To start a coffee business in Colorado, lock in legal, health, and tax compliance before you sign a lease. Form a Colorado LLC online with the Secretary of State, file a trade name if using a DBA, secure an EIN, then register in MyBizColorado for sales tax, wage withholding, and unemployment; home‑rule cities (Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs) require city sales/use tax licenses. Prepared beverages are taxable statewide; whole-bean retail may be grocery‑exempt but can be taxable in home‑rule cities—configure your POS by item and jurisdiction via the SUTS system. Obtain a Retail Food Establishment license from your county/Denver health department: submit menu, floor plan, equipment spec sheets, plumbing (backflow), and finish schedules for plan review before build‑out. Expect requirements for a hand sink, mop sink, indirect drains, and a grease interceptor if milk/food waste enters sewer. Mobile carts/trucks need a commissary agreement and mobility log. If roasting, consult CDPHE on APEN/permit thresholds and odor control; some cities require afterburners. Meet zoning/parking, patio and signage rules, and fire inspections; espresso boilers/backflow must be permitted. Implement a Certified Food Protection Manager, allergen labeling, HFWA paid sick leave, and tip‑credit payroll. Price in the statewide bag‑fee/paper‑bag rules and altitude adjustments to espresso temps.
