How to Get a Business License in Denver — 2026 Guide
Quick Overview
Starting a business in Denver, CO requires registrations across federal, state, county, and city agencies. The primary registration is the Denver Business License + Tax Accounts through the Department of Excise and Licenses (regulated industries) + Treasury Division (taxes).
Difficulty: 5-7/10. No general state business license. Colorado has 70+ home-rule cities that collect their own sales tax separately from state. State license does NOT cover home-rule cities.
PermitBoard generates a complete, ordered roadmap for your specific business type in Denver — with fees, timelines, and direct links to every form. Get My Roadmap →
Should You Start a Business in Denver?
✔ Pros:
- Large market (715K population)
- City licence fee: $25–$500
- 2-6 weeks estimated processing time
- No state franchise tax
⚠ Cons:
- Moderate complexity — standard multi-agency process
- HOME-RULE CITY — collects own sales tax separately from state
👉 Bottom line: Business-friendly environment with straightforward permit process.
What You'll Pay
Upfront Costs
| Permit | Fee | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| EIN (federal tax ID) | Free | IRS |
| LLC filing | $50 LLC | CO Secretary of State |
| Seller's permit | Varies | State tax agency |
| Denver Business License + Tax Accounts | $25–$500 | Department of Excise and Licenses (regulated industries) + Treasury Division (taxes) |
| County health permit (food businesses) | $500–$900 | Denver Public Health |
General business total: $25–$500. Restaurant total: $100–$1,000+.
Ongoing Costs
| Obligation | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Business License + Tax Accounts renewal | $25–$500 | Annual (due Biennial — licenses renew every 2 years) |
| County health permit renewal | $500–$900 | Annual |
The Permit Stack
Step 1: Federal: EIN from IRS (free, instant online)
Step 2: State: LLC/Corp filing + seller's permit/sales tax registration
Step 3: County: health department permit + fire inspection
Step 4: City: business licence/tax certificate
File your LLC online: sos.state.co.us
Apply for city licence: https://www.denvergov.org
By Business Type
Restaurant: City business licence + county health permit + fire inspection. Alcohol requires separate state/local liquor licence.
Food Truck: Mobile food vendor permit (city) + county health permit. Some cities limit permits.
Home Based: Home occupation permit. Zoning approval required. Often cheapest category.
Retail: Standard business licence. Lower complexity than food businesses.
Contractor: State contractor licence often required in addition to city licence.
Catering: County health permit + city business licence. Commercial kitchen requirement.
Temporary Food Vendor: Temporary food permit from county health department.
What Most People Miss
- HOME-RULE CITY — collects own sales tax separately from state
- State sales tax license does NOT cover Denver — need separate city tax account
- Occupational Privilege Tax (head tax) on both employers and employees monthly
- Self-employed owners pay OPT even with no employees
- No universal city business license — only regulated industries need one
- Cannabis licensing is dual state + city track
- Combined sales tax rate 9.15%
Key Contacts
Department of Excise and Licenses (regulated industries) + Treasury Division (taxes)
Phone: 720-913-9400
201 W Colfax Ave, Dept 1010, Denver, CO 80202
https://www.denvergov.org
Denver Public Health (Denver County)
Phone: (720) 913-1311
https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Public-Health
Timeline
Estimated total: 2-6 weeks from EIN to fully licensed, assuming no zoning issues or inspection delays.
Don't Guess — Get Your Roadmap
Every business type has different requirements. PermitBoard analyzes your specific business type against Denver's actual requirements and gives you a step-by-step plan with fees, timelines, and direct links to every form.
Get My Permit Roadmap for Denver →
Nearby Cities
Starting a business nearby? See our guides: