LaunchPath

Flagship channel-state reference guide

Start Amazon FBA in Colorado: full reference guide

Use this page when you want the complete dense version: all sections, all appendices, and the full official source directory in one scrollable reference surface.

Last verified: April 27, 2026 Reference mode Dense appendix

Built from reviewed public pages for Colorado, IRS, FinCEN, Denver, Amazon FBA. Use it as a first-pass guide, then verify the official links that match your setup.

How to use this page

Dense appendix modeFull source directory attachedLast verified April 27, 2026

This version favors completeness over pacing. Use it when you need the appendix, the dense source trail, or the full long-form reference in one place.

Best reading order

  1. Use the fast-answer and official-links sections first if you only need the main route and source trail.
  2. Open the entity, setup, tax, and local sections only where your exact launch path actually branches.
  3. Use the full source directory last as the appendix, not the starting point, unless you already know the exact agency task.
Fast answer appendix Official links first Full source directory
Back to the guided journey

Reference mode

Everything in one dense page

The guided journey is the easier starting point. This page keeps the full accordion guide and source appendix when you want the complete research-backed reference view.

Best when you need

  • The full section map in one scroll without the lighter journey framing.
  • The appendix and official-source directory preserved next to the answer sections.
  • A clearer audit trail before you print, compare, or cross-check another route.

Still better handled in the journey

  • First-pass reading when you want the shortest, safest beginner route.
  • Deciding what to do first before you need the full appendix.
  • Switching states or platforms quickly without reading the full dense version.
Reference map
Start here Fast answer If you want to open Amazon FBA in Colorado, you usually need to do five things in order: Everyone 5 steps

If you want to open Amazon FBA in Colorado, you usually need to do five things in order:

  1. Choose your setup: sole proprietorship vs single-member LLC.
  2. Put the federal and Colorado registrations in place before launch, especially the Colorado sales-tax and local home-rule branch.
  3. Verify local city rules, including home-business, local sales-tax, and zoning questions where you operate.
  4. Open and verify your Amazon seller account, then enroll in FBA if that is your fulfillment path.
  5. Launch only after your sourcing, resale, product-eligibility, inventory-prep, and tax setup are ready.

Practical first-launch recommendation

If you are testing casually with minimal risk, sole proprietor can work.

If you intend to build a real Amazon FBA business, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.

Avoid these first-launch mistakes

  • Assuming a Colorado state sales-tax license solves every local tax question
  • Assuming Amazon's marketplace collection replaces every state or local registration branch
  • Using a business name before filing the Colorado trade name

Colorado-specific friction

Colorado's local branch is easy to misread because the state license does not replace separate self-collected home-rule city licensing.

  • Colorado's local branch is easy to misread because the state license does not replace separate self-collected home-rule city licensing.
  • Colorado trade names renew on a recurring cycle instead of being a one-and-done filing.
  • Colorado LLCs have a relatively cheap annual filing, but missing the Periodic Report can move the entity into noncompliant and then delinquent status.
  • The Amazon-only marketplace branch and the direct-sales branch are not the same tax answer in Colorado.

Amazon FBA-specific friction

Amazon identity verification can block a launch even when the state-side paperwork is already done.

  • Amazon identity verification can block a launch even when the state-side paperwork is already done.
  • Product approval, category approval, and FBA eligibility are separate checks.
  • Amazon can care about authenticity and invoice quality even when the product itself is not heavily regulated.
  • FBA, referral, storage, and advertising costs stack on top of the simple plan fee.

Insurance reality

If you sell physical products, commercial general liability and product liability are practical early considerations even before Amazon formally asks for proof.

  • If you sell physical products, commercial general liability and product liability are practical early considerations even before Amazon formally asks for proof.
  • Public Amazon seller-forum materials that point back to the Amazon Services Business Solutions Agreement say insurance is required within 30 days after exceeding USD 10,000 in gross sales proceeds in one month, or earlier if Amazon requests it, and reference at least USD 1,000,000 in liability coverage.
  • The live agreement branch is still effectively login-gated, so re-check the live Seller Central materials on the date you actually buy or upload insurance.
Back to top Next: Quick-start checklist
Checklist Quick-start checklist Use the research-backed checklist groups before you spend, before your first sale, and before launch goes live. Everyone 3 groups

Do these before you spend money

  • Pick your entity.
  • Pick your business name.
  • Decide your product lane.
  • Avoid regulated or high-risk categories for your first launch unless you deliberately want a harder compliance build.
  • Confirm the product is not blocked by Colorado law, federal safety rules, or Amazon policy.
  • Make sure you can document supplier legitimacy and authenticity.

Do these before your first sale

  • Form the business or file your trade name if needed.
  • Get an EIN from the IRS if applicable.
  • Open a dedicated business bank account.
  • Get the Colorado sales-tax and local city branch right before relying on marketplace collection or local tax assumptions.
  • Check city permits, home-business limits, and local sales-tax licensing.
  • Create your Amazon seller account and complete verification.

