Beginning May 30, 2006, all trade names will be filed in the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. The transfer of existing trade name records from the Department of Revenue to the Secretary of State will centralize and standardize the business registration process in Colorado.

Forms from the Department of Revenue will not be accepted.

To file a Statement of Trade Name on and after May 30, 2006:

1. Go to www.sos.state.co.us.
2. Select “File a Business Document” under the Business Center column.
3. Select “Trade name” under the “Register a . . .” header.
4. Select the appropriate type of trade name to file.

The current process for e-filing a trade name associated with an entity in the records of the Secretary of State will not change. To file a Statement of Trade Name for an entity on file with the Secretary of State, search for the entity, select “File a Document” from the entity’s Summary Page, and then select “Statement of Trade Name”.

A trade name of a reporting entity will be effective as long as the entity remains in good standing.

All other trade names will be effective for one year. A trade name will expire on the last day of the anniversary month of the original trade name filing, but it can be renewed online at the Secretary of State’s Web site any time within three months prior to the expiration date. For example, if a trade name is filed on June 15, 2006, the renewal must be filed between April 1, 2007 and June 30, 2007. However, any trade name transferred from the Department of Revenue and those filed for domestic limited partnerships on or before May 29, 2006 will not be required to file a renewal until 2008.

The Secretary of State’s Office will send a renewal notice two months prior to the trade name expiration date. Using the above example, the renewal notice will be sent in May, 2007 to the usual place of business/primary residence address of record. The trade name registrant is still responsible for renewing the trade name even if a notification from the Secretary of State’s Office is not received.

Trade names will no longer be distinguishable from entity names in the records of the Secretary of State. Trade name filings provide the public with a means of determining with whom they are doing business. If there is more than one record with the same trade name, the information provided in the Statement of Trade Name should provide adequate information to distinguish between the businesses.

Published April 3, 2006 at 2:05 PM