Licensing

Business Licensing Requirements

Legal Structure & Registration

Decide what the legal structure of the company will be. Will it be a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a limited liability company or perhaps a corporation? For more information about types of legal structure and how to register them, visit Colorado Business Resource Guide.

Federal Employer I.D. Number

The Application for Employer Identification Number, form SS-4, is the application for a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) which must be filed by all businesses except sole proprietors. A sole proprietor is only required to file this form if s/he will have employees. A sole proprietor without employees may elect to file this form but is not required to do so. There is no fee associated with processing the application or issuing a FEIN. A FEIN is necessary to establish social security (FICA), federal withholding and federal unemployment (FUTA) accounts and to file income tax returns. Instruction for filling out your SS-4.

Business Licenses

Grand Junction—Businesses located within the city limits of Grand Junction should have appropriate trade name registration and applicable sales tax licenses, but are not required to have a separate business license. Home-based businesses should contact the City of Grand Junction’s Community Development Department at (970) 244-1430 to obtain a Home Occupation Permit.

Palisade: Businesses located in Palisade should contact City Hall at (970) 464-5602 to obtain a business license. Cost of the license is $50 annually.

Fruita: Businesses located in Fruita should contact City Hall at (970) 858-3663 to obtain a business license at a cost of $25 annually. Home-based businesses should also obtain a home-occupation permit, and these are free of charge.

Clifton: Clifton is unincorporated and does not have its own sales tax license, business license or home-occupation permit. Please check zoning regulations with Mesa County: (970) 244-1867.

Other locations within Mesa County: Contact your local City Hall.

Sales Tax

If you sell, rent or lease tangible personal property in Colorado, you must obtain a sales tax license. The type of license you need and the amount of tax you are required to collect depends upon who you are selling to and where and how you are doing business.

The City of Grand Junction is the only home-rule community in Mesa County, and retail businesses located within the city limits should contact City Hall at (970) 244-1521 to get a City of Grand Junction sales tax license. All retail and wholesale businesses in Mesa County should apply for a State sales tax license, regardless of the location of the business. A license is also required to rent accommodations for periods of less than 30 days. For more information about sales tax licenses, go to: Colorado Department of Revenue.

Industry-Specific Licensing

Some industries and professions (such as CPAs, attorneys, electricians and plumbers) require special licensing and certifications. For questions regarding specific industries, contact the Colorado Small Business Hotline at 1-303-592-5920.