Form your business once. Form it right.
LLC, S-corp, and C-corp setup for Colorado small businesses — including EIN, state registration, and the election that turns a $185K year into a $20K tax savings.
Get a business formation quote
We reply within one business day. No long contracts.
Most LegalZoom-style formations get the entity created. They do not tell you whether you picked the right entity, file the S-corp election when it makes sense, or set up the books to support the way you should be paying yourself. We handle all of it as one package.
The decisions made in the first 90 days of a new business shape the next decade of your tax bill. Get this right once and the rest is easy.
What we set up
- Entity formation — Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (corp) filed with the Colorado Secretary of State.
- EIN application — same-day turnaround through the IRS online system.
- S-corp election (Form 2553) when the math supports it, with a reasonable-comp analysis.
- State sales tax registration if you sell taxable goods or services.
- Wage withholding and unemployment registrations if you will have employees.
- Initial bookkeeping setup in QuickBooks Online with an industry-appropriate chart of accounts.
How to choose between LLC, S-corp, and C-corp
| Entity | Best for | Tax treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Sole prop / DBA | Side income, very early stage | Schedule C, full SE tax on profits |
| Single-member LLC | Most new businesses | Defaults to Schedule C; can elect S-corp later |
| Multi-member LLC | Partnerships, real estate | Form 1065 partnership return |
| S-corp | Service businesses with $50K+ net profit | Owner pays SE tax only on salary, not distributions |
| C-corp | Outside investors, equity comp, retain earnings | Corporate-level tax + dividend tax (double tax) but flat 21% federal |
For most service businesses, the path is: start as single-member LLC, elect S-corp when net profit clears about $50K. We make this call together based on your specific numbers.
Pricing
| Package | What is included | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Basic LLC | Articles, EIN, state registration | $650 |
| LLC + S-corp election | Above + Form 2553, reasonable-comp analysis, payroll setup | $1,200 |
| Full launch package | Above + bookkeeping setup, sales tax registration, first quarter included | $1,800 |
| C-corp | Articles, EIN, share issuance, ongoing compliance setup | $1,500 |
Colorado state filing fees ($50 for LLC, $50 for corp) are pass-through and not included.
If your "business" is genuinely a side project earning under $5,000/year, the LLC is overkill. A Schedule C on your personal return is simpler and cheaper. We will tell you up front if formation does not pencil out yet.
If you are starting a service business with one or two owners, single-member or multi-member LLC is the right starting point.
If you expect over $50K net profit in year one and you are the only owner, file the LLC and the S-corp election together.
If you are raising VC or want employee equity, you need a Delaware C-corp — we refer to a startup-specialist law firm for that.
$650 to $1,800 for a complete formation done right.
One firm does the entity, the EIN, the books, and the tax election. Get a quote.
Frequently asked questions
How long does formation take?
Colorado LLC filings are typically approved by the Secretary of State within 1–3 business days. EIN comes the same day. Bookkeeping setup adds another 2–5 business days. Plan for one week start to finish.
Can you form entities outside Colorado?
Yes. We regularly form LLCs in Wyoming (asset protection), Delaware (investors), and Texas/Florida/Nevada (tax-friendly). For multi-state operations we also handle foreign-entity registration in CO if your home state is elsewhere.
When should I elect S-corp status?
The default rule of thumb is when net profit (revenue minus expenses, before owner pay) is consistently above $50,000–$60,000. Below that, the payroll administration cost outweighs the SE-tax savings. We run the actual math at formation so you can decide with real numbers.
What about a DBA (doing business as)?
A DBA (Trade Name in Colorado) is just an alternate name registration. It does not create a separate legal entity or provide liability protection. Useful if you want to operate "Acme Plumbing" while the LLC is "Smith Holdings LLC." We file these for $150 as an add-on.
Most clients use four of these together.
Bookkeeping
Monthly books, reconciliation, A/P, A/R
Learn more ServiceTax Preparation & Planning
Personal, business, multi-state, IRS reps
Learn more ServicePayroll
Run payroll, file taxes, year-end W-2/1099
Learn more ServiceCFO Advisory
Cash flow, forecasting, pricing, growth
Learn more ServiceNotary Services
In-office and mobile notary
Learn more