The Colorado Secretary of State gives you two free tools: the Business Database Search for looking up existing businesses, and a dedicated Name Availability Search that tells you whether the exact name you type, including its LLC or Inc. ending, can be used.
Colorado’s name rules are unusually mechanical, so the availability check is quite reliable. To hold a name before forming the business, file a $25 reservation, good for 120 days. If you’ll operate under any other name, Colorado requires a $20 Statement of Trade Name.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Colorado (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Colorado, ranked. Mainstay Filing comes first for its flat yearly price; the two Colorado registered agent services below it are options if you only need an agent.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | CO Registered Agent.org | Colorado registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Colorado Registered Agent.co | Colorado registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Colorado. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. CO Registered Agent.org
CO Registered Agent.org is a Colorado registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Colorado Registered Agent.co
Colorado Registered Agent.co is a Colorado registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Colorado business name essentials
| Item | Colorado (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Office | Colorado Secretary of State (business filings are online only) |
| Search tools | Business Database Search and Name Availability Search (both free) |
| Name reservation | $25 online for 120 days; renewal $25 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC) | $50 online |
| Articles of Incorporation | $50 online |
| Name change (amendment) | $25 |
| Statement of Trade Name (DBA) | $20; renewal $5; withdrawal $10 |
| Periodic report | $25 per year |
Fees are from the Secretary of State’s business fee schedule (revised July 1, 2024 and still posted as current). Colorado filings are made online. Mainstay Filing’s Colorado LLC cost guide adds up the full startup cost.
How to do a Colorado Secretary of State business search
Start with the dedicated availability tool, then use the database search to understand any near misses.
Use the Name Availability Search first
Open the Name Availability Search and enter the exact name you want to use, including the required ending, such as “Front Range Fly Shop LLC.” The tool checks it against names on record and tells you if it is not available.
Then look up similar names in the Business Database Search
The Business Database Search has one box for a business name, trademark, trade name, ID or document number, plus an advanced search. Use it to see who holds a similar name and whether that business is in good standing, delinquent or dissolved.
Watch the status language
When a Colorado entity becomes delinquent or dissolved, words such as “Delinquent” or “Dissolved” are added to the end of its name. According to the Secretary of State, the original name then becomes available for others to use.
Know how trade names affect the result
Trade names show up in the database search, but they don’t block an entity name. Colorado trade names don’t have to be unique, so a trade name match tells you about possible customer confusion, not about filing rejection.
What makes a Colorado business name distinguishable?
Colorado applies C.R.S. § 7-90-601, and the Secretary of State’s names FAQ spells out how names are compared. Colorado is more permissive than many states:
| Treated as a difference | Ignored when comparing names |
|---|---|
| Articles such as “the” and “a” | Periods, commas and apostrophes |
| The entity term itself (“ABC LLC” vs. “ABC Limited Liability Company”) | Underscores |
| Spaces, hyphens and parentheses (“A-B-C LLC”, “(ABC) LLC”) | Upper vs. lower case |
Other rules to follow:
- Most entities need a term or abbreviation that identifies their type, such as “LLC,” “Limited Liability Company,” “Inc.” or “Corp.” The Secretary of State won’t add a missing term for you.
- Only letters, numbers and symbols found on a standard QWERTY keyboard are accepted.
- Being legally distinguishable isn’t the same as being safe from a trademark claim. A name one hyphen away from a competitor’s brand can still cause problems.
For more ideas, try Namechk’s business name generator and test the best results in the Name Availability Search.
Reserving a name in Colorado
A Statement of Reservation of Name holds an entity name for future use for 120 days, under C.R.S. §§ 7-90-301 and 7-90-602 (filing help).
- Fee: $25, filed online.
- Renewal: file a Statement of Renewal of Reservation of Name, also $25.
- Who can file: an individual or a business organization.
- Format: include the entity term you plan to use, such as LLC.
- What it can’t do: a reservation doesn’t form a business, and it can’t be used to reserve a trade name or trademark.
Check federal trademarks, domains and social handles
The Colorado database includes state trademarks, but federal registrations are separate. Search the USPTO trademark search for marks that could conflict with your name in your industry.
Then check whether your brand is free online. Namechk searches domain extensions and social media usernames in one step, which helps you choose a name you can use consistently on your website, Instagram, TikTok and elsewhere.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Trade names (DBAs) in Colorado
Colorado is one of the states where a trade name filing is required, not optional. According to the Secretary of State’s trade names FAQ, a for-profit business using a name other than its true name must file a Statement of Trade Name. That includes sole proprietors not using their legal first and last name, general partnerships, corporations and LLCs.
- Fee: $20 to file online; $5 to renew; $10 to withdraw.
- Individuals and other non-reporting filers: the trade name lasts one year and must be renewed annually in the three months before it expires. An expired trade name can’t be renewed; you file again.
- Corporations, LLCs and other reporting entities: the trade name stays in effect while the entity is in good standing or non-compliant.
- No exclusivity: trade names don’t have to be unique, and they can’t be reserved or transferred. Filing one doesn’t stop anyone else from using the same name.
If exclusivity matters, form an entity under the name or look into a trademark registration.
Forming your Colorado business after the search
Colorado’s formation process is fully online and short. Our Colorado LLC guide walks through it.
- File Articles of Organization ($50) or Articles of Incorporation ($50) on the Secretary of State’s website.
- Choose a registered agent with a Colorado street address. You can act as your own or use a service such as Mainstay Filing, which includes one with formation. See our Colorado registered agent guide.
- File a Statement of Trade Name if you’ll do business under any other name.
- Get an EIN, register for state taxes and file your periodic report each year. Our Colorado start-a-business guide has the checklist.
FAQs
How do I check if a business name is available in Colorado?
Use the Colorado Secretary of State’s free Name Availability Search. Enter the exact name you want, including the required term such as LLC or Inc., and the tool tells you whether it is available. Then use the Business Database Search to look up similar names, their owners and their status before you file.
Does Colorado treat ABC LLC and ABC Inc. as different names?
Yes. According to the Colorado Secretary of State, entity terms and abbreviations make names distinguishable, as do articles like the, spaces, hyphens and parentheses. Periods, commas, apostrophes, underscores and capitalization are ignored. Even if the state accepts a near-identical name, the other business may still have trademark rights.
How much is a name reservation in Colorado?
A Colorado Statement of Reservation of Name costs $25 online and holds the name for 120 days. You can extend it by filing a Statement of Renewal of Reservation of Name for another $25. The reservation doesn’t form your business and can’t be used to reserve a trade name or trademark.
Is a DBA required in Colorado?
Yes, for most for-profit businesses. Colorado requires a Statement of Trade Name when a business, including a sole proprietor not using their legal first and last name, operates under a name other than its true name. The filing fee is $20 online. Nonprofits may file but aren’t required to.
Do Colorado trade names expire?
For individuals and other non-reporting filers, a Colorado trade name lasts one year and must be renewed for $5 in the three months before it expires. For corporations, LLCs and other reporting entities, the trade name stays effective while the entity is in good standing or non-compliant. Expired trade names must be filed again.
Can I use the name of a dissolved Colorado company?
Often, yes. When a Colorado entity becomes delinquent or dissolved, status language such as Delinquent or Dissolved is added to the end of its name, and the Secretary of State says the original name then becomes available. Run the Name Availability Search to confirm, and check trademarks in case the old owner still uses the brand.
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