Colorado DBA Filing: Trade Name Cost (2026)
In Colorado a DBA is called a trade name, and you register it by filing a Statement of Trade Name online with the Colorado Secretary of State for a $20 fee. It is a state-level filing - not a county one - and Colorado does not require newspaper publication. An LLC or corporation files a Statement of Trade Name of a Reporting Entity; a sole proprietor files one for an individual.
Quick Answer
- Colorado term
- Trade name (the DBA equivalent)
- Filed with
- Colorado Secretary of State - online, statewide (not the county)
- Filing fee
- $20 for a Statement of Trade Name
- LLC form
- Statement of Trade Name of a Reporting Entity
- Publication
- None required (unlike California)
- Governing law
- C.R.S. Title 7, Article 71 (Trade Names)
What a Colorado DBA (Trade Name) Is
A DBA ("doing business as") is a trade name a business uses that differs from the owner's legal name or an entity's exact registered name. Colorado's statutory term for it is a trade name, governed by Article 71 of Title 7 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. A sole proprietor named Maria Lopez who operates as "Bloom Street Bakery," or an LLC that markets a brand different from its exact registered name, generally registers a trade name. The filing publicly links the trade name to the true owner so customers, banks, and creditors can identify who stands behind the business. For the national concept, see what is a DBA.
Importantly, a trade name is not a business entity. It provides no liability protection and does not change how you are taxed. If you want a liability shield, you form an LLC or corporation with the Colorado Secretary of State - a separate filing (the Articles of Organization) from a trade name.
Who Needs to File a Colorado Trade Name
You generally register a Colorado trade name when:
- A sole proprietor or general partnership transacts business under a name that is not the full legal name of the owner or owners.
- An LLC or corporation (a "reporting entity" in Colorado) operates under a name that is not the exact name on its Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation.
Registering a trade name is what lets you sign contracts, advertise, and - importantly - open a bank account under the brand name. Banks commonly require a filed trade name before they will open an account in a name other than the owner's legal name or the entity's exact registered name, so most owners file early. Colorado registers trade names centrally at the state level, so the same filing covers you everywhere in Colorado.
A single owner can register more than one trade name, and each brand is a separate Statement of Trade Name with its own $20 fee. An LLC that runs two distinct product lines, for example, would file a Statement of Trade Name of a Reporting Entity for each brand it markets under. Registering a trade name does not, however, reserve the name the way an entity name is protected; another business can register a similar or identical trade name, because Colorado does not screen trade names for distinguishability the way it screens LLC and corporation names on the Articles of Organization. If exclusivity matters to your brand, a trademark - not a trade name - is the tool that gives you enforceable rights.
How to File a Colorado Trade Name Step by Step
Because Colorado is online-only and state-level, filing a trade name is quick:
- Search the trade name database. Use the Secretary of State's business and trade name search to confirm the name is available and not already registered.
- Choose the correct Statement of Trade Name. Select the form for your owner type - a Statement of Trade Name of a Reporting Entity for an LLC or corporation, or a Statement of Trade Name of an Individual for a sole proprietor.
- Complete and file the statement online. Enter the trade name, the true owner (the LLC's registered name or the individual's name), and the general nature of the business, then submit through the Secretary of State's portal.
- Pay the $20 fee. Colorado processes the filing immediately, and the trade name is registered statewide with no newspaper publication.
- Keep the confirmation and calendar renewal. Save the confirmation for your records and your bank, and note any required renewal so the registration stays active.
Keep the filed statement with your business records alongside your EIN confirmation and, for an entity, your recorded Articles.
Colorado Trade Name (DBA) Fees (2026)
Colorado trade name fees are set by the Secretary of State and are the same statewide, because the filing is centralized. The table shows the common trade name filings.
| Item | Filing | Fee (2026) | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Register a trade name (LLC or corporation) | Statement of Trade Name of a Reporting Entity | $20 | Secretary of State |
| Register a trade name (sole proprietor) | Statement of Trade Name of an Individual | $20 | Secretary of State |
| Newspaper publication | Not required in Colorado | $0 | - |
| Federal EIN | IRS Form SS-4 | $0 (free) | IRS |
Colorado has periodically offered temporary reduced business-filing fees, so confirm the current trade name fee on the Secretary of State fee schedule before you file. Compare Colorado's flat, publication-free process with a county-based, publication-required state at California DBA filing.
