LLC for Beginners

LLC for Beginners › Colorado

Forming an LLC in Colorado for the first time

The Colorado filing fee is $50. For a beginner the best service is Mainstay Filing: $199 a year covers the filing, agent, EIN application and the annual report, so year 1 comes to $249.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026

Your Colorado checklist

  1. File the Articles of Organization. $50 to the Colorado Secretary of State.
  2. Registered agent. A person 18 or older whose home or usual place of business is in Colorado (since July 1, 2025 the person has to hold a Colorado driver's license or ID or otherwise verify residency), or a business entity in good standing with a usual place of business in Colorado. The agent has to consent. You may serve as your own agent if you meet that rule; Mainstay Filing includes one in its price.
  3. EIN. Free from the IRS; included in the application Mainstay Filing prepares.
  4. Operating agreement. Write one even for a single owner. No upcharge at Mainstay Filing.
  5. Annual report. Periodic Report, every year, $25. Due: Last day of the entity's anniversary month.
Best for beginners

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year + $50 state fee

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
  • Compliance reminders and stored documents

Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.

Total for the first three years

$697 with Mainstay Filing, state fees included. Others: Northwest Registered Agent $389; ZenBusiness $597; Bizee $398; LegalZoom $847 (these totals leave out any charge for filing the annual report).

Questions

What is the best LLC service for a beginner in Colorado?

Mainstay Filing. First year $249 including the $50 Colorado filing fee; $224 in year 2.

Can a beginner file an LLC in Colorado without a service?

Yes: file the Articles of Organization with the Colorado Secretary of State for $50. Required registered agent: A person 18 or older whose home or usual place of business is in Colorado (since July 1, 2025 the person has to hold a Colorado driver's license or ID or otherwise verify residency), or a business entity in good standing with a usual place of business in Colorado. The agent has to consent.

Sources