Colorado Business Entity Search
Find a registered business through Colorado Secretary of State, Business Organizations Division. Use the official link below, then check the search options and name rules for Colorado.
Official website: www.coloradosos.gov · Opens in a new tab
Colorado search options and record coverage
Colorado's business database supports entity-name, trade-name, ID-number, and document-number searches. Advanced search can use date ranges, registrant names, entity name, status, and other record fields; the state recommends ID-number searches, key words without punctuation, and no Boolean logic. Public records expose entity status, registered agent, filings, and certificates, while bulk extracts are a separate paid records service.
Checking a business name in Colorado
Colorado requires entity names to be distinguishable from names on the Secretary of State record and to use the legally appropriate designator, such as LLC or an approved corporation term. The search guidance specifically recommends key words without punctuation, avoiding Boolean logic, and using the entity ID where possible; this reflects how the portal indexes names, not a guarantee of legal availability. Capitalization, punctuation, spacing, and generic words may not create a distinction. The SOS's final examination controls.
Colorado name reservations
Colorado name reservation is generally a $25.00 filing that holds an available entity name for 120 days. Reservation is optional and does not form the entity. Colorado distinguishes a reserved name from a trade name and conducts its own formal availability review; punctuation, generic words, and entity designators should not be relied upon to make a conflicting name distinguishable.
DBA, trade names, and fictitious names
Colorado registers trade names through the Secretary of State, and a trade-name record is separate from the entity's legal name. File through the Colorado Business portal: https://www.coloradosos.gov/biz/BusinessFunctions.do. The current trade-name fee depends on the filing type and renewal, so verify the checkout amount; a trade name does not eliminate the entity's periodic-report or registered-agent requirements.
What do you need after the search?
- Official proof of standing — find certificate fees and ordering instructions.
- A missed report or inactive registration — check deadlines and reinstatement rules.
- A new business registration — compare Colorado formation and filing fees.