Do these before launch goes live

  • Finish the Amazon account and FBA operations branch.
  • Confirm category, product, and FBA eligibility.
  • Build the first listing correctly.
  • Prep, label, and ship a small first batch.
  • Start small so you can test demand and catch compliance mistakes early.
Back to top Next: Official links you will use first
Choose your setup Entity choice Compare the sole-proprietor and single-member LLC paths before banking, tax setup, and platform onboarding. Everyone 2 options

Sole proprietor

Best for: Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.

What it means

  • Colorado does not require a separate state entity filing just to begin operating as an individual under your own legal first and last name.
  • If you use a business name that is not your legal first and last name, Colorado requires a trade-name filing with the Secretary of State.
  • Business income generally runs through your personal tax return, but you still handle Colorado tax, local permits, and Amazon requirements separately.
  • You usually do not get a liability shield.

Why someone chooses it

  • Faster launch
  • Lower up-front filing cost
  • Fewer entity-maintenance steps

Main downside: Personal liability

single-member LLC

Best for: Best if you want a more durable setup for a real business.

What it means

  • Colorado LLC formation uses Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State.
  • The filing fee is $50.
  • The filing requires a Colorado registered agent and principal-office information.
  • Colorado uses an annual Periodic Report maintenance cycle for reporting entities such as LLCs.

Why someone chooses it

  • Liability protection
  • Cleaner setup for banking, suppliers, bookkeeping, insurance, and scaling
  • Better fit for branded inventory, employees, and long-term operations

Main downside: Higher setup friction and recurring compliance than a sole proprietorship

Back to top Next: What to do in order
Main path What to do in order The full end-to-end setup path, kept in the same order as the researched guide. Everyone 14 steps

  1. Step 1: Choose a low-risk launch model

    Main guide step 1

    For a first launch, stay inside the safest lane:

    Why it matters: Practical rule: If the offer touches health, safety, children, dangerous goods, batteries, chemicals, alcohol, or heavy IP risk, slow down and do category-specific compliance research before buying or listing anything.

    • general merchandise
    • no high-risk categories from food, supplements, cosmetics, medical claims, batteries-heavy hazmat, alcohol, children's products
    • no products that need specialized approvals unless you deliberately want a more complex compliance build

  2. Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach

    Main guide step 2

    You need to decide whether you are:

    Why it matters: Important:

    • operating under your own legal name,
    • using a trade name or DBA,
    • reselling existing brands,
    • creating your own brand,
    • or using a private-label path.
    • Amazon store names do not have to match the legal business name, but the account details still need to match real-world identity and tax records.
    • Colorado trade-name filing does not create trademark rights.
    • If you want long-term brand control, start the trademark and supplier-document path early.

  3. Step 3: Form the business

    Main guide step 3

    If you choose sole proprietor: If you sell under your own legal first and last name, the reviewed Colorado public sources did not identify a separate formation filing with the Secretary of State.

    • If you choose sole proprietor: If you sell under your own legal first and last name, the reviewed Colorado public sources did not identify a separate formation filing with the Secretary of State.
    • If you choose sole proprietor: If you use a business name, file a Colorado trade name with the Secretary of State before operating under that name.
    • If you choose sole proprietor: If you are in Denver, you still separately review the local home-business and sales-tax branch even though the trade-name filing is state level.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Do this in order:
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Search the Secretary of State business database and make sure the name is distinguishable and uses an accepted LLC ending.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: File Articles of Organization with the Colorado Secretary of State and name the Colorado registered agent.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Keep your internal operating records right away. The reviewed public Colorado sources did not identify a separate mandatory post-filing public LLC document beyond the formation filing itself.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: If the LLC will use a name different from its legal LLC name, file a Colorado trade name.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Calendar the annual Periodic Report cycle immediately after formation.

  4. Step 4: Get your EIN

    Main guide step 4

    Use the IRS EIN application if applicable. For most LLCs this is required. For many sole proprietors it is not always mandatory, but it is still useful for banking, supplier paperwork, and Amazon setup.

  5. Step 5: Open banking and bookkeeping

    Main guide step 5

    Do this right away:

    • Open a business checking account.
    • Keep business money separate from personal money.
    • Save every invoice, receipt, Amazon fee statement, shipping bill, and tax record.
    • Keep a sourcing folder and a tax folder from day one.

  6. Step 6: Register for state tax, seller permit, or resale setup

    Main guide step 6

    Safe practical takeaway:

    • Colorado uses MyBizColorado or CR 0100 to apply for a Colorado sales-tax license for direct taxable retail sales.
    • As of April 27, 2026, a one-location standard retail sales-tax license that starts during January 2026 through June 2026 costs $16, and the first retail location also requires a $50 deposit.
    • Colorado says the state sales-tax license covers state and state-collected local jurisdictions only. It does not replace separate self-collected home-rule city requirements.
    • Colorado says a seller that sells exclusively through a marketplace facilitator generally does not need a state sales-tax license from the Department of Revenue.
    • Colorado also says that if you sell directly to consumers in a store or on your own website in addition to using a marketplace facilitator, you are required to have a sales-tax license.
    • Colorado's standard retail license also covers wholesale sales for a business that makes both retail and wholesale sales.
    • If you plan to stay Amazon-only, keep the marketplace-only state-license nuance visible and document that branch carefully.
    • If you expect to add your own website, local pop-ups, or other direct sales, get the Colorado sales-tax branch and any local city branch right before launch instead of assuming Amazon collection replaces them.
    • If a supplier asks for resale paperwork, re-check the current Colorado forms and guide pages on the action date because the reviewed public beginner pages did not present the ordinary retailer resale-document path in one single beginner page.

