LEGAL STRUCTURE
The State of Colorado recognizes various types of legal business ownership structures:
Corporation
General Partnership
Limited Liability Company
Limited Liability Partnership
Limited Partnership
Limited Partnership Association
Sole proprietor
Many factors determine which format is appropriate for your business. Among these factors are: legal and financial risk, financing, taxation, insurance needs, and controlling interest. Each structure has its own advantages and disadvantages. You may want to consult your attorney, insurance agent, tax consultant, and/or accountant before choosing or changing the type of legal structure that is best for your business.


"How Do I Know Which Type of Business is Best for Me?," a publication from the Colorado Secretary of State briefly explains the following structures: Corporation, Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Companies (LLC's), Limited Liability Partnership (LLP's), and Limited Partnership Associations (LPA's).

Forms for three possible types of legal structure:
"Articles of Incorporation", "Certificate of Limited Partnership for a Colorado Limited Partnership"and "Articles of Organization"are available from the Colorado Secretary of State Business Center by click on "Forms".
Depending on your business' legal structure, you may need to file one of the forms with the Secretary of State.
Colorado Secretary of State
Corporations Section
1560 Broadway, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202
T (303) 894-2251
F (303) 894-2242
sos.admin1@state.co.us
http://www.sos.state.co.us/

Trade Names and Other Forms
Every company doing business in Colorado with trade names must register its trade name. The format for registering depends on the legal structure of your business, whether or not your business sells tangible products, or whether or not your business has employees. Your business may need to register a trade name; apply for sales, withholding, and/or retailer's use tax accounts; and/or apply for wage withholding and unemployment insurance accounts using one form. Depending on your business' legal structure, you may need to file with the Colorado Department of Revenue regarding your legal structure.

Form and instruction for special/organized events sales:
DR 0589 Vendor Special Event License Application. This form may be used to apply either for a single event license or a multiple event license and to register a trade name. A "Special Sales Event" is defined as an event where retail sales are made by more than three vendor/persons. The same special event may not occur more than three times in any calendar year. If the event organizer obtains a license for the event, then the vendors need not obtain licenses individually. Please note that you will need two copies of the completed application (one for the deaprtment and one for your files.)
Colorado Department of Revenue
1375 Sherman Street
Denver, CO 80261

State Licensing
The State of Colorado requires a license for certain types of businesses and for certain occupations or professions. Before you open a business, consult:
The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
1560 Broadway, Suite 1550
Denver, CO 80202
(303)894-7855
http://www.dora.state.co.us/
The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies maintains a Web page regarding the occupations and professions and business/corporate categories that require state recognition. The Web page lists all the occupations and professions and provides further information under Occupational and Professional Licensing and lists all the business/corporate categories and provides further information under Business/Corporate Licensing.