Colorado Articles of Incorporation

Colorado articles of incorporation are filed to create a corporation.

Preparing and filing your articles of incorporation is the first step in starting your business corporation. Approval of this document secures your corporate name and creates the legal entity of the corporation. Only after this approval can the corporation apply for tax IDs, obtain business licenses, sign contracts, and otherwise conduct business.

Benefits

Incorporating provides many important benefits:

• Limits the liability of directors, officers, and shareholders
• Fulfills statutory requirements to register your business name
• Provides governance and adds credibility

Fast Facts

For Domestic Corporations:

Agency:	Colorado Secretary of State
Form:	Articles of Incorporation for a Profit Corporation
Instructions:	Instructions: Articles of Incorporation for a Profit Corporation
Filing Method:	Online
Agency Fee:	$50
Turnaround:	Immediately
Law:	Colorado Revised Statutes - Title 7: Corporations and Associations
Notes:	Immediately after formation you can setup Secure Business Filing on your record so that no one else can make changes to it. Click “setup secure business filing” on the transaction confirmation page. Even though the articles of incorporation are filed electronically, you should download a copy for secure storage in your company records and for use during the course of business (e.g. for setting up a business bank account).

Other Helpful Colorado Facts

As you are preparing to incorporate, keep in mind the following requirements specific to Colorado.

Colorado Directors

• Number: At least one is required.
• Qualifications: Individual, eighteen years of age or older.
• Quorum: Majority of directors, unless the bylaws fix a greater number, but no less.

Colorado Officers

• As stated in the bylaws. Must be eighteen years of age or older. One person may hold multiple offices. One officer is required to be responsible for maintaining corporate records.

Colorado Bylaws

• Required: No.

Colorado Annual Shareholder Meeting

• Required: Yes.
• Action by written consent: Allowed if consent is unanimous among all entitled to vote on the action.

Colorado Shareholders

• Qualifications: N/A
• Stock Certificate: Optional, but shareholder must receive a writing with the same information.
• Voting Trusts Allowed: Yes.