Colorado · Secretary of State records · checked 18 Sep 2026
Colorado business search: look up an LLC or check a name with the Secretary of State
Colorado LLC records are held by the Secretary of State, which keeps entities, trade names and trademarks in one Business Database. It has two free tools: a yes/no Name Availability Search for one exact name, and a database search that finds similar names, ID numbers and registered agents.
- Straight to the official Colorado search
- Facts checked 18 Sep 2026, with sources
- Name check before you file
- Live check of Colorado Secretary of State records
Picking a new name? Also check the domain and federal trademarks. The state search answers neither.
Checked 18 Sep 2026 against official Colorado sources. See every source.
Using Colorado’s business records
Two different searches
Colorado has a Name Availability Search and a separate Business Database Search. Enter the exact name with its designator (for example, LLC) into the availability search to get a yes/no answer. It won't show you similar names. Use the business database to see names that are close to yours.
Colorado counts designators and spacing
Colorado treats ABC LLC and ABC Limited Liability Company as different names, and A B C LLC and A-B-C LLC as different too. Periods, commas, apostrophes, underscores and capitalization are ignored. The legal test is that a name be 'distinguishable on the records' (C.R.S. 7-90-601(2)).
One database for entities, trade names and trademarks
The same search box covers business names, trade names, trademarks, 11-digit ID numbers and document numbers. Advanced search also finds records by registered agent, reserved-name holder or trade-name registrant. Each record lists its status, agent, principal office and periodic report month. Filed documents open as free PDFs.
Reserving and filing
A name reservation costs $25 online and lasts 120 days. You can renew it for further 120-day periods. Articles of Organization cost $50, are filed online only, and are processed in real time. The record updates as soon as payment goes through.
Trade names are filed with the state
A Statement of Trade Name is filed with the Secretary of State, not a county, for $20 online. Trade names are not unique, so an existing trade name does not block yours, and filing one does not reserve it. An LLC's trade name stays in effect as long as the LLC is in good standing.
Keeping the LLC in good standing
Every year there is a $25 periodic report, due in the month shown on the record. You can file it up to two months before or two months after that month; after that there is a $50 late penalty. Certificates of Good Standing print free from the site.
Colorado facts, with sources
| Fact | What the official source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Office | Colorado Secretary of State, Business Organizations, 1700 Broadway, Suite 550, Denver. The same database holds entities, trade names and trademarks. | coloradosos.gov |
| Search tool | Business Database Search: one box searches business name, trademark, trade name, ID number or document number. Free, no account. Best results come from searching the 11-digit ID number or one or two key words without punctuation; results page 20 at a time. | coloradosos.gov |
| Advanced search | Filter by filing-date range; search business names, trade names and/or trademarks (exact match optional); or search by a person or entity who is a registered agent, reserved-name holder, trade-name registrant or trademark registrant. | coloradosos.gov |
| Separate name-availability check | Yes. The Name Availability Search tells you whether one exact name (with its designator) is available but shows no similar names; the Business Database Search shows similar names but does not say whether a name is available. Trade names and trademarks are not included in the availability check. | coloradosos.gov |
| What a record shows | Entity type, formation date, 11-digit ID number, status regarding timely filings (e.g., Good Standing, Delinquent), principal office address, registered agent name and address, jurisdiction of formation, and the periodic report month. Owners, members and managers are not filed with the SOS. | coloradosos.gov |
| Filed documents and certificates | Filed documents open as PDF images from 'Filing history and documents' and can be printed or saved. Certificates of Good Standing, certificates of fact and certified copies are free online; a certificate's confirmation number can be validated on the SOS site. | sos.state.co.us |
| Distinguishability rule | C.R.S. 7-90-601(2): each entity name must be distinguishable on the SOS records from every other entity name and every reserved name. SOS guidance: different designators, spaces, hyphens or parentheses DO make names distinguishable (ABC LLC vs ABC Limited Liability Company; ABC LLC vs A B C LLC; ABC LLC vs A-B-C LLC). Periods, commas, underscores, apostrophes and letter case do NOT (ABC Inc = A.B.C. Inc = abc inc). | coloradosos.gov |
| Name reservation | $25 online. Holds the name 120 days, renewable successively for further 120-day periods ($25 renewal) under C.R.S. 7-90-602. Transferable by a statement of transfer ($25). A trade name cannot be reserved. | sos.state.co.us |
