Class 1 · Colorado
How to Start an LLC in Colorado (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
The short version
What you will learn
- How much Colorado charges to form an LLC, and who receives the filing
- What the agent rule says
- The yearly upkeep
- Which services we would use and why
The Colorado services we recommend
1. CO Registered Agent.org: best for a small first bill
CO Registered Agent.org comes first, and here is why: a $199 formation fee, then $99 a year to keep the agent.
Mainstay Filing costs more over three years, and that hands this service the top spot.
Its price leaves out the periodic report, so plan to file that yourself every year.
What the price covers
- Formation prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Agent covered for year one
- Then $99 a year
- $199 plus the state fee
Where it loses points
- It does not file the periodic report
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
2. Mainstay Filing: best for skipping the periodic report paperwork
Mainstay Filing is a sound second choice because one yearly price of $199 does three lesson steps for you: the filing, the registered agent and the periodic report.
CO Registered Agent.org is $200 lower across three years, which keeps this one out of first.
Each periodic report is filed on your behalf (state fee $25, at cost).
What the price covers
- Filing with the state
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Periodic report prepared and filed
- The EIN application
- State fee billed at cost
Marks in its favor
- The same $199 every year
- No extra charge for the EIN application
- $199 per year for the whole bundle
Where it loses points
- A $100 yearly premium over CO Registered Agent.org
3. Colorado Registered Agent.co: best for LLCs that stay in Colorado
Colorado Registered Agent.co lands in third place, and the reason is clear: a $199 formation fee, then $99 a year to keep the agent.
Its price leaves out the periodic report, so plan to file that yourself every year.
CO Registered Agent.org and this service charge the same.
What the price covers
- Formation prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Then $99 a year
- Agent covered for year one
- $199 plus the state fee
Where it loses points
- It does not file the periodic report
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
Prices in one table
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CO Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit CO Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Colorado Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Colorado Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Starting an LLC in Colorado, one step at a time
-
Step
1Check that the name is available
Type the name into the business search at the Colorado Secretary of State before you file anything, so you do not pick one that is in use.
Jot down two backup names before you search.
-
Step
2Choose a registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A person 18 or older whose home or usual place of business is in Colorado (since July 1, 2025 the person has to hold a Colorado driver's license or ID or otherwise verify residency), or a business entity in good standing with a usual place of business in Colorado. The agent has to consent.
The address has to be a physical address in Colorado, either a home or a usual place of business. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
You can hire any of the graded services for this job.
Where this comes from: The official page is sos.state.co.us, last confirmed in October 2026
-
Step
3Decide: do it yourself or hire help
Without a service you pay $50. With one of our graded picks you pay $199 more and skip the forms.
-
Step
4Prepare and file the Articles of Organization
To form the LLC, pay $50 and give the Articles of Organization to the Colorado Secretary of State.
Where this comes from: The official page is coloradosos.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
-
Step
5Get your EIN from the IRS
Wait for the state to approve the LLC, then request the EIN from the IRS. Mainstay Filing treats the EIN application as part of the package.
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Step
6Draft the operating agreement
Even if you are the only owner, a written operating agreement kept with the company records is a good idea for a Colorado LLC.
-
Step
7Keep up with Colorado's recurring filing
File the periodic report every year ($25), by last day of the entity's anniversary month, and the LLC stays active. Late filings add $50.
Where this comes from: The official page is coloradosos.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
The cost of this lesson
| Cost item | Who you pay | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Filing the LLC | The state | $50 |
| Periodic report | The state | $25 every year |
| If the report is late | The state | $50 |
| Filing service (optional) | Service | $199 in year one |
| State total over three years | The state | $100 |
Behind the ranking
won on tuition over three years (32% of the grade), with right behind.
Paying CO Registered Agent.org for three years adds up to $397, which is $200 below the Mainstay Filing total.
Short answers
What is the price of forming a Colorado LLC?
The state's fee is $50. Service fees among our picks run $199.
Which form creates the LLC?
Look for the Articles of Organization; the Colorado Secretary of State is where it gets filed.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does Colorado require each year?
The yearly task is the periodic report ($25, every year, due last day of the entity's anniversary month).
Can I form the LLC without a service?
It is allowed. Do the filing on your own for $50 and line up a registered agent as well.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
CO Registered Agent.org first, then Mainstay Filing and Colorado Registered Agent.co; CO Registered Agent.org leads on tuition over three years.
Class references
- Colorado Secretary of State is covered in the official page at sos.state.co.us; our notes follow it as of August 2026.
- Colorado Secretary of State is covered in the official page at sos.state.co.us; our notes follow it as of August 2026.
- Colorado yearly filing: Periodic report, official source is covered in the official page at coloradosos.gov; our notes follow it as of October 2026.
- Colorado report due date is covered in the official page at colorado.public.law; our notes follow it as of August 2026.
- Colo is covered in the official page at sos.state.co.us; our notes follow it as of August 2026.
- Colorado formation fee: Filing fee, official source is covered in the official page at coloradosos.gov; our notes follow it as of October 2026.
- CO Registered Agent.org pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing Colorado service page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- Colorado Registered Agent.co pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026