Renewal, Change, and Withdrawal
A Colorado trade name registration must be kept current to stay active. If any of the underlying facts change - the owner, the name, or the entity's status - you update or re-file the statement, and the Secretary of State provides a trade name renewal and a withdrawal (statement of change or withdrawal) filing for that purpose. For a reporting entity, the trade name is tied to keeping the entity itself in good standing through its annual Periodic Report. Because renewal cadence and any renewal fee are set by the Secretary of State and can change, confirm the current requirement on the state's trade name pages so your registration does not lapse. If you stop using a trade name, filing a withdrawal frees it for others and keeps your records accurate.
Trade Name vs LLC, EIN, and Trademark
A trade name is often confused with three other things. It is not a Colorado LLC, which is a liability-protected entity created by filing Articles of Organization with the state. It does not require a new EIN - a sole proprietor can use an existing EIN or Social Security number, and an LLC keeps its own EIN, because a trade name is just a name. And it is not a trademark: registering a trade name with Colorado gives no exclusive nationwide rights to the name. To secure brand rights beyond Colorado, run a trademark search and consider a federal registration through the USPTO. Separately, you may still need a local business license and a Colorado sales tax license.
Colorado Trade Names Are State-Level and Publication-Free
Two features make Colorado's process simpler than many states. First, trade names are registered at the state level with the Secretary of State, so there is a single central filing rather than a separate registration in each county where you do business. Second, Colorado does not require newspaper publication of a new trade name, unlike states such as California and Georgia. That means the filing is complete when you submit it online and pay the $20 fee - there is no follow-up affidavit of publication to file. This is why quoting a "publication cost" for Colorado would be inaccurate: there is none. Keep the process straightforward by filing before you begin advertising or contracting under the brand.
The state-level system also makes verification easy: anyone can look up a Colorado trade name and see the true owner behind it through the Secretary of State's public database, which is part of the point of registering. That transparency is why lenders, landlords, and payment processors often ask to see a filed trade name before they will deal with a business operating under a brand rather than its legal name. If you later change your entity type - for example, converting a sole proprietorship to an LLC - re-file the trade name under the new owner so the public record continues to match reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DBA in Colorado?
In Colorado a DBA is a trade name - a name different from the owner's legal name or an entity's exact registered name. You file a Statement of Trade Name online with the Colorado Secretary of State.
Where do I file a DBA in Colorado?
With the Colorado Secretary of State online. Colorado trade names are registered at the state level, so there is one central filing rather than a county-by-county process.
How much does a DBA cost in Colorado?
The Statement of Trade Name filing fee is $20, paid online. Confirm the current amount on the Secretary of State fee schedule, as Colorado has offered temporary reduced fees in the past.
Do I have to publish my Colorado DBA in a newspaper?
No. Colorado does not require newspaper publication of a trade name. The filing is complete once you submit it online and pay the fee.
Does a Colorado trade name give me liability protection?
No. A trade name is only a registered name. For a liability shield, form an LLC or corporation; for exclusive brand rights, register a trademark.
Related
- What is a DBA? (cluster hub)
- How to form an LLC in Colorado
- Colorado Articles of Organization
- Colorado registered agent
- Colorado Periodic Report
- Business license in Colorado
- How to get an EIN
- How to register a trademark
- California DBA filing (county-based comparison)
- How much does a Colorado LLC cost?
Sources
- Colorado Secretary of State - Trade Names FAQs (who files; statewide registration; no publication).
- Colorado Secretary of State - Statement of Trade Name of a Reporting Entity (Help) (LLC/corporation trade name).
- Colorado Secretary of State - Statement of Trade Name of an Individual (Help) (sole proprietor trade name).
- Colorado Secretary of State - Business Organizations Fee Schedule ($20 trade name registration).
- Colorado Secretary of State - Business Home (file a form; search records).
- Colorado Secretary of State - Business Database Search (check trade name availability).
- Colorado Secretary of State - MyBizColorado (combined registration for new businesses).
- Colorado Revised Statutes - Title 7, Article 71, Trade Names.
- Colorado Department of Revenue - How to Apply for a Sales Tax License.
- United States Patent and Trademark Office - Search Trademark Database (federal rights differ from a trade name).
- IRS - Doing Business As (a DBA does not by itself require a new EIN).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and deadlines change; verify current requirements with the Colorado Secretary of State before acting.