Where small businesses lose money
It's rarely one big mistake. It's the wrong entity for three years, missed estimated payments, sales tax filed for the wrong city, and owner pay that was never planned. Each one costs a little. Together they cost a lot.
What a business CPA handles
🏛️ Entity and structure
Sole proprietor, LLC, S-corp or C-corp, chosen on real numbers, plus the Colorado Secretary of State filings that keep you in good standing.
💵 Payroll and owner pay
Reasonable salary for S-corp owners, withholding, Colorado FAMLI premiums and unemployment insurance, set up right.
🧾 Sales and use tax
Licensing, collecting the right combined rate and filing through Colorado's SUTS portal or directly with home-rule cities.
📈 Planning
Quarterly check-ins, tax projections and estimated payments, so the April number is never a surprise.
Built for Colorado's patchwork
Colorado is one of the more complicated states for small business taxes. Dozens of home-rule cities can set and collect their own sales tax, some cities charge an occupational privilege tax per employee, and business personal property must be declared to the county assessor. A CPA who works in Colorado every day knows which pieces apply to you and which don't.
Growth stage? Think bigger.
Once you're past the survival stage, the questions change: Can I afford another hire? Should I buy or lease the truck? What's the business worth? That's where monthly financials, forecasting and fractional CFO help come in. In Denver, see our fractional CFO guide.
Questions people ask
Should my LLC elect S-corp status?
It can lower self-employment tax once profits are steady and high enough to cover a reasonable salary, but it adds payroll and a separate business return. Run the numbers with a CPA before electing.
Do I need to collect sales tax in Colorado?
If you sell taxable goods (and some services) in Colorado, you'll likely need a sales tax license and to collect state, county, special district and possibly home-rule city taxes.
Do I need to make quarterly estimated payments?
If you're self-employed or have income without withholding, generally yes. Missing them adds an underpayment penalty even if you pay in full by April.
Can a CPA help me get a business loan?
Yes. Lenders want clean financial statements and tax returns that match them. A CPA can prepare both and explain the numbers to the lender.