  7. Step 7: Check local permits, city rules, and home-business limits

    Main guide step 7

    Colorado pushes many real-world operating questions down to cities and self-collected local tax offices.

    Why it matters: Do this before operating: For Denver specifically:

    • check MyBizColorado,
    • check city and county business offices where you will operate,
    • check local zoning or planning if the business will use a home address,
    • check whether the city is self-collected for sales tax,
    • ask about inventory storage, deliveries, signage, or other activity triggers.
    • if you intend to do business from home and use your home address as a business address, Denver says you must obtain a zoning permit for a home occupation;
    • if the business is located in Denver and makes retail sales, Denver says it needs a Denver sales-tax license even if operating from a residence;
    • Denver also says it no longer charges a license fee with the biannual Retailer's Sales, Use, Lodgers Tax License.

  8. Step 8: If you hire employees, handle payroll registrations and insurance

    Main guide step 8

    If you do not hire anyone yet, skip this for now.

    Why it matters: If you hire:

    • Register for Colorado unemployment through MyBizColorado when you become liable.
    • Colorado's UI liability rules include the ordinary thresholds of paying at least $1,500 in wages in a calendar quarter or employing at least one person for any part of a day in 20 weeks during the current or previous calendar year.
    • Report new hires within 20 calendar days after the hire date or by the first regularly scheduled payroll following the hire if that payroll date is later.
    • Colorado workers' compensation coverage is required for employers with employees, subject to limited exceptions.
    • As of April 27, 2026, the Colorado FAMLI employer FAQ says premiums are based on 0.88% of wages, and employers with fewer than 10 employees nationwide are not required to pay the employer share.
    • Colorado's paid-sick-leave law requires at least 1 hour of accrued paid leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours per year.

  9. Step 9: Create your Amazon FBA account or store

    Main guide step 9

    Have these ready:

    Why it matters: Platform registration flow:

    • government-issued ID
    • email address
    • phone number
    • internationally chargeable credit card
    • bank account and routing number
    • business license or registration if required for your setup
    • proof of residential address from the last 180 days
    • tax information
    • Start the Amazon seller registration flow.
    • Provide business information, seller information, billing information, and store and product information.
    • Add the payout bank account and chargeable card.
    • Upload or present identity documents and complete verification.
    • Keep registration details aligned with your government and tax records.

  10. Step 10: Choose the right platform plan

    Main guide step 10

    Inference note:

    • As of April 27, 2026, Amazon's public pricing page shows Individual at $0.99 per item sold and Professional at $39.99 per month.
    • Referral fees are separate and category-specific.
    • Professional usually becomes the practical plan once you expect to sell about 40 items per month or need tools and category access that are not realistic on the Individual plan.
    • The 40-item break-even point is a practical inference from Amazon's public pricing math, not a separate Amazon rule.

  11. Step 11: Decide whether brand or IP programs belong in the initial launch

    Main guide step 11

    Amazon Brand Registry is optional for a beginner reseller launch.

    • Amazon Brand Registry is optional for a beginner reseller launch.
    • It is more relevant if you are building your own brand or private-label catalog.
    • Amazon's public Brand Registry page says the program is free, but it still expects a pending or registered trademark.
    • Some deeper Brand Registry details remain inside Amazon account ecosystems, so re-check country-specific or workflow-specific requirements on the action date.

  12. Step 12: Complete the fulfillment or operations branch

    Main guide step 12

    For Amazon FBA, the public baseline flow is:

    • enroll in FBA after account creation,
    • create or convert listings to FBA,
    • confirm product and FBA eligibility,
    • prep, label, and pack inventory correctly,
    • create the inbound shipment in Send to Amazon,
    • and send a small first batch before scaling.

  13. Step 13: Confirm product, service, or category eligibility before scaling

    Main guide step 13

    Amazon's public FAQ says some categories are open, some require a Professional plan, some require Amazon approval, and some cannot be sold by third-party sellers.

    • Amazon's public FAQ says some categories are open, some require a Professional plan, some require Amazon approval, and some cannot be sold by third-party sellers.
    • A product can be eligible for sale on Amazon and still be ineligible for FBA.
    • Hazmat, batteries, expiration-dated goods, alcohol, and similar categories are not beginner-safe.
    • If you resell branded products, expect Amazon or the brand to care about invoices and authenticity.

