The agencies state $32,267 in initial fees across 6 of the 10 items; 1 are free; 3 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top and depend on the space.
How much does it cost to open a pizza shop in Colorado?
$32,267 in state fees the agencies state, across 6 of the 10 licenses, permits and registrations; 1 are free; 3 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.
What the state publishes for a pizza shop in Colorado
Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 21, 2026.
- Stated state fees
- $32,267initial fees across 6 of 10 items
- Free items
- 1no fee as the agency publishes it
- Set elsewhere
- 3by the city, the county or a provider
- Items in all
- 10in the order to get them
Initial fees as each agency states them, summed; renewals are not included. Where a fee depends on size or sales the range is the lowest to the highest stated. Members see each row’s fee, its renewal and the official page.
Set up the business
Item Agency Fee Articles of organization (LLC) and the periodic report Colorado Secretary of State Premium only Statement of trade name (DBA) Colorado Secretary of State Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Sales tax license and wage withholding account Colorado Department of Revenue Premium only Home-rule city sales tax license, and any municipal business license Your city’s finance or tax office Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval and certificate of occupancy Your city or county planning and building departments Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Retail food establishment license Your county or district public health agency Premium only Certified food protection manager Your county public health agency Premium only Alcohol permits
Item Agency Fee Hotel and restaurant license, or tavern license Your city or county local licensing authority Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment insurance account, FAMLI, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Premium only
What comes on top of the fees
The state publishes its fees; the space sets the rest. These work it out from your own numbers.
- Rent the business can carryMonthly sales, or seats and average check, to the base rent that fits a healthy occupancy share.Rent-to-sales calculator
- The real cost of a NNN leaseBase rent plus CAM, property taxes and insurance, each month.NNN lease calculator
- The steps in orderThe same items as a walk-through you tick off, with progress saved to your account.How to open
Fees are shown to members as published. Create an account.
Sources and dates
Secretary of State business fee schedule; June 2024 press release on the periodic report fee; Secretary of State business fee schedule; IRS EIN page; Department of Revenue sales tax license pages and FYI General 14 (sales tax license and deposit); Department of Revenue guidance on self-collecting home-rule jurisdictions; municipal codes; Office of Economic Development and International Trade business start-up guidance; municipal codes; La Plata County Public Health notice of the 2026 to 2028 license fees under SB25-285; CDPHE retail food program; 6 CCR 1010-2; Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations (6 CCR 1010-2), demonstration of knowledge and certified food protection manager sections; Liquor Enforcement Division fee schedule (form DR 8500); C.R.S. 44-3-413 and 44-3-414 (hotel and restaurant and tavern licenses); 2024 Legislative Council liquor licensing handbook; CDLE introductory premium rates table and 2026 chargeable wage base; FAMLI Division premium pages; Division of Workers’ Compensation insurance coverage page. Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.