Colorado Business Entity Search: Complete Guide (2025)

Colorado Business Name Guidelines

When you’re starting a business, one of the most important things you’ll do is pick your business name. And like other states, Colorado has several rules about naming your business. 

First, your name needs to be different from the names of other registered companies, including both domestic and foreign corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and so on. This is one of the simplest but most important naming standards. 

That said, uniqueness isn’t the only naming guideline to adhere to. Here are a few other rules your Colorado business name should follow: 

• The name needs to include a designator, such as “corporation,” “incorporated,” or “company” for corporations or “Limited Liability Company” or “LLC” for LLCs.
• Your name cannot include words that are prohibited by state law. 
• Your entity name doesn’t have to be in English as long as it’s written in English letters, Arabic numerals, or Roman numerals. 

If you’re in a licensed trade or profession, keep in mind that you’ll need to meet any naming rules that your industry has in place, too. If your business name doesn’t meet these requirements, you’ll need to pick a new one.

Search Colorado businesses by name, trademark, trade name, ID, or document number

Using the Colorado Secretary of State business search is fairly straightforward. To get started, go to the business database search webpage and input your information in the empty field. Using this version of the Colorado entity search, you can search by business name, trademark, trade name, ID number, or document number. Pick the filter that matches your information, type it in the search bar, and click the “Search” button to see your results.

The search tool will provide a detailed list of the entities whose names include the phrase you searched for. The information on this screen includes an ID number, document filing number, business name, filing event, current business status, entity type, and business formation date for each matching company. You can gain further information about these entities by clicking on their ID numbers.

When you click on a result, the next screen summarizes all the information available to the public about the entity. You can also access a number of other functions. The results page includes all of the info from the previous page, along with the entity’s periodic report month, its home jurisdiction (for foreign entities), the street address and mailing address of its principal office, and its registered agent info (if the entity is still operating legally in the state).

The links at the bottom of the screen also allow you to perform a number of additional functions, including viewing the entity’s filing history and documents, viewing its trademarks, purchasing a Certificate of Good Standing or certified copies of its filing documents, filing a form, setting up a secure business filing, and subscribing or unsubscribing from text and email notifications.

Search for Colorado name availability

Other ways to use the Colorado Secretary of State website include performing a name availability search. The website for the state’s office also acts like a business name checker, letting you know if your desired name is available in the state or not. Type the exact name you want to use into the business name search tool. You should include the business designator you plan to use, such as “Inc.” or “LLC.”

If the office can’t find an exact match for your search, you’ll see a message that simply reads, “The name is available.” You’ll also see a link to complete a business formation in the state’s filing registry. If the name is already in use, the results screen will read, “The name is not available.” You’ll also see a link to the existing records for the business.

Perform an advanced search in the Colorado business database

Need to use specific search parameters to get the business information you need? The advanced search likely has the detailed functions you need. This tool allows you to restrict the search to a specified date range, search for a business record by an exact name or a partial name, view businesses tied to a specific registered agent, and more.

The results page offers information about the business records that match the contents of your search. You can click the identification number for any of these results to view more detailed information. These screens provide the same info as the “Business Search Results” and “Summary” pages from earlier in this article.

Search based on business survey results

The next search option is one that you won’t see in many other states’ business databases, as you can perform a search based on ownership information provided in Colorado’s business surveys. You can search for businesses based on the owner’s gender, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, or North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes.

The results and business summary pages will look just like they do for the other search options.

Perform an advanced trademark search

Finally, you can conduct a detailed search of the state’s trademark database. You can type in the trademark name, or you can search by trademark type or class, the goods or services offered by the business, the date the trademark was filed or first used in Colorado, and the trademark’s current status.

Once you’ve selected your options, the business search tool will provide your results page, where you can select an entity and view detailed information.

What to Do After Searching Business Names in Colorado

After you’ve come up with a name and searched it, you’re probably feeling like you’ve done a lot of legwork. You’d hate for that hard work to go to waste, right? Here are some steps you can take to protect your Colorado business name and make the most of it. 

Reserve your Colorado business name (optional)

If you’ve picked the perfect business name but you’re not quite ready to file your business formation paperwork, Colorado allows you to reserve your business name. 

To make a reservation, you’ll need to submit the Statement of Reservation of Name with the Secretary of State. This is an online filing, and it costs $25 to submit. 

A Colorado business name reservation is valid for 120 days, and your reservation can be renewed if you need more time. This step is optional, and you should only pursue it if you’ve picked a name but aren’t ready to file your formation paperwork yet.

Form an LLC or register your business

One of the best ways to protect your business name is to register your business. After you register a business under your chosen name, no one else in Colorado will be able to register their own company with the same name. 

Registering a Colorado business is an important legal process. Learn more about starting a Colorado LLC. 

Get a domain name that matches

You want it to be easy for your customers to find your business website. That means you need a domain name that matches your business name as closely as possible. A matching domain will help your brand maintain consistency both in person and online.

If you’re struggling to come up with a domain name (or the one that matches your name is already taken), try using a domain name generator. A generator can help you come up with a domain that matches your brand image. 

Set up your business online

Today, you can’t run a business without a good digital footprint. A good business website is a decent starting point. But don’t stop there; set up social media accounts like a Facebook page, a TikTok profile, and an Instagram account. Make sure your business name is included on each account so your brand is consistent across your online presence.

Last but not least, set up a Google Business Profile for your business (or claim it if it already exists). This profile will help you direct customers to your website or your store location. Plus, it’ll help you respond to customer reviews and build a good brand reputation within the Centennial State.

Trademark your business name (optional)

If you want the most robust protections for your business name, you could pursue trademark registration. Trademarks can be registered at the state or federal level (with federal protections being the strongest). 

Getting a trademark can be pretty complicated and time-consuming, especially at the federal level. If you go this route, it’s highly recommended to work with a trademark attorney.