  14. Step 14: Launch with a compliance-first operating routine

    Main guide step 14

    Once live, keep these habits:

    • reconcile payouts, fees, refunds, and reimbursements
    • monitor account health and suppressed listings
    • maintain invoices and supplier records
    • keep tax reserves separate
    • avoid mixing personal and business spending
    • monitor margins, aged inventory, and compliance issues

Best practical order for the LLC launch path

  1. Choose the product lane first.
  2. Choose the entity name.
  3. File the Colorado LLC formation document.
  4. Get the EIN.
  5. Open the bank account.
  6. Resolve the Colorado sales-tax branch that applies.
  7. Resolve the city or home-rule local branch that applies.
  8. File any Colorado trade name that is still needed.
  9. Build the Amazon seller account.
  10. Finish the FBA launch branch.
  11. Calendar the annual Periodic Report and any local renewals.
  12. Track recurring tax, payroll, and insurance obligations on the compliance calendar.
Back to top Next: Colorado tax stack
State filing and tax Colorado tax stack Keep the Colorado registration, tax, and maintenance rules together while you launch. Everyone 7 checks

1. EIN

A typical single-member LLC needs an EIN.

  • A typical single-member LLC needs an EIN.
  • A sole proprietor commonly needs one once employees are hired and may still want one for operations even when not strictly required.

2. Colorado sales tax, seller permit, or equivalent registration

Colorado uses MyBizColorado or CR 0100 for the ordinary sales-tax license path.

  • Colorado uses MyBizColorado or CR 0100 for the ordinary sales-tax license path.
  • As of April 27, 2026, a one-location standard retail license starting during January 2026 through June 2026 costs $16.
  • The first retail location also requires a $50 deposit.
  • Colorado says these licenses are valid for a two-year period and expire at the end of each odd-numbered year.
  • Colorado says the license covers state and state-collected local jurisdictions, not separate self-collected home-rule city licensing.

3. Marketplace or platform tax rule

Colorado says a marketplace facilitator must collect and remit all applicable state and state-administered local sales taxes on marketplace sales.

  • Colorado says a marketplace facilitator must collect and remit all applicable state and state-administered local sales taxes on marketplace sales.
  • Colorado says a marketplace facilitator has the rights, obligations, and liabilities of a retailer for those marketplace sales.
  • Colorado says a seller that sells exclusively through a marketplace facilitator generally does not need a Colorado state sales-tax license from the Department of Revenue.
  • Colorado also says that if the seller additionally sells directly to consumers in a store or through its own website, the seller is required to have a state sales-tax license.
  • Colorado says if a retail sale is made through a marketplace and the facilitator is required to collect sales tax, the facilitator is also liable for the retail delivery fee if the item is delivered by motor vehicle, and the marketplace seller who is not liable for sales tax is also not liable for the retail delivery fee.

4. Resale purchases or exempt purchasing

Colorado's standard retail license allows both retail and wholesale sales, so a seller that makes both does not need a separate wholesale license in addition to the retail license.

  • Colorado's standard retail license allows both retail and wholesale sales, so a seller that makes both does not need a separate wholesale license in addition to the retail license.
  • The reviewed public beginner pages did not present one single plain-language ordinary-retailer resale-document workflow for vendor paperwork.
  • Practical safe rule: re-check the current Sales Tax Guide, sales and use tax forms page, and any vendor instructions before submitting resale paperwork instead of assuming one static certificate workflow from another state applies in Colorado.

5. Entity tax treatment

Inference note:

  • Colorado's public business income tax pages route C corporations, S corporations, and partnerships through different filing paths.
  • Based on those reviewed public pages, Colorado's business-income-tax filing path generally tracks the entity's federal tax classification.
  • If the founder later elects S corporation or C corporation treatment, re-check the Colorado business-income-tax filing path before the next return cycle.
  • The one-line statement that Colorado generally follows federal classification is an inference from the reviewed Colorado business-income-tax guidance pages, not a single quoted sentence from one beginner page.

6. Entity filing-fee or franchise-tax rule

The recurring Colorado entity-maintenance filing identified in the reviewed public sources for the default LLC path is the Secretary of State Periodic Report.

  • The recurring Colorado entity-maintenance filing identified in the reviewed public sources for the default LLC path is the Secretary of State Periodic Report.
  • No separate Colorado franchise tax filing was identified in the reviewed official public sources for the ordinary in-state single-member LLC path as of April 27, 2026.
  • Re-check this branch if the entity later elects corporate tax treatment or expands into a more complex tax posture.

7. If the founder changes entity type later

Re-check Colorado tax accounts, trade names, bank documents, and Amazon tax identity fields at the conversion moment.

  • Re-check Colorado tax accounts, trade names, bank documents, and Amazon tax identity fields at the conversion moment.
  • The reviewed public starter pages did not provide one one-line rule for whether every ownership or entity-type change requires a brand-new Colorado sales-tax account, so treat this as a required verification step instead of assuming.
Back to top Next: Amazon FBA account and operations
Platform setup Amazon FBA account and operations Use this section for the Amazon FBA-specific account, plan, eligibility, and operations work. Everyone 5 steps

  1. Step 9: Create your Amazon FBA account or store

    Platform step 1

    Have these ready:

    Why it matters: Platform registration flow:

    • government-issued ID
    • email address
    • phone number
    • internationally chargeable credit card
    • bank account and routing number
    • business license or registration if required for your setup
    • proof of residential address from the last 180 days
    • tax information
    • Start the Amazon seller registration flow.
    • Provide business information, seller information, billing information, and store and product information.
    • Add the payout bank account and chargeable card.
    • Upload or present identity documents and complete verification.
    • Keep registration details aligned with your government and tax records.

