Colorado Registered Agent
If you want to start a limited liability company (LLC) in Colorado, you'll need to appoint a registered agent.
Your Colorado registered agent can be an individual or a registered agent service. Services are affordable and will reduce risk and increase flexibility and privacy.
We’ll help you make the best choice for your business.
Recommended: Northwest Registered Agent offers free registered agent services with LLC or corporation formation ($29 plus state fees).
Choosing a Registered Agent in Colorado
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A Colorado registered agent serves as your business’s point of contact with the Secretary of State and will also receive service of process in the event of a pending lawsuit.
Appointing a registered agent is a legal requirement in Colorado for both LLCs and corporations. This can be a registered agent service or an individual.
Keep in mind that all Colorado registered agents need to satisfy the following requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must have a physical address in Colorado.
- Must always be available during regular business hours at their registered office address.
Colorado Registered Agent Services
- Convenience: Hiring a service provider will allow you to be more flexible when it comes to how you can operate on a day-to-day basis (since you won’t be responsible for receiving service of process).
- Privacy: If you work with a third-party service, your provider’s name and commercial address will become publicly available (instead of your own).
- Legal compliance: Several third-party services offer additional features that can help you stay legally compliant (e.g., annual report reminders, online document storage, etc.).
Let’s Find the Right Registered Agent for Your Business
We’ve tested and reviewed the most popular registered agent services.
Can You Be Your Own Registered Agent?
Yes, you can.
Being your own Colorado registered agent can be a good idea if you are operating on a very tight budget (since it can be done free of charge).
Having said that, we recommend avoiding this route if possible due to the fact that it’s:
- Relatively time-inefficient: You will need to go through and store all SOS paperwork independently.
- Not cost-effective: Acting as your own agent will save you between $90 and $300 per year, which will likely not be a significant amount of capital for most small businesses.
- Not flexible: Acting as your own agent will mean that you will be responsible for receiving service of process in the event of a pending lawsuit.
If you are forming a new LLC, it makes sense to hire a formation service that includes a free year of registered agent services. These types of services can charge as little as $29 per formation (plus state fees).
If you are forming an LLC but prefer to file the paperwork yourself and act as your own registered agent, take a look at our How to Start an LLC in Colorado guide.
Best Colorado Registered Agent Service
If you're in Colorado and either looking to form a new LLC or switch your existing registered agent, it's crucial to consider factors like cost, range of services, reputation, and customer support.
Many people seek registered agents offering features like mail forwarding, document scanning, and compliance monitoring.
Northwest Special Offer
If you haven't formed your LLC yet, consider Northwest's LLC formation package for $29 plus state fees, which includes a free first year of registered agent service.
- Premium customer service
- Streamlined ordering
- Robust privacy features
To help you make an informed choice, we've compiled a table comparing the top 5 Colorado registered agent services below.
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Best Registered Agent Services |
|
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Northwest
4.7/5 |
BEST REGISTERED AGENT SERVICE
|
VISIT SITE |
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LegalZoom
4.5/5 |
TRUSTED AND WELL-KNOWN COMPANY
|
VISIT SITE |
|
ZenBusiness
4.3/5 |
|
VISIT SITE |
|
Bizee
4.1/5 |
|
VISIT SITE |
|
Rocket Lawyer
3.9/5 |
|
VISIT SITE |
Whether you're starting a new business or considering a change, it's crucial to weigh factors like pricing, services, reputation, and customer support when choosing a registered agent in Colorado. Compare quotes and read online reviews to find the best fit for your needs.
Benefits of Using a Registered Agent Service
Many businesses choose to use a commercial registered agent service when they form an LLC. This is because it can offer a number of benefits, including:
- Legal compliance: A registered agent service will ensure that you don’t miss an important legal document or notification (e.g., service of process, etc.) as a result of not being in your office (or as a result of a human error).
- Improved privacy: If you act as your own agent, your name and address will become public record on the Colorado Business Database Search. Using a registered agent service will help keep your information private.
- Discretion: When it comes to legal disputes, you will want to avoid receiving lawsuit-related documents in front of your clients and/or some employees.
- Better storage: Your service will generally scan all documents received and upload them online in PDF form. This means that you will always be able to access them online, and won’t have to worry about losing an important document.
A registered agent service can also be beneficial if you plan to expand into other states as a foreign LLC. This is because, otherwise, you would need to find an individual or business entity that is a resident — or is allowed to transact business — in each state that you want to register in.
How to Elect a Registered Agent in Colorado
For your LLC in Colorado, you will be required to appoint a registered agent when you are completing your Articles of Organization.
This is the formation document that you will need to file online ($50 processing fee) in order to form your LLC.
Electing a Registered Agent Online
You can form your LLC online on the Colorado Secretary of State website ($50 filing fee). Your registered agent’s name and contact information will be requested when you file the Articles of Organization online:
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Colorado
If you want to appoint a new agent, you will need to submit a Statement of Change form online via the Colorado Secretary of State website.
You will need to complete the following steps in order to do so:
- Search for your LLC’s or corporation’s record online.
- Confirm that you are authorized to make changes to your business’s records.
- Select the “Statement of Change” option and then select “Statement of Change Changing the Registered Agent Information.”
- Fill in the form and submit it alongside a $10 fee.
Consent to Appointment
Your new registered agent also will need to consent to their appointment. On the change form, you must check a box next to a statement that says your new registered agent has confirmed their consent.
For more information read our how to change registered agents in Colorado guide.
Colorado Registered Agent FAQs
Yes, you can, as long as you’re at least 18 years, have a physical address in Colorado, and will always be available during regular business hours at your registered address.
Having said that, we recommend avoiding this route if possible due to the prolific drawbacks that it entails.
Have a look at our Colorado Registered Agent article for more information.
This will depend on who your agent is.
If you go with a registered agent service, you will likely need to pay between $90 and $300 per year (the first year could be free of charge if you’re using an LLC formation service to register your Colorado business).
Have a look at our review of the Best Registered Agent Service in Colorado for more information.
Anyone can, so long as:
- They’re at least 18 years old
- They will be available during normal business hours at their registered office address to receive service of process
- They have a physical address in Colorado.
This can be an individual or a business entity (e.g., a third-party service, etc.).
If you want to appoint a new agent, you will need to submit a Statement of Change through the Colorado Secretary of State’s website.
The filing fee for this is $10.
For more information, have a look at our How Do I Change My Registered Agent in Colorado overview.