| LLC formation filing | Articles of Organization: $50, online only (no paper option listed). Online filings are processed in real time and appear on the record immediately after payment. | sos.state.co.us |
| Expedite / paper | Only paper-only documents can be expedited: +$150, processed within 3 business days (requests after 4 p.m. may roll to the next day). Regular paper documents take 7-10 business days. On 18 Sep 2026 the search page showed paper documents processed through 09/16/2026. The SOS does not pre-clear documents. | coloradosos.gov |
| Required designator | C.R.S. 7-90-601(3)(c): 'limited liability company', 'ltd. liability company', 'limited liability co.', 'ltd. liability co.', 'limited', 'l.l.c.', 'llc' or 'ltd.' (any capitalization). The SOS will not add one for you. Professional LLCs may use 'P.l.l.c.' or 'pllc' (7-90-601(5)). | coloradosos.gov |
| Restricted words | C.R.S. 7-90-601(1): a name may not contain any term whose inclusion would violate a Colorado statute. 'Cooperative' (or abbreviations/derivations) is restricted to cooperatives and certain qualifying entities (7-90-601(7)); 'public benefit corporation'/'PBC' only for PBCs (7-90-601(3)(h)). | content.leg.colorado.gov |
| Trade name (DBA) | Filed with the Secretary of State, online only: Statement of Trade Name $20. Trade names are not unique; several filers can register the same trade name. For an LLC in good standing the trade name stays effective with no renewal; if the LLC becomes delinquent or dissolved it lasts one year from that date unless renewed ($5). Search trade names in the same Business Database. | coloradosos.gov |
| Periodic report | Annual, $25 online (was $10 until 30 Jun 2024). Filing month shown on the record; can be filed two months before or two months after that month without penalty. Late filing penalty $50; unfiled reports make the entity Delinquent. | sos.state.co.us |
| Registered agent rules (2025) | Since 1 Jul 2025 (HB 24-1137): an individual agent must confirm Colorado residency with a Colorado driver's license/ID or a mailed passcode (expires 45 days); an entity agent must be registered and in good standing with the SOS; the agent must consent and needs a physical Colorado usual place of business (no P.O. box). | coloradosos.gov |
| Name after delinquency | If an entity becomes delinquent, dissolved or withdrawn, words such as 'Delinquent' or 'Dissolved' are added to the end of its name and the original name becomes available for someone else to use. | coloradosos.gov |
| Bulk data | Complete business entity, trade name and trademark dataset is free on data.colorado.gov. | sos.state.co.us |
Each fact checked 18 Sep 2026. Fees and processing times change; the linked source is the final word.
After the name: what Colorado asks for next
Three checks the state search does not make
A name that is free in Colorado may be taken online. Check the .com and the alternatives.
State registration is not a trademark. Search the USPTO database.
Registering elsewhere later means passing that state's name check too. Search any other state.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if an LLC name is available in Colorado?
Use the SOS Name Availability Search and enter the exact name including the designator (such as LLC). It says whether that exact name is available but does not list similar names; use the Business Database Search for those. Source: coloradosos.gov
Is 'ABC LLC' different from 'ABC Limited Liability Company' in Colorado?
Yes. SOS guidance says different designators, spaces, hyphens and parentheses make names distinguishable, while periods, commas, apostrophes, underscores and capitalization do not. Source: coloradosos.gov
Can I search Colorado businesses by registered agent?
Yes. Advanced Search lets you search by a person or entity acting as registered agent, reserved-name holder, trade-name registrant or trademark registrant, and filter by filing dates. Source: coloradosos.gov
How long does a Colorado name reservation last?
120 days for $25 online, and it can be renewed for successive 120-day periods ($25 each) under C.R.S. 7-90-602. Source: coloradosos.gov
Do I need to register a DBA for my Colorado LLC?
If the LLC does business under a name other than its true name, it must file a Statement of Trade Name with the Secretary of State ($20, online). Trade names are not unique and cannot be reserved. Source: coloradosos.gov
Can I get a Colorado Certificate of Good Standing for free?
Yes. Certificates of Good Standing, certificates of fact and certified copies are free on the SOS website for entities in Good Standing. Source: coloradosos.gov
Nearby states
Each state keeps its own records and its own name rules. Forming or registering next door? Search there too.
Colorado
Colorado files LLCs in real time. The name is yours the moment it's filed.
A reservation is $25 for 120 days, but filing the Articles protects the name for as long as the LLC stays in good standing. We form Colorado LLCs for $123.75 plus the $50 state fee, exact total shown before you pay.
Or call (954) 470-8356 — we pick up.