Colorado Sole Proprietorship

How to Become a Colorado Sole Proprietor

In Colorado, becoming a sole proprietor is simple. There’s no formal setup process or fees. To run a Colorado sole proprietorship, just start working.

However, even though starting is easy, there are some extra steps you might want to take. While not necessary, many sole proprietors find them helpful.

DBA Acquisition

A doing business as (DBA) name is a crucial part of many sole proprietorships, as it enables you to use an assumed name for your business, rather than your own personal name. The advantages of acquiring a DBA start with image ― most customers feel that an assumed name is more professional and trustworthy than doing business with a company that uses its owner’s personal name instead.

That said, sole proprietors can sign up for a business bank account using their DBA name, which is another step that goes a long way toward making customers feel more comfortable doing business with you.

In order to acquire a DBA in Colorado, you should first run a name availability search with the Colorado Secretary of State. Then, to officially claim your DBA, you can file a Statement of Trade Name of an Individual online. Keep in mind that you will need to renew your trade name on an annual basis.

If you would like more information about obtaining a DBA in Colorado, you should read our more detailed article on the subject.

Determine Taxation Requirements

Sole proprietors without employees usually don’t need to acquire a federal tax ID number (EIN), because as a one-person business, you can typically just use your own social security number for most things an EIN is used for. Still, if you would rather not use your SSN for privacy purposes, it would be a good idea to get an EIN regardless.

Beyond that, the nature of your business will determine which taxes apply to you as a sole proprietor.

For instance, if you manage short-term rental properties, such as vacation condos, then you will need to pay both sales tax as well as lodging taxes. Luckily, the State of Colorado allows you to easily determine your tax obligations rather easily through MyBizColorado, an online portal for businesses that will assist you with registering for taxes as well as other important business needs.

Obtain Business Licenses and Permits

There isn’t a requirement in Colorado for sole proprietors to acquire a general business license, but depending on the nature of your business you may need other licenses and/or permits to operate in a compliant fashion.

The State of Colorado has a number of industry-specific permits and licenses that may apply to your business, so you should use MyBizColorado to search for licenses and permits that may apply to your sole proprietorship.

In addition, you should check to see if your business needs any licenses or permits on the local level.

Most localities in Colorado – including major cities like Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, and Lakewood – have their own licensing and permitting requirements, so you should ensure that you are also in compliance with all local regulations.

What Is a Colorado Sole Proprietor?

As opposed to a corporation or limited liability company (LLC), the sole proprietorship is not a legal business entity. The sole proprietorship is a one-person business that is not considered to be a distinct entity from the person who owns it, and it is frequently operated using the owner’s personal name.

Here are the three main things you need to know:

Tax Responsibilities

Because there’s no distinction between the owner and the business itself, sole proprietors don’t need to file business tax returns ― they instead simply claim any business profits or losses on their personal tax returns.

Contracts

Sole proprietors are allowed to sign contracts using their personal name, and along those same lines, customers can write checks to the business by using the sole proprietor’s name.

More Flexible

The other big difference between sole proprietorships and more formal business structures is the fact that sole proprietors are allowed to commingle business and personal assets as much as they want to. With LLCs and corporations, ownership is required to keep their assets separate from those of the company. The downside of this aspect for sole proprietors is that if your business is sued, creditors are free to pursue your personal assets like your house, car, personal bank accounts, etc. For corporations and LLCs, creditors are limited to your business assets.