Colorado LLC Cost: Filing Fee, Annual Fees and 5-Year Total
Forming an LLC in Colorado costs $50 in state filing fees and then $25 a year to keep it active. Colorado's estimated five-year state costs of $150 are 55% below the 51-jurisdiction median of $335.
Checked against official state sources (October 2026) · Last verified: October 28–29, 2026 · Sources
What an LLC costs in Colorado
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Formation filing fee | $50 | One time |
| Recurring state filing / report fee | $25/yr | Periodic report, $25 a year |
| Year-one cost | $50 | Formation fee + any year-one extra |
| Estimated 5-year state costs | $150 | Formation + year-one extras + 4 years of filing / report fees; ranks 13th cheapest of 51 |
The five-year figure counts state government fees and, where one applies, the separate mandatory annual state tax shown above. It assumes a single-member LLC owned by an individual with little or no income. It excludes registered agent services, formation-service fees, publication costs, local business licenses, income-based state taxes (income, gross-receipts, B&O, sales) and any optional extras. How we calculate it.
Verified details
- Articles of Organization: $50 online.
- Periodic report: $25 (increased from $10 effective July 1, 2024). It is due in your entity's periodic report month; you can file from two months before to two months after that month without penalty. Late filing penalty: $50.
Annual reports and upkeep
Colorado filing cadence: Annual (periodic report). Periodic report, $25 a year. Missing filings can lead to late fees and, eventually, administrative dissolution, so put the dates in a calendar. See annual reports and franchise taxes explained.
How to form an LLC in Colorado
- Check the name. Search the Colorado business records on the Secretary of State / filing office site to confirm your LLC name is available and includes an LLC designator.
- Pick a registered agent. Every state requires a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. You can serve as your own agent if you live in Colorado and are reachable during business hours, or hire a commercial agent. Registered agent guide.
- File the formation document. The state filing fee is $50. Use the state's online filing portal where available; paper filing is slower.
- Write an operating agreement. Most states do not require you to file one, but banks and partners typically ask for it, and it sets ownership and decision rules. Operating agreement basics.
- Get an EIN. The IRS issues EINs for free through its online application. Beware of sites that charge for it.
- Open a business bank account and calendar the deadlines. Put the annual (periodic report) filing dates in a calendar so the LLC stays in good standing.
Want someone else to handle the filing in Colorado?
A formation service files the paperwork for a fee on top of the state fee and often includes a first year of registered agent service. It saves time, but you can file directly with the state for the state fee alone. Compare DIY and services.
See a formation service (partner link) Sponsored
Living or operating outside Colorado?
You can form an LLC in Colorado even if you live elsewhere, but if you actually do business in your home state you will usually also have to register the LLC there as a foreign LLC and pay that state's fees, so you may pay twice. In Texas, for example, an out-of-state LLC transacting business pays $750 to register. See forming an LLC in a state other than your own.
Compare Colorado with similar-cost states
| State | Formation | Annual | 5-yr total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $100 | $12.50 | $150 |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $7 | $153 |
| Minnesota | $155 | $0 | $155 |
| Indiana | $95 | $15.50 | $157 |
Head-to-head: Colorado vs California · Colorado vs Texas · Colorado vs Florida · Colorado vs New York · Colorado vs Delaware · Colorado vs Wyoming · Colorado vs Nevada · Colorado vs New Mexico
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Colorado?
The state filing fee is $50. Add a registered agent if you do not serve as your own, plus any local licenses.
What is the annual cost of an LLC in Colorado?
Periodic report, $25 a year. That works out to about $25 per year in state fees.
Do I need a registered agent in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state. You may act as your own agent if you meet the state's requirements.
Do I need an operating agreement in Colorado?
Most states do not make you file one, but you should have one. Check Colorado's LLC statute and ask your bank what it requires. We do not give legal advice.
Is Colorado cheap compared with other states?
Colorado's estimated five-year state costs of $150 are 55% below the 51-jurisdiction median of $335.
Sources
- Colorado official filing site: www.coloradosos.gov
- CO SOS: business organizations fee schedule
- CO SOS: periodic report FAQs
- CO SOS: 2024 fee-increase release
Fees change. Confirm the amount on the state's official page before you file.
Fee data: official state government pages and statutes (checked October 28–29, 2026); sources are linked on each state page. See our methodology. Not legal or tax advice.