Colorado Business Entity Search (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you’re planning to start a new business in Colorado, you’ll want to check the availability of your desired name. Ultimately, you’ll need to ensure that another company is not already using your chosen business name.

The Colorado Department of State offers a free service to the Secretary of State Division of Business Organizations. You can either contact them on their telephone number: 303-893-2200 or conduct an online search.

Alternatively, send a mail inquiry to the following address:

It is recommended that you ensure the name is available before filing to avoid the rejection of your preferred legal entity name. The following step-by-step guide will show you how to conduct a business entity search in Colorado.

Name availability search

If you’d like to ensure that the desired corporation or LLC name is indeed available for use in Colorado, start by conducting a “Name availability search” on the Colorado SOS website.

Move your cursor to the search bar and then punch in the exact name of the Colorado business you want to search. During the name availability check, you’ll need to enter the business’s structure, such as Inc, Ltd, LLC, etc.

Click the “Search” button.

If there are no matching records, then the following message will display, “The name is not available.”. In this case, you’ll probably want to go back and conduct another name search.

Alternatively, if the name is indeed available, then the following message will display, “The name is available.”

In addition to the above-mentioned message, you’ll also be notified that there may be similar names in the state’s database, and to check the similar names, you’ll need to search the business database.

Below that message, you’ll have the option to file a document.

Search by business, trade name, or trademark

The business database search allows you to search via business name, trade name, or trademark.

After clicking on the Colorado Secretary of State’s Business Database Search page, you need to move your cursor to the search bar and then enter the name you are looking up.

Click “Search”

If no matching records are found, you’ll see a message that displays, “No results found for the specified name.”

If there are entities matching your search, you’ll see a list of businesses. Additionally, you’ll be able to view each entity’s formation date, form, status, event, name, ID, and document numbers.

To view additional business information, simply keep clicking on the ID number of the entity, and you’ll have access to view the following information:

Additionally, this page links out to the following pages:

Search by ID or document number

Another way to perform the Colorado business entity search is by ID or document number.

Refer back to the Business Database Search page on the Colorado Secretary of State website. Move the cursor to the search bar and enter either the ID or document number.

Click “Search”

If you’re searching for a specific ID or document number, then it can only belong to one specific business. So the results will either display the following message, “No results found for the specified name.”

Or it will bring up the name of the business with that specific ID or document number. You’ll have access to all of the information you had previously on the business, trade name, and trademark search.

Advanced search

The advanced search option allows you to search by:

After going to the advanced search page, provide as much information as necessary to ensure you get the most accurate search results.

Click “Search.”

Additionally, you need to check one of the boxes to specify the subject of your search criteria. You can select the check box and criteria above or below the line break. But you will not be able to check both boxes.

If there are results matching your search criteria, they will be displayed in the table.

To view additional business information, simply click on any of the links or names.

Clicking on the ID number will take you straight to the company’s summary page.

Colorado search results

When using the name availability search, advanced search, or the business, trade name, or trademark search, the following information will be accessible:

Additionally, the Business Database Search page links out to the following pages:

Copies of documents and certificates

After conducting your Colorado name search, you may want to access certified copies of the Colorado corporation or limited liability company, such as a Certificate of Good Standing. In that case, simply click on “Get certified copies of documents.”

Then select “All documents” or the document # of a business.

If certified copies are available, they will open in PDF when you select them. It will also allow you to click on the “print-friendly version” link and print out the specified documentation in black and white or color. Alternatively, you’ll see a message that says, “Copies not available – please contact our office.”

Business name availability

Choosing a name for your business is often one of the most important decisions for business owners. This is because the name of your business is often the first impression a customer will have of your brand, and it also has the possibility of affecting your reputation, sales, and the chance for success.

Checking the availability of your desired name when registering a Colorado business is of crucial importance. It helps to ensure that another business entity is not using your chosen name in the state. As a result, it helps to avoid a statement of denial or having your business registration rejected because your chosen name is too similar to an existing company name.

Therefore, prior to filing your formation documents, it’s recommended that you use the online search tool on the state’s website or contact the Colorado Secretary of State at the following phone number: 303-893-2200.

Additionally, you should be aware that even though your chosen company name may be registered in another state, you can still file it in your state, provided it doesn’t violate trademark rules. Furthermore, your preferred name must reflect your business type and be followed by specific identifiers such as Inc., Corporation, or abbreviations like Corp., Inc., etc.

In a nutshell, if a business name is used in another state, you may still be able to use it in the state of Colorado unless it is trademarked. Trademarked names are registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Therefore, they have nationwide protection. So if another business trademarks your chosen business name in another state, then it’s definitely off-limits.

Additionally, if your chosen name is available in your state, the best way to protect it is to register it as a trademark to ensure that no other business in any other state can use that specific business name.

Domain name availability

Deciding on a suitable business name is just as important as choosing your legal entity name. This is because your domain name is your web presence and ultimately should be easy enough for potential customers to find you online.

One of the best ways to check if your desired domain name is available is to use a professional domain name checker like namechk.com. This excellent service filters domain names and offers suggestions by providing alternatives.

Fictitious business name search

If you plan on operating under any other name aside from your legal organization name, you’ll need to register a fictitious name to operate under that name legally.

However, prior to registering a fictitious name which is also referred to as a DBA, “doing business as,” name, assumed name, or trade name in Colorado, you’ll need to verify that the name is indeed available for business registration.

After checking the Colorado business database, you can download and complete the registration form. Everything can be done online with the Colorado Secretary of State. Complete the trade name filing page and decide whether you want to file the DBA immediately or set it aside for a future effective date.