According to the Colorado Secretary of State’s website, “Most entities on record with the Secretary of State must maintain a registered agent.” But what is a registered agent and why is it important to choose this individual carefully? The registered agent serves as the business’ representative in Colorado and they are responsible for accepting service of process to “the entity” (i.e. the business). Service of process is the “procedure by which a party to a …

Marketing is one of the fundamental pillars of running a business. How much should you charge for your product or service? How do you let your customers know you exist? What’s the best way to attract and retain customers? All of this, and more, is marketing. Marketing isn’t as simple as creating a Facebook page and tweeting every day. Marketing is a complex, ever-evolving field that can overwhelm those new to the subject. Luckily, you …

Do you have a question for the Colorado Department of Revenue that you can’t find online? Have you tried calling Revenue only to get stuck on hold? If the question can wait a few days, consider using the Citizens’ Advocate. The Citizen Advocate helps customers with Revenue-related inquiries. You can fill out a concern form by going here on the Revenue website. Before doing that, however, double-check to make sure that you’ve thoroughly searched the …

Colorado SBDC Community, With the recent State of Emergency declaration to combat COVID-19’s spread in Colorado, we are dedicating our outreach to support the health, safety and economic prosperity of small businesses across the State. The State of Emergency declaration is an important step to access key resources to protect Coloradans and our economy. Our commitment is to share the most timely information, processes and resources available. The first phase of the State’s response must …

Join the Colorado SBDC as we celebrate our client’s success and economic impact as part of National SBDC Day! The event takes place on Thursday, March 19th at the Colorado State Capitol Building located at 200 East Colfax Avenue in Denver. The celebration kicks off at 9:00 am and goes to 11:30 am. This event will allow members of the small business community an opportunity to network and meet with various legislators, community leaders, and …

One of the most frequent questions our office receives regarding starting a business in Colorado is, “Do I need a business license?” Unlike some places, the State of Colorado does not have a general “business license.” However, that doesn’t necessarily mean your business won’t need a license of some kind. The State of Colorado regulates some, but not all, professions, occupations, and industries. The agency that does this is called the Colorado Department of Regulatory …

On Thursday, March 19th from 9:00 am to 11:30 am the Colorado Small Business Development Center will be hosting an event at the State Capitol in celebration of National SBDC Day. This event recognizes the SBDC’s positive impact on our communities. The success of the Colorado SBDC is the success of Colorado. According to the Small Business Administration, 47.5% of employed people in the U.S. work for a small business. Helping small businesses take root …

Last week’s blog asked the question “Does Your Business Offer Free Wifi?” Based on the feedback that we received (it turns out a lot of you want to offer wifi to your customers) we thought it would be a good idea to share with you a series of free webinars dedicated to cybersecurity and small businesses. Presented by Dr. Shawn Murray, Founder & CAO of Murray Security Services, these videos cover a variety of topics …

We’ve all been there before: trapped in a waiting room with no bars on our phone. Or stuck on a plane with an out-of-service wifi router staring endlessly at the back of the headrest in front of us. An article on INCORP mentions a survey conducted by Comcast that “showed free Wifi is now one of the best amenities a small ‘Main Street’ business can offer its customers.” Obviously, Comcast has some skin in the …

Was your New Year’s Resolution to start your own business? January has come and gone and February is drawing to an end, too. Have you started your business yet? Statistically it’s likely that you haven’t, but why? Research has shown that Resolutions fail not because we’re all quitters but because of the way we design our resolutions. We make broad goals that feel too large and end up quitting. So what should we do? Rather …

How much would you pay for a 72 page book that showed provided you with a checklist for starting a business, an overview of the various business legal structures (with pros and cons for each), information on tax (income, property, sales tax), employer responsibilities, marketing, financing, business owner liability, and much much more? Such a book, if it existed, would surely cost $24, $75, or even $100…right? Well, such a book does exist but it …

