Business Toolkit
Planning on Starting a Business?
Planning to start a new business? Here is where to find everything you need to start a business in Colorado, and specifically in Conejos County.
Colorado
The first stop is to visit Colorado Business Express at www.colorado.gov/cbe/ . This website will answer all of your questions about how to start a business in the state of Colorado. The following categories are addressed on that website:
Establish Business Entity with Secretary of States Office
Obtain Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
Employers Setup Your Unemployment Insurance Tax ID
Register Your Business for a Sales Tax ID
Business Licensing and Registration
Conejos County
The next steps depend largely upon where your business will be located and what type of business it is.
Conejos County Contact Information
All County offices are located at the Conejos County Courthouse in Conejos. There is no County sales tax therefore there is no need to register your business with the County, however, depending on what type of business you are opening, you may need to contact various County offices.
Conejos County
PO Box 157
Conejos, CO 81129
Conejos, CO 81129
General Information Phone Number: (719) 376-5654
Municipalities
Town of Antonito
PO Box 86
Antonito, CO 81120
Phone: (719) 376-2355
Antonito, CO 81120
Phone: (719) 376-2355
Town of La Jara
PO Box 237
La Jara, CO 81140
Phone: (719) 274-5363
La Jara, CO 81140
Phone: (719) 274-5363
Town of Manassa
PO Box 130
Manassa, CO 81141
Phone: (719) 843-5207
Manassa, CO 81141
Phone: (719) 843-5207
Town of Romeo
PO Box 505
Romeo, CO 81148
Phone: (719) 843-5785
Romeo, CO 81148
Phone: (719) 843-5785
Town of Sanford
PO Box 237
Sanford, CO 81151
Phone: (719) 274-4024
Sanford, CO 81151
Phone: (719) 274-4024
Land Use Changes
All new businesses in the unincorporated areas of the county that require a zone change or a special use approval under the County Land Use Code must contact the Conejos County Land Use Department at 719-376-2014. If you are unsure if this applies to your business, call and check with Land Use staff.
All new businesses in the incorporated communities must contact the Town Clerk of that community to find out if there are zoning or other requirements.
All new businesses in the incorporated communities must contact the Town Clerk of that community to find out if there are zoning or other requirements.
Sales Tax
The towns and the unincorporated areas of Conejos County are subject to a 2.9% State sales tax. There is no County sales tax. The municipalities listed below have an additional tax:
Town of Antonito
Sales Tax: 4.0%
Town of La Jara
Sales Tax: 3.0%
Town of Manassa
Sales Tax: 1.0%
Town of Romeo
Sales Tax: 1.0%
Lodging Tax
Conejos County has a 1.9% County Lodging Tax. If you rent rooms and accommodations for less than 30 days at a time, a county lodging tax is charged to the customer. This includes lodging provided by hotels and motels, as well as condominium rentals and space rentals at auto camps and trailer parks. A county lodging tax return must then be filed. Lodging establishments must register with the Colorado Department of Revenue. To register call 303-238-SERV (7378) and request a County Lodging Tax Return Form or go to the www.colorado.gov and search for Form DR1485.
Lodging establishments also need to contact the Conejos County Tourism Council (which uses lodging tax funds for the promotion of tourism in the county) at PO Box 157, Conejos, CO 81129 in order to have promotional information added to tourism brochures and websites.
Lodging establishments also need to contact the Conejos County Tourism Council (which uses lodging tax funds for the promotion of tourism in the county) at PO Box 157, Conejos, CO 81129 in order to have promotional information added to tourism brochures and websites.
Liquor License
Colorado liquor and beer retail licenses are issued by "dual" licensing authorities. If you are located in a municipality, your local town clerk can provide applications and answer questions concerning the application process. If you are not located in a town, then you should contact your County Clerk 719-376-5422. Your local licensing authority (the Town or County) must first approve all retail licenses before forwarding liquor and beer license applications to the State Liquor Enforcement Division. Licenses can take several months to acquire; you must communicate with your local licensing authority in advance of your opening date. Failure to file applications far in advance of your opening date will result in a delay. Information and forms can also be found at www.colorado.gov/revenue/liquor.