  2. Step 10: Choose the right platform plan

    Platform step 2

    Inference note:

    • As of April 27, 2026, Amazon's public pricing page shows Individual at $0.99 per item sold and Professional at $39.99 per month.
    • Referral fees are separate and category-specific.
    • Professional usually becomes the practical plan once you expect to sell about 40 items per month or need tools and category access that are not realistic on the Individual plan.
    • The 40-item break-even point is a practical inference from Amazon's public pricing math, not a separate Amazon rule.

  3. Step 11: Decide whether brand or IP programs belong in the initial launch

    Platform step 3

    Amazon Brand Registry is optional for a beginner reseller launch.

    • Amazon Brand Registry is optional for a beginner reseller launch.
    • It is more relevant if you are building your own brand or private-label catalog.
    • Amazon's public Brand Registry page says the program is free, but it still expects a pending or registered trademark.
    • Some deeper Brand Registry details remain inside Amazon account ecosystems, so re-check country-specific or workflow-specific requirements on the action date.

  4. Step 12: Complete the fulfillment or operations branch

    Platform step 4

    For Amazon FBA, the public baseline flow is:

    • enroll in FBA after account creation,
    • create or convert listings to FBA,
    • confirm product and FBA eligibility,
    • prep, label, and pack inventory correctly,
    • create the inbound shipment in Send to Amazon,
    • and send a small first batch before scaling.

  5. Step 13: Confirm product, service, or category eligibility before scaling

    Platform step 5

    Amazon's public FAQ says some categories are open, some require a Professional plan, some require Amazon approval, and some cannot be sold by third-party sellers.

    • Amazon's public FAQ says some categories are open, some require a Professional plan, some require Amazon approval, and some cannot be sold by third-party sellers.
    • A product can be eligible for sale on Amazon and still be ineligible for FBA.
    • Hazmat, batteries, expiration-dated goods, alcohol, and similar categories are not beginner-safe.
    • If you resell branded products, expect Amazon or the brand to care about invoices and authenticity.
Back to top Next: Local permits and Denver branch
Local branch Local permits and Denver branch These local and city checks can still change the answer even after the state and platform path is clear. Location-specific 2 branches

Local permits and location checks

Colorado pushes many real-world licensing, tax, and location questions down to cities and self-collected local tax offices.

  • Colorado pushes many real-world licensing, tax, and location questions down to cities and self-collected local tax offices.
  • For any place where the business will operate:
  • check MyBizColorado,
  • check city or county business offices,
  • check local zoning or planning offices,
  • check whether the city is self-collected for sales tax,
  • and check whether a local home-business or local tax registration applies.
  • Typical local risk areas:
  • self-collected home-rule sales-tax licensing
  • home occupation permits
  • zoning for storage
  • commercial deliveries at a residence
  • building or fire-code triggers
  • lease, HOA, or deed restrictions

Denver Appendix

If the business operates in Denver, add one more review layer.

  • If the business operates in Denver, add one more review layer.
  • Denver says that if you intend to do business from home and use your home address as a business address, you must obtain a zoning permit for a home occupation.
  • Denver says that any business located in Denver, even one operating from a residence, that makes retail sales of tangible personal property or certain services needs a Denver sales-tax license.
  • Denver says it no longer charges a license fee with the biannual Retailer's Sales, Use, Lodgers Tax License.
  • Denver also says businesses located in Denver can still have Denver use-tax registration obligations even where a Denver sales-tax license is not the right fit.
Back to top Next: Employees and insurance
Optional branch Employees and insurance Use this branch if you plan to hire or need the insurance follow-up that comes with scaling. Only if hiring or scaling 5 branches

1. Employer registration

Colorado says most employers are required to pay UI premiums if either of the ordinary liability thresholds is met:

  • Colorado says most employers are required to pay UI premiums if either of the ordinary liability thresholds is met:
  • at least $1,500 in wages in a calendar quarter during the current or previous calendar year, or
  • at least one person employed for any part of a day in 20 weeks during the current or previous calendar year.
  • Colorado says businesses can register for an unemployment account online through MyBizColorado.
  • Colorado says quarterly wage detail reports, monthly employment data, and premium payments are due by April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31.
  • Colorado new-hire reporting is due within 20 calendar days after the date of hire or by the first regularly scheduled payroll if that payroll date is later.
  • Colorado's UI liability rules include the ordinary thresholds of paying at least $1,500 in wages in a calendar quarter or employing at least one person for any part of a day in 20 weeks during the current or previous calendar year.

2. Workers' compensation

Colorado says workers' compensation insurance is required for all employers operating in Colorado, with limited exceptions.

