SOS Business Search

Colorado Secretary of State office — contact & fees

Updated August 2026

Quick Answer

The Colorado Department of State's Business Organizations program registers all entity types, processes amendments and dissolutions, and maintains the public business entity database. Colorado is predominantly an online-only filing state — most routine transactions (formation, periodic reports, amendments, name reservations, dissolutions) are completed through the online portal and have no paper-filing option.

Open Official Colorado Department of State Portal ↗

Office contact

Street address
1700 Broadway, Suite 550, Denver, CO 80290
Phone
(303) 894-2200
Toll-free
1-855-428-3555
Spanish-language line
(303) 894-2200 ext. 6260
Business Organizations email
business@coloradosos.gov
Fax
(303) 869-4864
Office hours
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (excluding state holidays)
Online portal
coloradosos.gov — Business Filings Portal

Entity formation and filing fees

Colorado's fee schedule was last revised on July 1, 2024. All fees below are online (electronic) rates — the standard for most Colorado business filings. Verify current amounts at coloradosos.gov — Business Fees before filing.

LLC — Articles of Organization

Fee
$50

Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation

Fee
$50

Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation

Fee
$50

Foreign Entity — Authority Statement

Fee
$100

Periodic Report (annual equivalent, all entity types)

Fee
$25

Periodic Report — Late Filing Penalty

Fee
$50

Name Reservation (or renewal or transfer)

Fee
$25

Certificate of Good Standing

Fee
Free (online)

Apostille on a business document (paper only)

Fee
$5 routine / $15 expedited

Expedited filing (within 3 business days, paper submissions)

Fee
+$150

Trade Name Statement

Fee
$20

Dissolution (all entity types)

Fee
$10

Reinstatement

Fee
$100

Colorado's formation fee ($50) is the same for LLCs, profit corporations, and nonprofits. Annual periodic reports run $25 — also uniform across entity types. A $50 late penalty applies if the periodic report is not filed by the deadline. Apostilles on business documents are only available on paper; walk-in expedited apostilles require arrival by 4:30 p.m.

UCC filing, notary, and apostille services

The Department of State also runs UCC filing, notary commissions, and document authentication:

  • UCC search and filing — free search and free copies through the online UCC system.
  • Notary public commissions — a $10 application fee, filed online through the Department's eFiling system.
  • Apostilles and authentications — $5 per document by mail.

Source: Colorado Department of State UCC, notary, and apostille fee schedules (coloradosos.gov).

Key Colorado state licensing agencies

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA)

What it covers
50+ professional and occupational license types: contractors, real estate brokers, insurance, healthcare, engineers, financial advisors

Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR)

What it covers
Sales tax license, business tax registration, liquor and marijuana licenses, lottery

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE)

What it covers
Unemployment insurance registration (required when hiring employees), workers' compensation compliance, wage law

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)

What it covers
Food service permits, health facility licenses, environmental and air quality permits

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Colorado?

$50 to file online — the same flat formation fee Colorado charges for LLCs, profit corporations, and nonprofit corporations alike. Annual periodic reports afterward cost $25.

What happens if I miss Colorado's periodic report deadline?

A $50 late filing penalty applies on top of the standard $25 periodic report fee — Colorado's version of an annual report, required for all entity types.

Can I file Colorado business paperwork by mail?

For most routine transactions — formation, periodic reports, amendments, name reservations, dissolutions — no. Colorado is predominantly online-only, with no paper option for these filings. Apostilles are a paper-only exception; walk-in expedited apostille requests must arrive by 4:30 p.m.

Compare Other States

Entity search rules, fees, and offices are set state by state. These are the states closest to Colorado — useful if you're comparing how a neighboring state runs the same process.

Arizona Corporation Commission Kansas Secretary of State Nebraska Corporate Division New Mexico Business Services Division Oklahoma Secretary of State Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code

Helpful Guides

What Is a Registered Agent, and Who Can Be One?

Every LLC and corporation is required to name one — here's what the job actually involves and who's eligible.

Certificate of Good Standing: What It Is and How to Get One

A one-page proof that your LLC or corporation is current with the state — what it's for, what it costs, and how to request one.

How to Dissolve an LLC: The State Filing Process, Step by Step

Closing an LLC the right way means more than just walking away — here's the filing sequence every state expects.

LLC vs. Corporation: Which Structure Fits Your Business?

Both are formed with the same state office — the real differences show up in taxes, ownership, and how much paperwork you're signing up for.

Articles of Incorporation vs. Articles of Organization: What's the Difference?

Both documents create a legal business entity with the state — the difference comes down to which type of entity you're forming.

How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC? Formation Fees by State

State filing fees for forming an LLC range from under $50 to $500 — see the base cost in your state and how it compares to forming a corporation.

LLC Annual Report Fees and Deadlines by State

Every state has its own rules for keeping an LLC in good standing — see your state's report frequency, fee, and due date at a glance.

Business License Search: What It Covers and How to Check

Registering an entity with the state isn't the same as holding a license to operate it — here's where licenses actually come from.

UCC Filing Search: How to Check for Liens on a Business

Uniform Commercial Code filings show which lenders have a claim on a company's assets — here's how to search them and what the results mean.