Bookkeeping Permit Requirements in Denver, CO

Complete permit and license guide for starting a bookkeeping in Denver, Denver County, Colorado.

Verified 2026-09-03 6 stops $150–$450 est. 1–3 weeks to register business and obtain all required licenses
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

2 stops

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS, obtained instantly online. Sole proprietors without employees may use their SSN, but an EIN is recommended for privacy and professional credibility.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

  2. IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN)

    Required for any paid preparer who prepares or assists in preparing federal tax returns for clients. If your bookkeeping practice includes any federal tax return preparation, you must obtain and renew your PTIN annually. Bookkeeping-only services (no tax return preparation) do not require a PTIN.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online at IRS.gov)

State of Colorado

2 stops

  1. Colorado Secretary of State Business Registration

    Bookkeeping and accounting service businesses must register with the Colorado Secretary of State if formed as an LLC, corporation or partnership. A sole proprietor trading under a name other than the owner's own files a Statutory Trade Name statement online with the Secretary of State — Colorado has no county-level DBA filing. Registered entities must file a Periodic Report each year.

    Official government source

    $50 Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation; $20 Trade Name Statement; $25 annual Periodic ReportFiled online and processed immediately

  2. Colorado Sales Tax License (only if selling tangible goods)

    Bookkeeping and accounting services are not subject to Colorado sales tax — services are not taxable in Colorado (see §39-26-102(15)(a)(I), C.R.S.). You only need a Colorado Sales Tax License if your business also sells tangible personal property, such as software on physical media or printed materials. If you sell nothing tangible, no sales tax license is required.

    Official government source

    $16 for the two-year license period when applying January–June of an even year, prorated to $12, $8 or $4 later in the cycle, plus a one-time refundable $50 deposit for a new account — only if a license is neededImmediate when filed online through MyBizColorado or Revenue Online

City of Denver / Denver County

2 stops

  1. Denver — No General Business License Required

    Denver does not issue a general or blanket business license. Its Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (formerly the Department of Excise and Licenses) publishes a License Directory of exactly 68 category-specific licenses (body art establishment, massage business, retail food, kennel, short-term rental, alarm business and similar). Bookkeeping and accounting services is not among them, so no Denver business license applies. There is no Denver 'business tax certificate' or 'occupational license' for professional service firms; Denver's occupational privilege tax is a payroll tax, not a license.

    Official government source

    $0 — no Denver business license exists for bookkeeping or accounting firmsNot applicable

  2. Denver Zoning Permit for a Home Occupation

    Denver Community Planning and Development requires a zoning permit for a home occupation from anyone who does business from their home or uses their home address as a business address. A bookkeeping practice files under the 'Office, Non-Medical, Non-Dental' home occupation category, which covers accountants, lawyers, architects and similar services where goods are not created, displayed, stored or sold. Home occupations must stay secondary to the home's residential use and are limited in size, employees, signage and hours. Most home occupations are allowed in every zone district except S-SU-Fx and S-SU-Lx; use-limitations are in Denver Zoning Code Article 11, Division 11.9. The permit expires when the resident operator named on it stops running the business at that address.

    Official government source

    $20 (Home Occupation zoning permit, per Denver's published Building and Land Development fee schedule)Denver does not publish a processing-time standard for home occupation zoning permits; apply through CPD before starting the business. Uses requiring a Zoning Permit with Informational Notice (ZPIN) take longer because of the public notice period.

Terminus

Open for business — est. $150–$450 · 1–3 weeks to register business and obtain all required licenses

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