  • Colorado says workers' compensation insurance is required for all employers operating in Colorado, with limited exceptions.
  • Colorado says an uninsured employer can be fined up to $500 for every day without required coverage.
  • Colorado also says the business may be shut down and may have to pay the claim itself plus an additional penalty if an employee is hurt while uninsured.
  • Colorado workers' compensation coverage is required for employers with employees, subject to limited exceptions.

3. Disability, paid leave, or similar coverage

Colorado FAMLI applies to most private-sector employers with Colorado employees.

  • Colorado FAMLI applies to most private-sector employers with Colorado employees.
  • As of April 27, 2026, the reviewed Colorado FAMLI employer FAQ says premiums are based on 0.88% of wages.
  • Employers with fewer than 10 employees nationwide are not required to pay the employer share under the reviewed FAQ.
  • Colorado's paid-sick-leave law separately requires at least 1 hour of accrued paid leave per 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours per year.
  • Colorado's paid-sick-leave law requires at least 1 hour of accrued paid leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours per year.

4. Exemption certificate if applicable

Colorado's reviewed public workers' compensation pages identify a rejection-of-coverage branch for a contractor with no employees who meets the criteria and chooses to reject coverage.

  • Colorado's reviewed public workers' compensation pages identify a rejection-of-coverage branch for a contractor with no employees who meets the criteria and chooses to reject coverage.
  • That rejection branch is not the default path for an ordinary Amazon FBA business with employees.

Insurance reality

If you sell physical products, commercial general liability and product liability are practical early considerations even before Amazon formally asks for proof.

  • If you sell physical products, commercial general liability and product liability are practical early considerations even before Amazon formally asks for proof.
  • Public Amazon seller-forum materials that point back to the Amazon Services Business Solutions Agreement say insurance is required within 30 days after exceeding USD 10,000 in gross sales proceeds in one month, or earlier if Amazon requests it, and reference at least USD 1,000,000 in liability coverage.
  • The live agreement branch is still effectively login-gated, so re-check the live Seller Central materials on the date you actually buy or upload insurance.
Back to top Next: Ongoing compliance calendar
Stay compliant Ongoing compliance calendar Keep the recurring compliance checks and live-operating routine visible after launch. Everyone 5 groups

Before first sale

  • Finish entity or trade-name setup.
  • Get EIN if applicable.
  • Open bank account.
  • Resolve the Colorado sales-tax and local city branch that applies.
  • Check local permits and home-business rules.
  • Complete Amazon verification.

Before first live launch

  • Finish the FBA operations branch.
  • Confirm category or product eligibility.
  • Build accurate listings.
  • Complete prep, labeling, and inbound shipment setup.

Monthly

  • Reconcile Amazon payouts, fees, refunds, and reimbursements.
  • Review margins and inventory age.
  • Review tax reserves.
  • Review account health and suppressed-listing alerts.

Quarterly

  • File Colorado UI wage reports, premium payments, and monthly-employment data by April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31 if you are an employer.
  • File FAMLI wage reports and premiums on the same quarterly deadlines if you are an employer.
  • File Colorado sales-tax returns and local returns on the cadence assigned by the tax authority if you are registered for those taxes.
  • Review estimated-tax needs if your federal or Colorado income-tax facts make them relevant.

Annual or periodic

  • Renew Colorado trade names on their renewal cycle if you use one.
  • File the Colorado LLC Periodic Report every year if you use an LLC.
  • Renew the Colorado sales-tax license at the end of each odd-numbered year if you hold an active license. As of April 27, 2026, the current two-year period began on January 1, 2026.
  • Update the annual FAMLI employee headcount by February 28 if you are an employer.
  • Re-check local city tax or permit renewals.
  • Re-check insurance and product-risk posture.
Back to top Next: Common mistakes
Avoid these Common mistakes These are the repeated beginner errors called out in the research pack. Everyone 8 mistakes

Common Mistakes New Operators Make

  • Assuming a Colorado state sales-tax license solves every local tax question
  • Assuming Amazon's marketplace collection replaces every state or local registration branch
  • Using a business name before filing the Colorado trade name
  • Mixing personal and business money
  • Launching with regulated or high-risk products too early
  • Keeping weak supplier or compliance documentation
  • Missing the Colorado LLC periodic-report cycle
  • Treating Amazon as the compliance department

Practical first-launch recommendation

If you are testing casually with minimal risk, sole proprietor can work.

If you intend to build a real Amazon FBA business, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.

Back to top Next: Full official source directory
Full appendix Full official source directory Every official source row from the research pack, kept in its full table structure. Everyone 38 rows

Source group

Statewide Start

State of Colorado

State start-here page

Form / portal Business portal landing page
Fee None for the page
Timing First planning step
Who needs it Everyone

State portal that routes founders to filing, licensing, and business resources.

Open official link

Department of State

State business portal

Form / portal MyBizColorado
Fee Varies by filing
Timing Before formation and tax registration
Who needs it Everyone

Official one-stop filing tool for Colorado business registration and management.

Open official link

Colorado Secretary of State

State small business support hub

Form / portal Checklist and guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing Optional early planning step
Who needs it New founders

Official checklist that routes founders to tax, employment, licensing, and maintenance issues.

