Colorado · 13 statewide requirements covered
Business licences and permits in Colorado
Colorado prorates its sales tax licence fee across a two‑year cycle, so the same licence costs $16 or $4 depending on when you buy it — and the state licence does not cover the home‑rule cities that collect their own tax. Restaurant fees are set in statute and rise every January.
What applies everywhere in Colorado
13 requirements are set by Colorado itself and apply whichever city you open in. Local permits sit on top of them.
| Requirement | Issued by | Fee | Applies | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Incorporation | Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division | $50 one-time filing, online only | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC) | Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division | $50 one-time filing, online only | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Automotive Repair Shop Licence (not required by Colorado) | Colorado Auto Industry Division, Department of Revenue | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Certified Food Protection Manager | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Child Care Licence | Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration | $200 for a centre of five to fifteen children, $175 plus $3 a child to thirty, $300 plus $3 a child above that, capped at $1,800; a family home pays $65 or $100 | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Electrical Contractor Registration | Colorado State Electrical Board, Division of Professions and Occupations | Fee not published — Colorado's licensing division publishes no fee schedule and quotes amounts only inside its authenticated application checkout | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| General Business Licence (local, not state) | Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| General Contractor Licence (local, not state) | Colorado State Electrical Board, Division of Professions and Occupations | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Periodic Report | Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division | $25 a year; $50 more if filed late | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Retail Food Establishment Licence | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability | $244–$1,063 a year for 2026, banded by establishment type and size; the schedule rises in 2027 and 2028 | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Sales Tax Licence | Colorado Department of Revenue, Taxation Division | $16 falling to $4 depending on where in the two-year cycle you apply, plus a refundable $50 deposit on a first location; $16 per location to renew | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Shop and Salon Registration | Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure, Division of Professions and Occupations | $35 new registration; renewal is $26 | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Veterinary Premises Registration (not required by Colorado) | Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Professions and Occupations | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
Which Colorado city are you opening in?
We do not yet publish a Colorado city. The statewide requirements above are verified as far as they go, but a city or county adds its own — a local business tax receipt, a food permit, a building sign-off — and we will not guess at those. The jurisdictions we do cover are listed in full.
Is there a single Colorado business licence?
No. Colorado has no single licence that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.
The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licences — which is why they are easy to miss.
Who issues permits in Colorado?
- Colorado Secretary of State, Business DivisionEntity formation · Periodic reports · Trade names4 permits
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Division of Environmental Health and SustainabilityRetail food establishment licensing in nine counties · Retail food regulations statewide2 permits
- Colorado State Electrical Board, Division of Professions and OccupationsElectrician licensing · Electrical contractor registration2 permits
- Colorado Auto Industry Division, Department of RevenueMotor vehicle dealer licensing1 permit
- Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Division of Early Learning Licensing and AdministrationChild care centre licensing · Family child care home licensing1 permit
- Colorado Department of Revenue, Taxation DivisionSales tax licences · State-collected local sales tax1 permit
- Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure, Division of Professions and OccupationsShop and salon registration · Barber and cosmetology licensing1 permit
- Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Professions and OccupationsVeterinarian licensing · Veterinary technician licensing1 permit
By industry
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.