Starting a Business in Fort Collins: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist
A step-by-step plan to open a business in Fort Collins: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.
Permits and registrations specific to Fort Collins, CO
- Local sales tax licenses / business license — Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado · City or county: Fort Collins / Larimer County (city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Fort Collins · Fort Collins (Larimer County) building department (city)
- Hold a Fort Collins sales and use tax license · City of Fort Collins Sales Tax Office (city)
- File Larimer County business personal property return · Larimer County Assessor (county)
- Form the business: Colorado Secretary of State
- Register for state taxes: Colorado Department of Revenue
- Register as an employer: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Startup sequence and prerequisites in Fort Collins
Based on your selections, this plan has 12 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.
Do these first
- Maintain a registered agent in Colorado
- File formation documents with the Colorado Secretary of State
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Then, once those are done
- Register for and file Colorado entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Notify residents and regulators of a data breach within 30 days (Colorado) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Local sales tax licenses / business license — Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Fort Collins — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Hold a Fort Collins sales and use tax license — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Known charges: $25.00 per year.
Total incomplete: some fees unknown
11 of 12 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 1 step with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule.
Common questions about Fort Collins
The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Fort Collins:
- Real estate licensing: Colorado Division of Real Estate
- Alcohol licensing: Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division
- Child care licensing: Colorado Department of Early Childhood
- Health facility licensing: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- Local sales tax licenses / business license — Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado (City or county: Fort Collins / Larimer County, city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Fort Collins (Fort Collins (Larimer County) building department, city)
- Hold a Fort Collins sales and use tax license (City of Fort Collins Sales Tax Office, city)
- File Larimer County business personal property return (Larimer County Assessor, county)
With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: Local sales tax licenses / business license — Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Fort Collins; Hold a Fort Collins sales and use tax license. Change the industry above to see yours.
Sources: sos.state.co.us, tax.colorado.gov, cdle.colorado.gov
Formation comes first; tax, license and employer registrations wait on it. In your plan the first steps are:
- Maintain a registered agent in Colorado
- File formation documents with the Colorado Secretary of State
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Sources: sos.state.co.us, tax.colorado.gov
Known government fees for your plan: $0.00 one-time and $25.00 per year.
Steps without a recorded fee are not counted, so check each agency's fee schedule before you budget.
Sources: sos.state.co.us, tax.colorado.gov
In your plan for Fort Collins, requirements come from four levels. Colorado sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.
- Federal (2): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C
- State (5): Maintain a registered agent in Colorado; File Periodic Report (Colorado); Register for and file Colorado entity-level taxes; File the annual unclaimed property holder report (Colorado)…
- County (1): File Larimer County business personal property return
- City (3): Local sales tax licenses / business license — Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Fort Collins; Hold a Fort Collins sales and use tax license
Sources: sos.state.co.us, tax.colorado.gov
- Register for unemployment insurance with Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
- Workers' compensation: Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation. Required when: 1 employee
- Colorado FAMLI premiums: applies from 1 employee.
- Register to withhold Colorado income tax from wages.
Sources: cdle.colorado.gov, cdle.colorado.gov, tax.colorado.gov