How To Get a DBA in Colorado

Company owners and entrepreneurs often look at doing business under a different name. Reasons vary, but all are aimed at supporting operations.

Choosing a “doing business as” (DBA) name, or “trade name” as it’s called in the state of Colorado, can align better with the entrepreneurial vision. A separate business name that matches this vision is sometimes seen as necessary to boost branding in line with product or service offerings.

Our guide takes you through the step-by-step process to realize your new business name ambitions. This article will cover what a DBA name is, why it could be important for your small business, how to get one in Colorado, the implications of having a DBA name, and name renewal when required by Colorado regulation.

Read on to learn the ins and outs of obtaining, maintaining, and renewing a trade name in Colorado, and how we can help make the process easy.

How do I register a Colorado DBA name?

In Colorado, you can only file for a trade name online. The steps are:

Step 1: Colorado Secretary of State

Go to the Colorado Secretary of State. Look for “Trade Names” at the top of the page. Select the trade name type to reflect your business, which you will find under “Trade Name Registrations.” You can choose from five trade name registrations.

Step 2: Select Your Forms

Select the right “Form Name” under “Trade Name Registrations,” depending on whether you are a sole proprietor, reporting entity, and so on.

Step 3: Select Your Trade Name

Follow the prompts to select the trade name that suits your business needs.

Step 4: Search For Your Records

Where a “Statement of Trade Name of a Dissolved or Delinquent Reporting Entity, a Non-Reporting Domestic Limited Partnership, or a Converted Entity” is required, you will need to do a search for your records online. Simply follow the prompts to determine state requirements.

Step 5: Select DBA Name Status

To complete the form for a “Statement of Trade Name of an Individual,” “Trade Name of a Non-Reporting Entity,” and “ Statement of Trade Name of an Estate, a Trust, a State or an Other Jurisdiction,” choose the status for the DBA name, followed by “File Online.”

Step 6: Reserving Your Trade Name

Form completion involves adding the true name of the owner, address, and email details, the selected trade name, and a business description.

Step 7: Reserving Your Trade Name

If you want to reserve a trade name, this can be done for up to 90 days. Otherwise, you can select the option for the immediate filing of the name.

Step 8: Add Additional Information

Additional information can be attached to this form if necessary.

Step 9: Submit Your Application

Submit application and supporting documentation via the online portal.

What is a Colorado “doing business as” (DBA) name?

Different terminology is used to describe DBA names, such as an “assumed name,” “fictitious name,” or a “trade name.” Colorado uses “trade name” as the official term to describe the use of a DBA name.

Businesses use DBA names for various reasons, including extensions of services or products. Picking a name for new business operations is also a valuable technique to help owners rebrand.

Colorado requires a formal filing of the DBA name for most business types because this informs the state and others that they are trading under a separate name.

Two main business categories that typically consider a DBA name are:

• Sole proprietorships and partnerships are required to use the legal names of the owners for their businesses. For example, if John Doe runs a landscaping business as a sole proprietor, he can legally only refer to his business as “John Doe” instead of, say, John’s Super Lawns. By the same token, he can’t open a bank account or have clients make checks out to any name but John Doe. A DBA name solves this problem by allowing owners to register a DBA name that suits their vision of the business. 
• Limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations can likewise elect to use DBA names. If legal names are lengthy, a DBA name is convenient to improve brand recognition. An example might be a company named “Turner’s Holdings,” which has several diverse operations, such as a car cleaning service, laundromat, and fast-food outlet. “Turner’s Holdings” does not reflect branding. DBA names can make branding and customer recognition easier for business owners.

DBA name registrations and legalities differ state by state. In Colorado:

• Sole proprietorships, general partnerships, estates, trusts, corporations, LLCs, domestic limited partnerships, dissolved or converted entities, and any for-profit business must file DBA names when using a name that is not the legal name of the person or business. Nonprofit entities aren’t required to file for a DBA, but they still have the option.
• Trade names do not need to be unique to the business owner, and it is possible to have two different people using the same DBA name, although it is recommended to try and find a distinguishable name for marketing reasons.
• Business owners don’t have to use a DBA name if they’re using their legal name. Also, note that the DBA name is not a form of legal protection and does not create a separate legal entity the way forming an LLC or corporation would. A DBA is only an alias and doesn’t affect how the law or the IRS treats you. 
• A DBA doesn’t replace or override business trademarks in any way.

Businesses will frequently use DBA names because of the many benefits:

• One advantage of the DBA name for sole proprietorships and partnerships is that they can open bank accounts using the trade name. Deposits can be made into any bank account linked with the DBA name without them having to use their personal names.
• Some individuals may operate two operations or stores under the same legal business and want to keep track of distinct income streams by using dissimilar DBA names. Branding then becomes important to market these businesses in a distinct way. Choosing two separate trade names or DBA names typically occurs if the same business wants to market different products, for example.

How do I choose a Colorado DBA name?

Choosing DBA names can be fun, but there are several elements to think about other than the creative aspect. 

Names are also easier to remember if they are simple and associated with the brand personality. Shorter names or distinctive names that describe your business are more memorable than long and complex names, for example.

Duplication of DBA names is allowed in Colorado because the legal name of the owner can be used to distinguish identity and ownership. Sole proprietorships and other business structures can also use an unlimited number of DBA names (though having many could be difficult to manage). 

Check to see whether the name you want is already in use by using the Colorado Name Availability Search tool.

It’s important to remember that you need to follow Colorado regulations so that your DBA name is acceptable. Unless the business is the appropriate legal structure, you cannot include a business entity designator, such as “LLC,” in the DBA name.

Ensure that the DBA name selected is also available as a domain name before registration of both, as consistency is vital for branding purposes. You can then utilize ZenBusiness’s Domain Name Registration services, which can help secure a domain name that aligns with your trade name.

How do I manage ongoing DBA name compliance in Colorado?

Renewal is required annually in certain cases, such as for an individual or non-reporting entity, a process that Colorado makes available online. Other entities typically don’t have to renew their trade name unless they become delinquent or dissolved, after which they have one year to reinstate or fix the delinquency and renew the trade name before it expires.

Something else to think about is that DBA names are not transferable in Colorado. You can withdraw, change, or correct your DBA name, but it may not be transferred according to state regulation. So, if you want to sell your business, the new owner will have to select a trade name of their own to continue operations. However, trademarks can be transferred.

Name changes should also be considered if you want to modify your business brand for any reason. Changing a trade name is as simple as withdrawing the current name and selecting a new name. In this case, you will need to follow the steps in the previous section to apply for a different trade name.