Register Your Business with the Colorado Secretary of State
What is Colorado Secretary of State Registration?
Registering your business is a filing that provides legal authority to conduct business and operations in the state of Colorado.
Why your business needs to Register with the Colorado Secretary of State
Registering with the Colorado Secretary of State is a legal requirement for most businesses operating in Colorado.
How to Register Your Business
- Before registering your new venture, you must determine the legal structure of your business
- Choose a unique name and confirm its availability in the Secretary of State's Name Availability Tool.
- The specific documents you need to file depend on the type of business you want to form. For example, if you're forming a limited liability company (LLC), you must file Articles of Organization. If you're creating a corporation, you must file Articles of Incorporation.
- You can file your documents online. To file online, use the Business Organizations Section of the Colorado Secretary of State website. From there, you can submit your formation documents and pay the filing fee with a credit card or electronic check.
- Once your documents are filed and your fee is paid, the Colorado Secretary of State will review your filing and let you know if you need additional information or corrections. If everything is in order, they will approve your filing, and your business will be registered with the Secretary of State of Colorado.
Apply for a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
What is an Employer Identification Number?
An Employer Identification Number, or EIN, is like a Social Security Number, but for your business. You might also see an EIN referred to as a Federal Tax Identification Number, FTIN or TIN. It helps both you and those you do business with identify your business as a unique entity.
Why does my business need an EIN?
US businesses require an EIN for a variety of reasons. An EIN helps the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, identify your business quickly and easily. If you want to do business with the City or any other governmental agency, you will need an EIN to complete various forms and applications.
How do I obtain an EIN?
EINs are easy to obtain and entirely free. They are issued by the IRS. The application to obtain an EIN can be completed online. Simply visit the IRS Website - Employer ID Numbers and click “Apply for an EIN Online."
You can also apply for an EIN via fax, mail or phone, but the process will generally take a little longer. The directions for each of these methods can be found on this page.
Be sure to download, save, and print the EIN letter (include sample photo) right away. If you lose or misplace this document, you will have to contact the IRS to re-issue the letter by mail.
How long does it take to obtain an EIN?
The online application to obtain an EIN takes a matter of minutes. After you have completed the application successfully, an EIN will be issued to you right away. However, please note that the online EIN service is only available on weekdays between 5 AM and 8 PM Mountain Time.
Applying for an EIN via fax takes about a week, while applying by mail takes between four to five weeks.