One of the many responsibilities that come with having employees is the posting of mandatory workplace posters. These posters ensure that employees know their rights regarding compensation and fair treatment, among other things. But not every business needs every poster, so how does one know what must be prominently displayed in that breakroom or common area? The U.S. Department of Labor website elaws (Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses) can help. Just like …

Are you starting or running a business? Do you find tax-related issues intimidating? Have no fear, the experts at the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Taxation Division have you covered. They offer free classes specially designed for business owners and tax professionals. The classes cover a variety of subjects including sales tax, special event tax, consumer use tax, wage withholding, licensing and filing tax returns. The classes are offered monthly in the Taxpayer Service Centers located …

Starting a business can be daunting, which is why the Small Business Development Center exists. We’re here to help. Whether you’re starting your journey into business for the first time or you’re an experienced pro starting your second business-the SBDC has something to offer you. Our Centers offer low-cost classes and workshops on a variety of business topics. The SBDC will also pay a consultant to meet with you to discuss your business. If you …

Did you know that Wednesday, March, 18th is National Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Day? SBDC Day is a national celebration of the positive impact America’s Small Business Development Centers have on the small business community and the economy at large. There will be celebrations all over the country including right here in Colorado! The Colorado SBDC will be hosting a National SBDC Event on Thursday, March 19th at the State Capitol Building located at …

As we say goodbye to 2019 our thoughts turn to the promise of a new year. And while the start of a new year is a good time to reflect on the work done the previous year, it’s not a time to rest on one’s laurels–there’s still work to be done. So as we turn the calendar page what should business owners be doing? A search online for “small business end of year checklist” yields …

Friendly reminder: there’s still time to submit nominations for the 2020 National Small Business Week Awards. Though National Small Business Week is May 3 through May 9, the awards nomination window is closing next week on January 7th. The National Small Business Awards are issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). There are several awards including “Small Business Person of the Year,” “Small Business Exporter of the Year,” and “Phoenix Awards for Disaster Recovery” …

In October, the Colorado Secretary of State’s office launched a free online course designed to teach the general public how to use several online government databases in order to access public information. The 90-minute course was created in conjunction with the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business and shows users how to access both Federal and State databases in order to “work with and analyze public data to make informed business decisions.” The course …

If you’re thinking about starting a business consider dusting off your library card to take advantage of the Denver Public Library’s “Bizboost.” Bizboost is a one-on-one consultation with a reference librarian designed to help Denver business owners shore-up their business and marketing plans with “quantitative numbers and statistics.” Bizboost is offered by appointment only. If you are interested in getting a free 30 to 60-minute appointment fill out a Bizboost appointment request form on the …

It’s no secret that small business is the backbone of Colorado’s economy. And for many communities, small businesses also serve as important common spaces where the community gathers. As such, it’s likely that small business owners across the State will hear members of their community talk about the upcoming census. Census Day is April 1, 2020, at that time the State of Colorado will begin efforts to count everyone in the State. It’s very important …

Thanksgiving is here and with it the unofficial kick-off of the holiday season. Shoppers around the country will flock to retailers both brick-and-mortar and online for that peculiar American phenomenon known as “Black Friday.” But did you know that the Saturday after Thanksgiving is also a major shopping holiday? Small Business Saturday is a holiday that was created initially by credit card company American Express in 2010 but has since taken on a life of …

When starting a business there are many questions that have to be answered but one of the most important is “Do I need a license?” In Colorado some, but not all, professions, occupations, and industries are regulated in order to protect consumers in Colorado. The agency that does this at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Before starting on your journey as a business owner, it is very important to check and see if …

Did you know that October was National Cyber Awareness Month? National Cyber Awareness Month was started in 2004 by the Department of Homeland Security in order to raise awareness of the growing dangers of cybercrime–including identity theft. According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft affects millions of American consumers each year. Identify thieves also target businesses in order to fraudulently obtain lines of credit in order to purchase goods that can be sold for …