Wedding Planner Permit Requirements in Denver, CO

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees, operate as an LLC/corporation, or file certain business tax returns. Free from the IRS. Sole proprietors with no employees may use their SSN instead.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online)

   Free

   Immediate (online)

1. Colorado Sales Tax License

   Required for businesses selling taxable tangible goods in Colorado. Colorado does not tax services (§39-26-102(15)(a)(I) C.R.S.), so wedding-planning fees and pressure-washing labour are not subject to state sales tax. Register with the Colorado Department of Revenue; the state license covers state and state-collected local taxes only, and home-rule cities such as Denver require their own license.

   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 ($66 total for a first location); the deposit is refunded once $50 in state sales tax has been remitted·Immediate when filed online through MyBizColorado or Revenue Online

   $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 ($66 total for a first location); the deposit is refunded once $50 in state sales tax has been remitted

   Immediate when filed online through MyBizColorado or Revenue Online

2. General Liability Insurance (recommended, not required)

   Colorado does not require wedding planners to carry liability insurance — there is no state licence or insurance mandate for the occupation. Venues commonly require a planner to show a certificate of general liability insurance, often at $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate, before allowing work on site, and client contracts may require it too. Workers' compensation insurance is separately mandatory in Colorado for any business with employees. The Colorado Division of Insurance regulates carriers and can confirm whether an insurer is admitted in Colorado, but it does not set premiums.

   Official government source

   No government fee. Premiums are quoted by private carriers based on revenue, coverage limits and claims history; no official Colorado source publishes a premium range, so the '$400-$1,200/year' figure is an unsourced estimate.·Quotes and certificates of insurance are typically issued by a broker within a business day or two; there is no government processing step.

   No government fee. Premiums are quoted by private carriers based on revenue, coverage limits and claims history; no official Colorado source publishes a premium range, so the '$400-$1,200/year' figure is an unsourced estimate.

   Quotes and certificates of insurance are typically issued by a broker within a business day or two; there is no government processing step.

1. Denver Business License — Not Required for Wedding Planners

   Denver has no general or blanket business license, and it is not issued by Community Planning and Development. Denver's Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (renamed from the Department of Excise and Licenses) issues about 68 category-specific licenses — for example massage business, body art establishment, garage repair of motor vehicles, kennel and retail food. Wedding planning is not one of those categories, so no Denver business license applies. You may still need permits for specific event activity, such as a Temporary Use zoning permit or a public event permit.

   Official government source

   No fee — no Denver business license applies to wedding planners·Not applicable

   No fee — no Denver business license applies to wedding planners

   Not applicable

2. Colorado Trade Name Registration (Secretary of State)

   If you operate under a trade name (for example "Perfect Day Events" rather than your legal or entity name), file a Statement of Trade Name with the Colorado Secretary of State online. Colorado has no county-level DBA filing — Denver County does not register trade names. File before accepting payments under the business name, and renew the registration to keep it active.

   Official government source

   $20 to file a Trade Name Statement online; $5 to renew; $10 to change or correct trade name information·Filed and effective immediately online at coloradosos.gov

   $20 to file a Trade Name Statement online; $5 to renew; $10 to change or correct trade name information

   Filed and effective immediately online at coloradosos.gov

Official Sources

• City of Denver — Business Licensing
• Colorado Secretary of State
• IRS — Apply for EIN

Related Guides