In Colorado, a DBA is called a trade name, and you register it by filing a Statement of Trade Name online with the Secretary of State. It costs $20, as of October 2026. A for-profit business not using its true name, or an individual not using their legal first and last name, must file. For an LLC or corporation it lasts while the company stays in good standing, while an individual's trade name lasts one year and renews for $5.
Colorado keeps DBAs simple compared with most states. There's one office, the Secretary of State, one online form and no county filing. The details that matter are who has to file and how long the name stays on the record, because that's very different for individuals and for companies.
Who has to file a trade name in Colorado
The Secretary of State's trade name guidance says a for-profit business not using the entity's true name, or an individual not using their legal first and last name to conduct business in Colorado, is required to file a trade name. The legal rules sit in Article 71 of Title 7 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, with the definition in section 7-90-102.
Trade names are filed by type of business, and the form you pick depends on which group you're in:
- an individual, such as a sole proprietor
- a non-reporting entity, such as a general partnership
- an estate, trust, state or other jurisdiction
- a reporting entity, such as a corporation or LLC
- a dissolved or delinquent reporting entity, or a converted entity
Nonprofits are the exception. The guidance says a nonprofit may file a statement of trade name for a name other than its true name, but isn't required to.
How to file and what it costs
A Statement of Trade Name must be filed and paid for online. You choose whether it's for a new or an existing record, select your type of business, then complete the form through to payment confirmation. The Secretary of State's business fee schedule sets these trade name fees, all online, as of October 2026:
| Trade name filing | Online fee |
|---|---|
| Trade Name Statement | $20 |
| Trade Name Renewal | $5 |
| Trade Name Withdrawal | $10 |
| Change of Trade Name Information | $10 |
There's no paper option listed for any of these, so you'll need to file online.
How long a Colorado trade name lasts
This is where the two groups split. The Secretary of State's answers are worth reading carefully:
| Who filed | How long it lasts | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Corporation, LLC or other reporting entity | As long as the entity stays in Good Standing or Noncompliant status | No yearly renewal while the entity is in good standing |
| Individual, non-reporting entity, or estate, trust, state or other jurisdiction | One year, expiring on the first day after the anniversary month of the original filing | Renew every year, any time in the three months before it expires |
The guidance gives an example: a general partnership trade name filed on June 15, 2023 expires on July 1, 2024 unless it's renewed first. If you're a sole proprietor, put the renewal in your calendar, because the name simply drops off the record if you don't.
Companies have one catch. When an LLC or corporation becomes Delinquent or Dissolved, its trade name stays effective for one year from that date. If the company cures the delinquency or reinstates before then, the trade name carries on. If it stays delinquent, the trade name can only be kept by filing the annual renewal. Delinquency usually comes from a missed periodic report, which our Colorado LLC guide covers.
Changing or withdrawing a Colorado trade name
Trade names move with your business, so the record has to keep up. If your address or other details change, you file a change of trade name information, which costs $10 online, as of October 2026. If you stop using the name, you file a withdrawal, which is also $10. Leaving an old trade name on the record after you've stopped using it can confuse customers who search the database, and it ties your name to a business you no longer run.
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If you're an individual whose trade name has lapsed because you missed the renewal, you can file a new Statement of Trade Name for $20. Keep in mind that someone else may have filed the same name in the meantime, because the Secretary of State doesn't block duplicates.
Founders who run more than one business may also want the North Carolina DBA guide.
What a trade name doesn't do
The Secretary of State is blunt about this: trade names aren't distinguishable or unique, so more than one person can file the same trade name. If two people have filed the same one, you tell them apart by looking at each Statement of Trade Name document.
Two more limits are worth knowing. A trade name can't be reserved, and filing a Statement of Reservation of Name under section 7-90-602 reserves an entity name, not a trade name. And a trade name can't be converted into an LLC or corporation. If you started as a sole proprietor under a trade name and now want an LLC, you withdraw the trade name and form the entity. Our DBA registration guide explains when a trademark is the better tool for protecting a brand.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a DBA cost in Colorado?
A Statement of Trade Name costs $20 online, a renewal costs $5, and a withdrawal or change of information costs $10, as of October 2026, according to the Secretary of State's business fee schedule.
Does a Colorado trade name need renewing?
Individuals, non-reporting entities and estates, trusts or other jurisdictions renew every year. A corporation or LLC's trade name lasts as long as the entity stays in Good Standing or Noncompliant status.
Can someone else use the same trade name in Colorado?
Yes. The Secretary of State says trade names aren't distinguishable or unique, so more than one person can file the same one.
Can I file a Colorado trade name on paper?
No. A Statement of Trade Name must be filed and paid for online, and the fee schedule lists no paper fee for trade name filings.
What happens to my LLC's trade name if the LLC goes delinquent?
It stays effective for one year from the date of delinquency. If the LLC cures before then, the trade name continues; otherwise it can be kept by filing the annual renewal.
