Colorado LLC Filing Fees (2026): Formation, Annual and Agent
Colorado keeps the fee list short: $50 to file the Articles of Organization and $25 a year for the Periodic Report, both paid online to the Colorado Secretary of State at coloradosos.gov. There is no franchise tax and no minimum entity-level tax stacked on top. This page carries every current figure for forming and maintaining a Colorado LLC in 2026.
One-Time Filing Fees
| Expense | Amount | Paid To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $50 | CO Secretary of State | Online only; the state fee schedule lists paper as not available |
| EIN | Free | IRS | Apply at irs.gov; immediate issuance online |
| Our formation service | $199 | Us | Preparation and filing, with your first year of registered agent service included, then $99 per year |
Optional extras such as a name reservation or a trade name (Colorado's DBA) carry their own small charges on the official SOS fee schedule.
Absolute minimum to form: $50, the state filing fee alone, if you handle everything yourself.
Ongoing Fees
| Expense | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Periodic Report | $25 | Annual | Due by the last day of your anniversary month; filed at coloradosos.gov |
| Periodic Report late penalty | $50 | Only if noncompliant | Applies once the filing window closes without a report |
| Registered agent service | $99 | Annual | Our annual price; included free for year one with formation |
Minimum annual maintenance: $25, just the Periodic Report fee to the Secretary of State.
The Periodic Report Fee and Its 2024 Increase
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Get StartedEffective July 1, 2024, the Periodic Report fee rose from $10 to $25, so any guide still quoting $10 is out of date. The mechanics under C.R.S. ยง 7-90-501:
- The report is due by the last day of your anniversary month each year.
- The no-penalty window is generous: you can file from two months before that month through two months after it.
- Miss the window and the entity goes Noncompliant, which adds the $50 late penalty.
- Stay Noncompliant for roughly sixty days and the status drops to Delinquent; continued Delinquent status leads to administrative dissolution by the Secretary of State.
- Filing is online only. Colorado accepts no paper Periodic Reports.
Why Colorado Stays Inexpensive
- No franchise tax. Colorado charges no entity-level tax on LLCs; the $25 report is the whole recurring state obligation.
- No minimum tax. Nothing is owed just for existing, regardless of revenue.
- Low fees at both ends. Both the $50 formation fee and the $25 report sit near the bottom of the national range.
For head-to-head numbers against the states people usually shortlist, see Colorado vs Delaware and Colorado vs Wyoming.
What Our Services Include
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| LLC formation | $199, first year of registered agent service included, then $99 per year |
| Registered agent only | $99 per year |
| Foreign qualification (registering an out-of-state LLC in Colorado) | $199 plus state fees (Colorado's Statement of Foreign Entity Authority is $100) |
Ready to file? Form Your Colorado LLC
Fees and Obligations People Forget
Ready to get started?
Get Started- The $50 late penalty. It lands automatically once your Periodic Report window closes unfiled. Calendar the anniversary month.
- Municipal business licenses. Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs, Lakewood, and Fort Collins each run their own licensing with their own charges.
- Sales tax complexity. Colorado layers state, county, city, and special district sales taxes, and home-rule cities collect their own separately from the state.
- Reinstatement after dissolution. Coming back from administrative dissolution means filing reinstatement paperwork and catching up on what was missed, which always exceeds the $25 it would have taken to stay current.
- Department of Revenue registration. Free, but required before collecting sales tax.
- Workers' compensation. Mandatory in Colorado once you have employees, with premiums varying by industry classification.
First-Year Budget
- Do it yourself: $50 to the state, plus the $25 Periodic Report if your first one falls due within the year. You act as your own agent and draft your own documents.
- Through us: $249 total, meaning the $199 service fee plus the $50 state fee, with the first year of registered agent service already included. Year two runs $25 to the state and $99 for the agent.
FAQ
What is the least expensive way to form a Colorado LLC?
File directly at coloradosos.gov for $50. You prepare the Articles yourself, an eligible individual (you, if you qualify) serves as registered agent, and you draft your own operating agreement. The portal walks you through each required field.
Are there annual taxes specific to Colorado LLCs?
No entity-level ones. LLC income passes through to the members, who pay Colorado's flat state income tax personally. The only mandatory recurring LLC fee is the $25 Periodic Report; there is no franchise tax, gross receipts tax, or minimum entity tax.
Is the Periodic Report fee tax-deductible?
Yes. The $25 report fee and other state filing fees are ordinary business expenses on your federal return (Schedule C for single-member LLCs, Form 1065 for multi-member).
When did the annual fee increase?
July 1, 2024. The Periodic Report went from $10 to $25, with a $50 penalty for filings made after the window closes.
How much should I budget for year one?
Through us, $249 all-in: $199 for formation with the first year of registered agent service included, plus the $50 state fee. Add the $25 Periodic Report only if it comes due before your first anniversary. Filing yourself and serving as your own agent, year one is just the $50 state fee.