colorado periodic report if nothing changed?
Yes. The report confirms that the entity information remains current and maintains good standing.
Official sources reviewed September 30, 2026. This guide covers an ordinary domestic LLC, not a personal legal or tax ruling. Government charges can change.