Colorado lesson 1 of 6
Name your Colorado LLC
Colorado's online filing system checks name availability as you type the Articles of Organization, so a clash is usually caught before you pay the $50 fee rather than after.
Required wording
A Colorado LLC name must contain the term or an abbreviation of limited liability company, limited liability co., ltd. liability company, ltd. liability co., limited, l.l.c., llc, or ltd.
- Acceptable: Rocky Mountain Freight LLC, Rocky Mountain Freight Limited
- Not acceptable: wording that implies a bank, trust, or a different entity type without the required consent
Distinguishable, not just different
Colorado's system will not let you file a name that is not distinguishable from names already on record, and it checks this in real time during the online filing. Adding punctuation, a designator, or the word the is usually not enough on its own to make a name distinguishable.
If you plan to trade under a name that is different from the one on your Articles of Organization, that is a trade name in Colorado, filed as a separate statement with the Secretary of State.
🇺🇸 Check United States company name availability
Search the official United States state registry before you file. Opens the government portal in a new tab.
Tip: also confirm the .com domain and matching social handles are free before you commit.
Key takeaways
- End the name with LLC, L.L.C., Ltd., or the words in full.
- The online filing system checks distinguishability as you file.
- A trading name that differs from the registered name needs its own trade name filing.
Official sources
Or let us file your Colorado LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization, act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team