Colorado business lookup

Two kinds of lookup, two different jobs

Most people searching for a Colorado business want one of two things. Either they need to reach the business (a phone number, a website, directions), or they need to verify it (is it a real, registered company, and who receives its legal papers). A directory is built for the first job. The state's records are built for the second. Here is what each source is good for.

How to search this directory

CO Business List covers 276,187 Colorado businesses in 111 categories and 542 cities and towns. A few habits get better results:

• Search a distinctive word from the name rather than the full legal name. "Summit Roofing" finds more than "Summit Roofing & Exteriors LLC."
• Search the service when you don't know a name: "water heater," "tax preparer" or "dog grooming," then add a city in the WHERE box.
• Browse instead when you want options: start at all categories or all cities and drill down to a page like plumbers in Denver.
• Check the source date. Our listings come from the Overture Maps Places dataset, cleaned and grouped as described on our data sources page. If something looks wrong, owners can claim or fix a listing.

How to look up a business with the Colorado Secretary of State

1. Open the business database search on coloradosos.gov.
2. Search by business name, trademark, trade name, ID number or document number. Partial names work.
3. Select the ID number of the right match. The summary page shows the entity type, formation date, status, principal office address and registered agent.
4. Open Filing history and documents to view filed documents as PDFs. The Secretary of State notes that copies, certificates and certified copies can be printed from its website at no cost.

Every registered entity gets an 11-digit Secretary of State ID number. It is not a tax ID, so don't confuse it with an EIN or a Colorado sales tax account number.

Trade names and DBAs

A trade name, often called a DBA or "doing business as" name, is any name a business uses that differs from its legal name. Under the Secretary of State's trade name rules, a for-profit business that operates under something other than its true name, or an individual who doesn't do business under their own first and last name, must file a Statement of Trade Name. The current fee is $20 online, per the business fee schedule.

Two practical points matter when you're looking someone up. First, trade names are not unique in Colorado: more than one person can file the same one, so read each Statement of Trade Name to see who is behind it. Second, a trade name doesn't create a separate company. It points back to the person or entity that filed it, and that is who you are doing business with.

What "Good Standing" means, and what it doesn't

In the state database, Good Standing means the entity has met its statutory filing requirements, mainly filing its yearly Periodic Report and keeping a registered agent on file. The Secretary of State is clear that it does not review the accuracy of filings or investigate business practices. Good Standing tells you the paperwork is current. It isn't a quality rating, a license or an endorsement.

Other statuses you may see:

• Noncompliant means a Periodic Report is late or the registered agent is missing. The report is due by the last day of the second month after the entity's report month.
• Delinquent follows if a noncompliant entity doesn't fix the problem within 60 days, according to the noncompliance FAQ.
• Dissolved or withdrawn records stay searchable, which helps when you're researching a company that has closed.

Need proof for a bank, landlord or contract? A Certificate of Good Standing is free to print from the entity's summary page. The office warns that mailers offering a "certificate" for a fee are selling the same document it provides free.

Registered agents

A registered agent is the person or company that accepts legal papers and official notices for a business. Since July 1, 2025, Colorado requires an individual agent to be at least 18, to confirm Colorado residency with a state ID or an alternate verification process, and to live or have a usual place of business in Colorado. An entity serving as agent must be in good standing with a usual place of business in the state.

When you look up a business, remember that the registered agent's address is not necessarily where the business operates. Many companies use a commercial agent service, so check the principal office address and the directory listing for the actual location.

Checking licenses and reputation

Registration and licensing are different things. Plumbers, electricians and many health professions are licensed by the state, and you can confirm a license through the DORA license lookup. General contractors and roofers are usually licensed by cities and counties instead. Our guide to vetting a contractor in Colorado walks through which is which. For reputation, read recent reviews on more than one site and ask for references.

Can't find the business?

A missing record usually has a simple explanation. The business may be new, may operate under a trade name, or may be a sole proprietor using the owner's own name, which doesn't require a state filing. It might also be registered in another state. If it's a Colorado business that belongs in this directory, anyone can add it free, and you can report errors through our contact and corrections page.

Common questions