Colorado Small Business Resources

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Resources & Tools

Apply for, Renew or Reinstate a Business License
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations.

Business Consulting with the Denver Metro SBDC
Request an initial or follow-up appointment with a business advisor. It’s free & confidential.

Venture Validators
From Colorado State University's Institute for Entrepreneurship, this is a free program, open to all, where aspiring entrepreneurs meet twice a week for two weeks to test out their new business concepts. 

Colorado Trade Name search
Search this database to learn if a business name, trademark or trade name is already in use.

Cottage Foods Act - Starting a Business Information from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment for starting a business making and selling foods that are part of the Cottage Foods Act.

MyBizColorado
Single site that allows new businesses to register with the Secretary of State as well as register for license, sales tax, wage withholding, and unemployment insurance accounts.

Business Intelligence Center
The purpose of the Secretary of State’s Business Intelligence Center (BIC) is to gather, secure, and make available to the public vast amounts of data from state agencies and local authorities.

Services - City and County of Denver
Business resources specific to operating in the City & County of Denver, including how to obtain a business license

Denver Human Services Data Library
Data to Support Denver Human Services, Human Together, and the Community

FRED
Short for Federal Reserve Economic Data, FRED is an online database consisting of hundreds of thousands of economic data time series from scores of national, international, public, and private sources.

AARP Small Business Resource Center
Information and resources aimed at entrepreneurs ages 50+.

Small Business Development Organizations & Offices

Small Business Administration - Colorado District Office
The Colorado District Office serves as the premier government advocate for the state’s 563,000 small businesses and provides support services and programming to all Colorado residents

Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT)
OEDIT works with statewide partners to create a positive business climate that encourages dynamic economic development and sustainable job growth.

Minority Business Office (part of OEDIT)
The Minority Business Office (MBO) is a team of passionate individuals, partners, and clients working to increase economic opportunity for minority, women, and veteran entrepreneurs across the state.

Colorado Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
The Colorado SBDC Network is dedicated to helping existing and new businesses grow and prosper in Colorado by providing free and confidential consulting and no- or low-cost training programs.

Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO)
DEDO works to ensure an inclusive and innovative economy for all Denver residents, businesses, and neighborhoods. Sign up for their newsletter here.

The Commons on Champa
The Commons offers high quality resources at no or low-cost for Denver entrepreneurs

Mi Casa Resource Center - Business Pathways
Business training, consulting and networking opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and emerging businesses.

Center for Community Wealth Building
An organization dedicated to economic justice that provides support to small businesses and small business owners seeking a cooperative business model. 

CEDS Finance
A mission-driven, non-profit, small business lender that also provides business support services to underserved business owners across Denver Metro. Sign up for their newsletter here.

Energize Colorado
Energize Colorado provides programs and resources to help our small business community recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn. Sign up for their newsletter here.

The Fax Denver
Envisions East Colfax as a transit-rich, thriving main street with a diversity of housing and neighborhood-serving businesses. Through community partnerships and collaboration with local government, we’re working to create a healthy mix of affordable and engaging places for people to live, work, and enjoy life. Sign up for their newsletter here.

Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute (RMMFI)
A local nonprofit that creates the space for people of all backgrounds to realize their unique potential through the power of entrepreneurship. RMMFI invests in entrepreneurs’ personal and business development through a proven mix of classroom, coaching, capital, and community. Sign up for their newsletter here.

SCORE Denver
Provides counseling and mentoring for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Sign up for their newsletter here.

Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce (CWCC)
With a mission to provide women the opportunities to better the community and economy, promote equity in the workplace, and help women grow their businesses and their careers. Sign up for their newsletter here.

Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce
The mission of the Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce is to Empower Economic Growth within the LGBTQ+ Business Community.

Colorado Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver supports the development and growth of member businesses through initiatives that encourage and promote business and economic development. Sign up for their newsletter here.

Asian Chamber of Commerce Colorado
The Asian Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is a membership organization based in Denver, Colorado with a mission to provide economic development and business opportunities for its members. Sign up for their newsletter here.

Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce
Assisting commerce that benefits American Indian Communities through Economic Development.

Asian Pacific Development Center
APDC's Adult Education programs serves the diverse needs of our learners and include life-skills adult classes for beginning to advanced level students, including small business classes.

Local Chambers of Commerce
The Colorado Chamber of Commerce maintains a list of local Chambers throughout Colorado.