How to start a business in Colorado!

It's not hard, and it'll only take you an hour and $50 to set up your business with the State of Colorado and get an EIN with the IRS.

Heads-up: the IRS web site only lets you get an EIN between 5 a.m. - 8 p.m. MT, Monday-Friday.

The State of Colorado also has a click-thru tutorial on starting a business in Colorado,

and a checklist for starting an LLC in Colorado, which is probably the best type of small business to set up.

These are the 2 tasks that you will be walked through:

Task 1: Filing your LLC business with the Colorado Secretary of State. You'll need to have a business name and a credit card to pay the $50 filing fee. You do NOT need to write Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization, the state will auto-generate them for you. You can do this any day, 24/7, and you will immediately receive your state business ID number.

Task 2: Filing your business with the IRS to get an EIN (employer identification number) for your business. You do not need to pay. This is FREE and instant, but must be done Monday-Friday between 5 a.m. - 8 p.m. Mountain Time.

That's it!!

If you need a bank account, be sure to get one with free small business checking and saving (like Blue Federal Credit Union).

You'll need to take your ID, state Articles of Organization, EIN printout, and State of Colorado business registration printout.

Task 1: File with the Colorado Secretary of State

Step 0: Go to Colorado's Limited Liability Company (LLC) web site and click the "Next" button

1. Enter your business name, being sure to include a variation of "LLC" or "Limited Liability Corporation" in the name,

then click the "Next" button:

2. Enter your address(es). The principal office address has to be a real, physical location -- such as your house or office. The mailing address can be the same as your physical location, or you can use a P.O. box or private mailbox. Then click the "Next" button:

3. Enter your registered agent -- this is YOU. It could be someone else, but it's unlikely someone else is filing on your behalf if you're following this tutorial :) Then put in your addresses (probably the same ones as before), click "yes" to consent, and then click "Next."

4. Choose the "Members" option. Your LLC has at least one member-owner, and that's you. Again, it's unlikely that someone following this tutorial has hired a "Manager"to do the paperwork for them. :) Then click "Yes" and "Next."

5. Since you, a person, are starting your own business, choose "Individual" and enter your name when the fields pop up. If you're starting a business with a friend or two, you can add them on the next screen. Then you'll probably enter the same addresses as in the prior screens, and click the "Next" button:

5. continued: If you're starting this business with a friend or two, you can add them now. If it's just you, then click "Next."

6. It would be unusual to include a document with your business registration, so choose "No" and then click "Next."

7. It would also be unusual to delay the start date of your new business, so choose "Yes" to have it begin today, then click "Next."

8. Once again, enter your name and address as the person filling out the form. If your friend is a co-owner and helping you do this, you can add them on the next screen. Then click "Next" at the bottom:

8. continued: If your friend is a co-owner and helping you do the filing, you can add them now. Then click "Next."

9. Choose "Yes" for both email and text notifications -- you will want this for annual renewal reminders! Then click "Next."

10. x

Task 2: File with IRS for an EIN (employer identification number)

Click here to jump to the EIN how-to page...

Page still under construction! Next steps are in progress!