Learn About Colorado Registered Agents 

The Colorado Secretary of State requires every CO LLC to have a Registered Agent. Once you have assigned a Colorado Registered Agent, they can receive official correspondence and documents on behalf of your CO business. Registered Agents can be individuals or other specialized Registered Agent service businesses. 

Your LLC must have a Colorado Registered Agent at all times. You can appoint a Registered Agent when you first start your business. You can also replace your existing CO Registered Agent at a later date, provided there is a smooth transition between the old and new Registered Agent service.

What the Colorado Secretary of State Says About CO Registered Agents

Here’s some important information from the Colorado Secretary of State on CO Registered Agent services.

“The registered agent is the individual or business responsible for accepting service of process for an entity and isn’t necessarily an owner or director. The registered agent is responsible for forwarding service of process to the entity. “

Rules for Colorado Registered Agents

There are certain rules that you must follow when you’re appointing a Colorado Registered Agent service for your business. They are:

• If the Registered Agent is a person, they must reside in Colorado

• If the Registered Agent is a business, they must be able to conduct business in Colorado

• The Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Colorado, not a P.O. Box

• The CO Registered Agent must be available in person during normal business hours to sign for any correspondence

Note that the CO Registered Agent address does not need to be the same as your Colorado LLC business address. 

Services Provided by a Colorado Registered Agent

What can you expect from your Colorado Registered Agent? Their main function is to accept official documents and correspondence from the CO Secretary of State. This includes:

• Correspondence from the Colorado Secretary of State

• Service of process notices (e.g., if your CO LLC is sued or required to appear in court)

• Official Colorado state and federal government correspondence and notifications

• Tax forms and requests to complete permits, company filings and reports

The Incfile Registered Agent Service for Colorado LLCs

Incfile provides a complete Colorado Registered Agent service for any LLC that’s incorporated in CO. Even better, if you choose to incorporate your Colorado business through Incfile, your Registered Agent is completely free for the first year and only $119 a year after that.

Incfile is authorized to conduct business in Colorado and can legally act as your Registered Agent. Here’s what you need to know about Incfile’s CO Registered Agent service:

• The Registered Agent will always be available to accept documents and letters on your behalf
• We automatically notify you whenever we receive correspondence for your business from the Colorado Secretary of State or anyone else
• We scan your correspondence and upload it to a dashboard, so you can review it when convenient
• We forward all correspondence to an address you choose

How to Appoint a Colorado Registered Agent for Your LLC

You can appoint a Registered Agent when you first incorporate your Colorado LLC or at any point after that. Here’s how to go about it.

Assign Your Colorado Registered Agent When You Form Your CO LLC

Your business needs to have a Colorado Registered Agent Service as soon as it’s formed. You can achieve this through one of the following methods.

File Articles of Organization With the Colorado Secretary of State

You will need to include details of your Registered Agent in your Articles of Organization. This is the form that you file with the CO Secretary of State to formally create your business.

Incorporate Through Incfile and Get a Free Colorado Registered Agent 

When you incorporate through us, we complete and file your Articles of Organization based on the information you’ve provided. Additionally, we give you a free Colorado Registered Agent service for the first year, and we’ll include details of your CO Registered Agent in the form that we file.

Incorporate your business through Incfile 

Change Your Colorado Registered Agent After Your LLC Is Formed

You can also change your CO Registered Agent service after you’ve formed your LLC. There are a couple of ways to achieve this.

Choose a Registered Agent Service and File a Statement of Change With the Colorado Secretary of State

Once you’ve chosen a new Colorado Registered Agent, you can complete a Statement of Change. Once you’ve filled it out, send it to the secretary of state so they can update your records.

Sign up for Incfile’s Colorado Registered Agent Service, and We’ll File the Change on Your Behalf

When you choose to use our CO Registered Agent service, we take care of all the form filling and filing for you. We’ll collect important information about your business, complete the form on your behalf and send it to the Colorado Secretary of State. We’ll let you know once we officially become your Registered Agent. 

Order Incfile’s Colorado Registered Agent service

Colorado Registered Agent Search

In some situations, you might want to know the name of the Registered Agent that represents another Colorado LLC. If you do, you can search the business database of the Colorado Secretary of State, which will often provide details of a specific business’ Registered Agent.

If the CO Registered Agent isn’t available from the searchable business registry, contact the Colorado Secretary of State requesting the information.

Possible Outcomes of Not Assigning a Registered Agent for Your Colorado LLC

What happens if you choose not to assign or provide details of a Registered Agent to the Colorado Secretary of State? There are several possible ramifications, including:

• Getting served or sued and not finding out about it: If your LLC is sued and you don’t know about it, you could lose to a default judgment in your absence.

• Falling out of good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State: If you don’t respond to certain correspondence (like the request for your Annual Report), certain states may revoke your right to do business.

• Losing your status as a Colorado LLC: A CO Registered Agent “proves” to the state that your business exists. Without it, you could lose your business entity protections and your Colorado LLC may be dissolved.

You Can Appoint Yourself as Your Own Colorado Registered Agent

If you have an address in Colorado, you can choose to be the Registered Agent for your LLC. We don’t recommend this approach as there can be some drawbacks:

• The CO Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Colorado. If you’re forming an LLC outside CO, you will need to use an in-state Registered Agent.

• You always need to have someone on hand during business hours at the Colorado address to sign for important documents.

• The CO Registered Agent’s name and address are part of the public record and available through the Colorado Secretary of State's website. If you would prefer your name and address aren’t published, you might choose a Registered Agent service.

• If you change your Colorado business address or move out of state, you would need to file additional documentation with the CO Secretary of State for the new address if you act as your own Registered Agent. This would not be the case if you use a Registered Agent service, making a move or address change much simpler.

FAQs About Colorado Registered Agents

Do I Need to Appoint a Colorado Registered Agent?

Yes. All CO LLCs are required to have a Registered Agent. This is mandated by the Colorado Secretary of State.

When Can I Assign a Colorado Registered Agent Service?

You can either do it when you incorporate your Colorado business through paperwork filed with the CO Secretary of State or afterward by filing the correct form. If you form your business through Incfile, we will file all necessary forms on your behalf.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Colorado?

Yes, but we don’t recommend it for the reasons listed above. If you still want to be your own Registered Agent, you just need to fill in the correct forms and pay a fee to the Colorado Secretary of State.

Does My CO Registered Agent Need to Have an Address in Colorado?

Yes. Additionally, if they are a business providing Registered Agent services, they must be legally able to conduct business in your state.

Useful Resources for Colorado Registered Agent Services

You might find these resources helpful:

• The Main Functions of a Colorado Registered Agent

• Changing Your Colorado Registered Agent

• What a Colorado Registered Agent Does