In Colorado, you create an LLC by filing "articles of organization" with the Secretary of State's office and paying a filing fee. You'll also need an LLC operating agreement, though it doesn't need to be filed with the Secretary of State. Your operating agreement explicitly states the rights and responsibilities of the LLC owners (and managers, if applicable). An operating agreement clarifies the business arrangement between the owners and governs how your LLC will be run. If you don't create a written operating agreement, the LLC laws of your state will govern the inner workings of your LLC.
After the articles of organization filing is accepted by the Secretary of State and you have an operating agreement, your LLC is official, but you will still need to obtain the licenses and permits that all new businesses must have to operate. These may include a business license (sometimes also referred to as a "tax registration certificate"), a federal employer identification number, a seller's permit, or a zoning permit. Forming an LLC does not exempt you from any of these requirements that apply to all businesses.
For more information, see the Licenses & Permits for Your Business area of Nolo's website.
To begin creating your Colorado LLC, visit the Online Colorado LLC page at the Nolo website.
The price of Nolo's Online Colorado LLC formation service varies depending on your needs. To compare the prices of Nolo's three Colorado LLC packages, see the package and pricing details page.
Nolo's Basic Service. The lowest priced package is Nolo's Basic Service, which includes preparation of the articles of organization and regular filing, and will take one to two weeks.
Nolo's Standard Service. Our Standard Service package gets you all of the benefits of the Basic Service plus preparation of the IRS application for a tax ID (Form SS-4) and the Business Forms Bundle, containing 30 forms and contracts that every small business needs. Includes access to NoloCloud Legal Forms for business anywhere at any time from your account. Processing time is one to two weeks.
Nolo's Express Premiere Service. For these items plus Priority Rush Filing, expedited shipping of your personalized LLC records book, membership certificates, an LLC seal, and preparation of the IRS application for a tax ID (Form SS-4), choose Nolo's Express Premiere Service. With Priority Rush Filing, Nolo will submit your articles of organization to the Secretary of the State within one business day and you'll receive your final LLC documents the next business day.
You can also add one or more of the following services for a small fee: preparation of a customized operating agreement, registered agent service, accounting help, and/or business license advice.
Note that filing fees charged by the state are not included in our package prices. The Secretary of State currently charges $1 for LLC formation. This filing fee will be added to your total when you check out.
In addition, you will need to file a Periodic Report each year by the anniversary of your LLC's formation. This filing costs $10.
Please note that coupon codes are not applicable to LLC packages.
If you order the Basic or Standard package, we will file your paperwork with the Colorado Secretary of State within four to five business days and you'll receive your completed LLC documents one to two weeks later.
If you order the Express Premiere package, we will file your paperwork with the Colorado Secretary of State within one business day. You will receive your completed LLC documents by email one business day later. You'll receive your LLC records kit directly from the manufacturer.
You have 90 days to work on your LLC formation without purchasing it. Every time you work on your LLC formation through Nolo's Online Legal Forms, your answers are automatically saved in the system.
Once you complete and pay for your LLC formation, Nolo's Online Legal Forms will store your personal information for one year.
Federal taxes. The IRS does not impose taxes on the LLC; LLC income is reported on the members' individual tax returns.
State taxes. Visit the Colorado Department of Taxation's website at www.colorado.gov/pacific/tax to learn about state LLC taxes in Colorado. Note that if you will collect sales tax or hire workers, you'll need to register with Colorado Business Express at www.colorado.gov/apps/jboss/cbe/. You may also find it helpful to read Nolo's article on Colorado LLC Annual Report and Tax Requirements.
Self-employment taxes. LLC members (owners) who are active in the business will probably have to pay self-employment taxes on their share of LLC profits—just as partners in a partnership do. Fortunately, an LLC member can deduct, as a business expense, half of the self-employment taxes paid. (Members in manager-managed LLCs may not have to pay self-employment taxes if they are not active in the business; if you are in this situation, consult a tax adviser to see if you should pay self-employment taxes.)
You can form an LLC in Colorado even if your business will not be located in Colorado and/or no LLC members will live there. But you will probably still need to qualify your LLC to do business in your home state—and this means you'll have to file additional paperwork and pay additional fees. For more information on whether you'll need to qualify to do business in certain states, read Nolo's article Qualifying to Do Business Outside Your State on Nolo's website. Note that if you don't register to do business in another state when required, you won't be able to enforce contracts in that state.
Also, be ready for some state tax complications if you form your LLC in a state that's different from the state where all of its members live. For one thing, the LLC members might have to pay personal income taxes in the other state on LLC income. (At best, you might get credit for those taxes in your home state and not have to pay twice. At worst, you might have to pay taxes you wouldn't have had to pay at home.) Other state taxes vary from state to state, and might influence your choice of location for an LLC. An LLC—like any business—has to pay franchise taxes, sales and use taxes, other transaction and excise taxes, and employment, property, and transfer taxes.
In addition, in most states, you need to maintain a registered agent in the state where you form your LLC. To avoid these hassles, most smaller LLCs that will operate in only one state form their LLC in their home state. For more information, read Nolo's article Where to Form Your LLC.
Like a corporation, an LLC is meant to be a permanent legal entity, and it will exist—and incur taxes and fees, whether or not you are actively operating a business—until you take legal steps to dissolve it. If you decide to discontinue business as an LLC, you must file articles of dissolution with the Secretary of State. For specifics, see the Secretary of State's website at http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/business/. For general information on closing a business, read the article Closing Your Business: What You Need to Do on Nolo's website.
Note: You will receive a confirmation email that includes the following information.
Your articles of organization will be generated and filed with the Secretary of State. Turnaround times vary according to the package you choose.
If you ordered Nolo's Express Premiere Service, your LLC records binder and company seal will be sent to you independently, directly from the manufacturer.
As soon as your filing is complete, we will email you your final LLC documents, including your customized operating agreement (if you ordered one) and instructions on a few more steps you need to take, including holding an initial meeting of your members or managers.
After completing your purchase, you may no longer go back and change your answers because your order is being processed. You may, however, view your answers by signing in to your Nolo account at www.nolo.com/products/customer/account/login, clicking on My Account, and clicking on Colorado LLC.
Once we send your documents to the Secretary of State, we cannot refund your state filing fees and other third-party costs, such as courier and delivery services, should you decide to cancel your order. If you have questions, please let us know here.
You have 90 days to work on your LLC formation documents without purchasing them. Every time you work on your LLC formation through Nolo's Online Legal Forms, your answers are automatically saved in the system.
After completing your purchase, you may no longer go back and change your answers because your order is being processed. You may, however, view your answers by signing in to your Nolo account at www.nolo.com/products/customer/account/login, clicking on My Account, and clicking on Colorado LLC.
Nolo's Online Legal Forms will store your personal information for one year after you pay for your LLC formation.
To learn more about limited liability companies, visit the Limited Liability Company area of Nolo's website or read Nolo's Quick LLC: All You Need to Know About Limited Liability Companies, by Anthony Mancuso.