LLC Formation Cost Calculator

Denver, Colorado LLC Cost (2026)

State filing $50 · $25annual report · Year-1 total: $75 · 5-year cost: $175

By Aissam Baidi · Reviewed against www.coloradosos.gov · Verified 2026-05-02

How much does an LLC cost in Denver, Colorado? Forming an LLC in Denver costs $75 in year one and $25/year ongoing (5-year total: $175). The state-level fee is $50 for the Articles of Organization (online only), paid to the Colorado Secretary of State. On top of that, Denver adds 6 city-specific fees covering local business licenses and any zoning/occupational permits. The Denver metro has a population of 3,050,512, median household income of $94,718, and a cost-of-living index of 108.8 (US average = 100). Standard Colorado processing takes about 1 business days; expedite for $50 extra. Sourced from datausa.io, verified 2026-05-02.

State filing $50 Articles of Organization (online only)
Denver local fees 6 specific layers
Processing 1 days expedite +$50
5-year total $175 incl. recurring fees

Calculate your Denver LLC cost

Pick add-ons (registered agent, EIN service, expedite). Math runs locally in your browser using Colorado's real fee schedule.

LLC Cost Calculator

Pick your state, choose any add-ons, and see the year-one + 5-year math. Every figure cites the state's Secretary of State or the IRS.

The U.S. state where you'll file LLC paperwork. Foreign qualification fees apply if you operate elsewhere.

State filing fee is the same for any member count; member count drives IRS tax classification (single-member = disregarded; multi-member = partnership).

Operating agreement

Not legal advice. Estimates based on publicly available data from each state's Secretary of State office. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

Local context: doing business in Denver

While Colorado state LLC formation costs are relatively low and straightforward, Denver adds several city-specific licensing and tax requirements. Businesses in Denver must account for an annual general business license, potential retail sales licenses, and a monthly Occupational Privilege Tax for owners and employees, which are not present in all other Colorado municipalities.

Denver-specific business fees

  • Colorado LLC Articles of Organization Filing Fee: A one-time fee of $50 paid to the Colorado Secretary of State to form an LLC.
  • Colorado LLC Periodic Report Fee: An annual fee of $25 paid to the Colorado Secretary of State to maintain good standing.
  • Denver General Business License: Annual fees ranging from $25 to $500, depending on business type and size. Most standard retail and service businesses pay $50-$150 annually.
  • Denver Retail Sales License: A fee of $50 for each location, renewed every two years, required for businesses selling tangible personal property or taxable services.
  • Denver Occupational Privilege Tax (Business Portion): A monthly tax of $4.00 per owner, partner, or manager actively engaged in business in Denver, regardless of earnings. If there are employees, the business also pays $4.00 per employee per month.
  • Denver Home Occupation Permit: A fee of $20 for a zoning permit if operating a business from a home address.

Top industries in Denver

  • Technology/IT-Software
  • Aerospace/Defense
  • Healthcare/Bioscience/Wellness

State-level cost (applies to all of Colorado)

Because LLC formation is a state-level filing, the base $50 fee applies regardless of which Colorado city you choose. Ongoing maintenance is $25 per annual, the same in every city. See the full Colorado LLC cost breakdown for state filing fees, annual reports, franchise tax, and registered-agent options.

What city-level fees apply on top of state filing

On top of the state filing, Denver businesses typically encounter a few city-level cost layers that don't appear in Colorado's SOS fee schedule. The most common are a city or county business license (annual, $25–$500 depending on activity and gross receipts), a zoning permit if you operate from a commercial address, professional or occupational licenses for regulated industries, and any sales tax registration if you sell taxable goods or services. Some metros also impose a gross-receipts tax that kicks in above a revenue threshold, and many require a doing-business-as (DBA) filing with the county clerk if your operating name differs from the LLC's legal name.

For most Denver founders, the practical year-1 budget includes the Colorado state filing ($50), a registered-agent service if you don't want your home address public ($100–$150/year), an EIN from the IRS (free, takes 10 minutes online), a Denver business license, and a starter operating agreement (free SBA template or $99–$200 paid, or $400–$1,500 attorney-drafted for multi-member LLCs with profit splits). Bookkeeping software (QuickBooks/Wave/Xero, $0–$30/month) and a business bank account round out the operational stack.

The number that varies most by city: registered-agent service price (commercial agents compete on price in major metros, often discounting first-year rates), and the hourly rate for a CPA or business attorney if you choose paid help. Denver's cost-of-living index runs at 108.8 (US average = 100), which is a reasonable proxy for local professional service rates.

FAQ — common questions for Denver LLCs

How much does an LLC cost in Denver, Colorado?

Forming an LLC in Denver costs $75 year-1 and $25/year ongoing. The state-level fee is $50 for the Articles of Organization (online only), paid to the Colorado Secretary of State. Denver-specific layers like business licenses and zoning permits add $25–$500 on top depending on activity.

Do I need to register my LLC with the city of Denver after filing with the state?

Yes, in nearly all cases. Even though the LLC entity is registered at the state level, Denver requires any business operating within city limits to obtain a local business license, register for any city-collected taxes (sales, occupational, gross receipts), and comply with zoning rules. Check Denver's official business portal for the specific license forms.

Can I form my LLC in another state and operate from Denver?

Technically yes, but you'd then have to "foreign qualify" the LLC in Colorado, paying a second filing fee and keeping a registered agent in both states. For founders who actually live and work in Denver, that almost always costs more than just forming in Colorado directly. The exception is non-resident founders with no US presence using privacy-friendly states like Wyoming or New Mexico.

How long does LLC formation take if I'm in Denver?

Colorado's standard processing applies regardless of city — about 1 business days. Expedited filing for an extra $50 can compress this to 24–48 hours. Denver's city business license adds another 1–3 weeks after the state-level LLC is approved.

What's the year-1 budget for a Denver LLC including city fees?

For most Denver founders, year-1 totals roughly $275–$875 depending on choices: $50 state filing, $0 EIN (free from IRS.gov), $0–$150 registered agent service, $50–$500 Denver business license, $0–$200 operating agreement template, and any zoning/professional license fees. Cost-of-living index here runs at 108.8 (US average = 100), a reasonable proxy for local CPA/attorney rates.