Open official link

Source group

Entity Choice and Formation

Colorado Secretary of State

Compare business types

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing First decision
Who needs it Everyone

SOS startup FAQ explains trade-name filing and directs founders to other filing paths.

Open official link

Colorado Secretary of State

Formation hub

Form / portal Business filing hub
Fee Varies
Timing Before launch
Who needs it Filing entities

Official SOS filing hub for new entities, trade names, periodic reports, and related filings.

Open official link

Colorado Secretary of State

Default entity formation filing

Form / portal Articles of Organization
Fee $50
Timing At formation
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Public instructions confirm the LLC naming, principal-office, registered-agent, and consent requirements.

Open official link

Colorado Secretary of State

Immediate post-filing requirement

Form / portal No separate ordinary public post-filing form identified in reviewed sources
Fee None identified
Timing Immediately after formation
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Reviewed public sources did not identify a separate ordinary SOS post-formation filing for the default Colorado LLC path.

Open official link

Colorado Secretary of State

Ongoing entity maintenance

Form / portal Periodic Report
Fee $25; late penalty $50
Timing Annual, based on the entity's periodic-report month
Who needs it Reporting entities such as LLCs

Colorado says the report can be filed two months before or two months after the periodic-report month without penalty.

Open official link

Source group

Sole Proprietor and Local Name Filings

Colorado Secretary of State

Sole proprietor baseline

Form / portal Trade Name Statement
Fee $20 filing; $5 renewal
Timing Before using a business name
Who needs it Sole proprietors using a trade name

Colorado requires a trade name when an individual is not using the individual's legal first and last name to conduct business.

Open official link

Colorado Secretary of State

Trade name filing page

Form / portal Online filing page
Fee $20
Timing At filing
Who needs it Individuals using a trade name

Public filing page shows the filing fee and filing type directly.

Open official link

Colorado Department of Revenue / local governments

Local licensing and home-rule city check

Form / portal Local city branch; self-collected city contact
Fee Varies
Timing Before local operations
Who needs it Founders operating in self-collected or home-rule cities

Colorado says state-collected jurisdiction registration does not replace separate local rules in self-collected cities.

Open official link

Source group

Federal and State Tax Setup

IRS

EIN overview and online application

Form / portal EIN online application
Fee Free
Timing Early in setup
Who needs it LLCs, employers, founders who want an EIN

IRS says you can get an EIN directly from the IRS for free.

Open official link

IRS

EIN paper form

Form / portal Form SS-4
Fee Free
Timing If not applying online
Who needs it Founders using mail or fax

IRS reference page for the current SS-4 form and instructions.

Open official link

Colorado Department of Revenue

State tax registration

Form / portal MyBizColorado or CR 0100
Fee License fee varies by start date; as of April 27, 2026, one-location standard retail license starting January-June 2026 is $16
Timing Before direct taxable retail sales
Who needs it Businesses needing a Colorado sales-tax license

Colorado says the license is for state and state-administered local taxes and expires at the end of each odd-numbered year.

Open official link

Colorado Department of Revenue

Registration instructions

Form / portal Standard retail sales-tax license
Fee $16 plus $50 deposit for first retail location in the January-June 2026 window
Timing During registration
Who needs it Direct retail sellers

Colorado says the retail license also covers wholesale sales for a business that does both.

Open official link

Colorado Department of Revenue

Marketplace or platform tax rule

Form / portal Guidance page and DR 1290 certification branch
Fee None for the page
Timing Before and after launch
Who needs it Marketplace sellers and multichannel sellers

Colorado says a marketplace facilitator collects and remits applicable state and state-administered local sales taxes on marketplace sales.

Open official link

Colorado Department of Revenue

Retail delivery fee on marketplace sales

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing Before and after launch
Who needs it Marketplace sellers and facilitators

Colorado says the marketplace facilitator, not the marketplace seller, is liable for the retail delivery fee when the facilitator is liable for sales tax on the marketplace sale.

Open official link

Colorado Department of Revenue

Resale or exemption certificate

Form / portal Re-check current resale or exemption documentation on the action date
Fee None for the page
Timing After licensing if applicable
Who needs it Sellers buying inventory for resale

The reviewed public beginner pages clearly explain licensing but do not present one single plain-language ordinary-retailer resale-document workflow, so this branch is intentionally flagged for action-date verification.

Open official link

Colorado Department of Revenue

Recordkeeping and filing guidance

Form / portal DR 0100 and supplemental instructions
Fee None for the page
Timing Ongoing
Who needs it Licensed retailers

Colorado says retailers must file a sales-tax return for every filing period, even if no sales were made.

Open official link

Source group

Entity Tax Maintenance

Colorado Department of Revenue

Entity tax treatment

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing During planning and when tax elections change
Who needs it Business owners comparing tax treatment

Colorado's public entity-tax guidance separates C corporation, S corporation, and partnership filing paths.

Open official link

Colorado Secretary of State

Recurring entity tax filing or fee

Form / portal Periodic Report
Fee $25
Timing Annual
Who needs it Reporting entities such as LLCs

Fee schedule lists the periodic-report fee, late penalty, and delinquency-curing fee.

