Explained · Colorado
3 Best LLC Services in Colorado (2026) and Why
Summary
- Cost at the state
- $50, charged once
- Following years
- $25 yearly
- Registered agent
- Required
- Services we suggest
- Colorado Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing then CO Registered Agent.org
The Colorado shortlist
Order and weights are explained on how we pick.1. Colorado Registered Agent.co: best for a lean start
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, state fee extra
Colorado Registered Agent.co is where we would start in Colorado. In short, three years add up to $397 with the $99 renewal.
A lower three-year total than Mainstay Filing gives it the lead for a company that stays put.
You need to set aside time for the periodic report, because it is not included.
Includes
- The LLC, filed for you
- No agent charge in year one
Points in its favor
- A modest renewal of $99
- Includes a first year of agent service
- $199 plus the state fee
Where it falls short
- The periodic report is not covered
- Applying for an EIN costs $99 extra
2. Mainstay Filing: best for a single price for the whole upkeep
$199 per year ($249 at signup including the state fee)
Mainstay Filing takes the second slot: $199 a year covers the formation, the registered agent and every periodic report.
It costs $200 more than Colorado Registered Agent.co across three years, and cost weighs the most in our ranking.
It prepares each periodic report and adds the $25 fee the state sets, with no markup.
Includes
- Your LLC filed with the state
- Registered agent year-round
- Periodic report filed by Mainstay
- An EIN, applied for
- State fee passed through as is
Points in its favor
- EIN application is part of the package
- $199 at renewal
- $199 a year, all included
Where it falls short
- From year two it costs $100 a year more than Colorado Registered Agent.co
3. CO Registered Agent.org: best for one-state companies
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, state fee extra
In third place is CO Registered Agent.org, because three years add up to $397 with the $99 renewal.
You need to set aside time for the periodic report, because it is not included.
Price for price, it matches Colorado Registered Agent.co.
Includes
- The LLC, filed for you
- No agent charge in year one
Points in its favor
- Includes a first year of agent service
- $199 plus the state fee
- A modest renewal of $99
Where it falls short
- The periodic report is not covered
- Applying for an EIN costs $99 extra
Numbers side by side
| # | Company | First-year price | Each year after | Three-year total | Included in the price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | The LLC, filed for you; no agent charge in year one | Open Colorado Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Your LLC filed with the state; Registered agent year-round; Periodic report filed by Mainstay | Open Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | CO Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | The LLC, filed for you; no agent charge in year one | Open CO Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
What owners want to know
What is the full cost to form one?
Set aside $50 for the state and $199 for a service.
Across three years the state's fees add up to $100, filing fee included. see coloradosos.gov, October 2026
Where does the formation paperwork go?
You submit one document, the Articles of Organization, to the Colorado Secretary of State.
see coloradosos.gov, October 2026
Is a registered agent a legal requirement?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A person 18 or older whose home or usual place of business is in Colorado (since July 1, 2025 the person has to hold a Colorado driver's license or ID or otherwise verify residency), or a business entity in good standing with a usual place of business in Colorado. The agent has to consent.
see sos.state.co.us, October 2026
What does upkeep involve?
One filing repeats: the periodic report, once a year, costing $25. Filings fall due last day of the entity's anniversary month, a date worth noting down.
A late filing adds $50.
see coloradosos.gov, October 2026
Can I skip the service?
It is allowed. A do-it-yourself filer pays $100 in state fees across three years.
Hiring one adds $397 to $597 across three years.
Why is the first pick first?
The deciding factor is what three years cost (34% of the weight), where Colorado Registered Agent.co is strongest.
What three years cost carries 34% and how much work the price handles carries 28%. Three smaller criteria decide close calls.
Picking Colorado Registered Agent.co leaves $200 in your pocket after three years compared with Mainstay Filing.
Colorado requirements checklist
| Requirement | Fee or rule | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Filing fee | $50 | see coloradosos.gov, October 2026 |
| Registered agent | Required | see sos.state.co.us, October 2026 |
| Periodic report | $25 every year | see coloradosos.gov, October 2026 |
| State fees across three years | $100 | Our total of the rows above |
Other things people ask
What about getting an EIN?
Only Mainstay Filing includes it. At the others: $99 at Colorado Registered Agent.co, $99 at CO Registered Agent.org.
Is there a penalty for a late report?
Expect $50 on top.
What are the three-year totals?
Colorado Registered Agent.co comes to $397; Mainstay Filing comes to $597; CO Registered Agent.org comes to $397, with state fees on top.
What are your sources?
State fees come from Colorado's official sources, cited by each figure. Service prices come from each company's own pricing page.
Could I skip the service?
No law demands one. A service is a convenience.
Who would you hire first in Colorado?
Colorado Registered Agent.co ranks first on what three years cost, ahead of Mainstay Filing and CO Registered Agent.org.
Sources used on this page
- sos.state.co.us: Colorado Secretary of State (confirmed August 2026)
- sos.state.co.us: Colorado Secretary of State (confirmed August 2026)
- coloradosos.gov: Colorado yearly filing: Periodic report (confirmed October 2026)
- colorado.public.law: Colorado report due date (confirmed August 2026)
- sos.state.co.us: Colo (confirmed August 2026)
- coloradosos.gov: Colorado formation fee: Filing fee (confirmed October 2026)
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the Colorado Registered Agent.co pricing page
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the Mainstay Filing Colorado service page
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the CO Registered Agent.org pricing page