Open official link

Source group

Federal Reporting

FinCEN

BOI or other federal reporting status

Form / portal BOI guidance page
Fee None
Timing Check before filing
Who needs it Everyone forming an entity

As of April 27, 2026, FinCEN says all entities created in the United States are exempt from BOI reporting under the March 26, 2025 interim final rule.

Open official link

Source group

Employees, Payroll, and Insurance

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

Employer registration

Form / portal MyBizColorado unemployment registration
Fee None stated on reviewed pages
Timing When first becoming an employer
Who needs it Businesses hiring employees

Colorado says businesses may register online through MyBizColorado for an unemployment account.

Open official link

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

UI premiums and wage reporting

Form / portal MyUI Employer+ / UI account
Fee Premium-based
Timing Quarterly
Who needs it Businesses liable for UI

Colorado explains the ordinary UI liability thresholds and annual rate assignment.

Open official link

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

Workers' compensation

Form / portal Coverage through insurer or approved self-insurance path
Fee Premium-based or varies
Timing Before or at hiring
Who needs it Employers

Colorado says required employers can be fined up to $500 per day if uninsured.

Open official link

Colorado FAMLI

Paid family and medical leave

Form / portal My FAMLI+ Employer
Fee As of April 27, 2026, FAQ states 0.88% of wages
Timing Quarterly; annual headcount update due by February 28
Who needs it Employers with Colorado employees

Employers with fewer than 10 employees nationwide are not required to pay the employer share under the reviewed FAQ.

Open official link

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

Paid sick leave

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing Ongoing at hiring and employment
Who needs it Employers

Colorado says employers must provide at least 1 hour of accrued paid leave per 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours per year.

Open official link

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

Exemption certificate if applicable

Form / portal Rejection of coverage online or PDF filing
Fee None stated for the filing itself
Timing Only when eligible and requested
Who needs it Contractors with no employees, not the default Amazon path

Public workers' compensation materials identify a rejection-of-coverage branch for certain no-employee contractors.

Open official link

Source group

Platform Setup

Amazon

Platform registration guide

Form / portal Seller signup flow
Fee Individual at $0.99 per item or Professional at $39.99 per month as of April 27, 2026
Timing Before launch
Who needs it All Amazon operators

Amazon's public guide lists the registration steps and baseline documents.

Open official link

Amazon

Platform pricing

Form / portal Selling plan comparison
Fee Individual $0.99 per item; Professional $39.99 per month; referral fees vary
Timing At signup and later
Who needs it All Amazon operators

Pricing re-checked on April 27, 2026.

Open official link

Amazon

Brand or IP program

Form / portal Brand Registry
Fee None for the program
Timing Optional
Who needs it Brand owners

Amazon's public page says Brand Registry is free and requires a pending or registered trademark.

Open official link

Source group

Fulfillment, Logistics, or Store Operations

Amazon

Fulfillment or store-setup overview

Form / portal FBA overview
Fee Optional and varies
Timing Before launch
Who needs it Operators using FBA

Public FBA overview explains the Amazon-run fulfillment model.

Open official link

Amazon

Category, compliance, or product restriction guide

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing During sourcing or setup
Who needs it Operators with regulated or restricted products

Amazon says some categories are open, some require approval, some require a Professional plan, and some cannot be sold by third-party sellers.

Open official link

Amazon

Shipping, inbound, or fulfillment tool

Form / portal Send to Amazon workflow
Fee Varies
Timing During launch setup
Who needs it FBA operators

Public Amazon article identifies Send to Amazon as the shipment-creation workflow to use for inbound inventory.

Open official link

Source group

Insurance Checkpoint

Amazon public seller forum; live agreement is Seller Central-based

Platform insurance threshold or requirement

Form / portal Public forum post; live Business Solutions Agreement remains a separate re-check
Fee Premium varies
Timing Re-check before or as sales scale
Who needs it Operators with physical-product risk

Public materials cite the USD 10,000 monthly gross-sales trigger and USD 1,000,000 liability threshold, but the live agreement should still be re-checked on the action date.

Open official link

Source group

Denver Branch

City and County of Denver

City tax or permit warning

Form / portal Home occupation zoning permit
Fee Varies by permit path
Timing If business is in Denver and uses a home address
Who needs it Denver-based home businesses

Denver says a home-based business using the home address as its business address must obtain a zoning permit for a home occupation.

Open official link

City and County of Denver

City filing information

Form / portal Denver sales-tax license / Denver use-tax branch
Fee No license fee currently charged for the biannual retailer's license
Timing If business is in Denver
Who needs it Denver-based retailers

Denver says a business located in Denver that makes retail sales needs a Denver sales-tax license, even if the business operates from a residence.

Open official link

City and County of Denver

City business-tax information hub

Form / portal Business-tax information and e-services
Fee Varies by tax
Timing During local setup and renewals
Who needs it Denver-based businesses

Denver's business-tax information page confirms the current no-fee note for the biannual retailer's license and routes users to tax forms and e-services.

Open official link
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