Business Info

Municipal Resources


Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte welcome new businesses with business-friendly policies and helpful staff. Both towns require a sales tax license for any taxable sales. While Crested Butte requires a business license to operate, Mt. Crested Butte does not. For specific sales tax reports, you can find information for Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte below.

Small Business Development Center


We are fortunate to have an office of the Colorado Small Business Development Center located right here in Gunnison County at 109 E. Georgia Suite 1C. The SBDC is a collaboration between state and federal governments, higher education, businesses, non-profits, chambers of commerce, and more with the purpose of providing free, confidential business counseling and training for small and growing businesses. The staff at the SBDC is standing by willing to help you with the following items, and more:

  • Loan Applications (and related cash flow projections)
  • Marketing
  • Managements
  • Quickbooks/Accounting
  • Business Planning
  • Access to capital
  • Effective Business Systems
  • Buying or Selling a business

If you’re interested in requesting an appointment, either call the local SBDC directly at (970) 765-3139 or fill out the state application system.

Colorado Secretary Of State


We partner with Gunnison County to operate two Visitor Centers, one in Crested Butte and one in Mt Crested Butte.

Both Visitor Centers are open seven days a week from 9am-5pm in the winter and summer seasons except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. 

  • TRADE NAME REGISTRATION

    Select the name under which you want to do business, e.g., “Colorado Business Associates,” “Colorado Ventures,” “Tina’s T-Shirts.” If you are going to use only your own proper name, without any reference to a company identify you do not have to file a Trade Name Registration.


    Note: Banks will require the Trade Name Registration to document your authority to open a business checking account.

    MORE INFO

  • SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP OR GENERAL PARTNERSHIP

    Register your trade name with the Department of Revenue and you’re all set.

  • CORPORATE REGISTRATION

    File Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State. If doing business under an assumed name (other than the name which you incorporate), file a Trade Name Affidavit with the Secretary of Sate.

  • LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY/LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

    File a Limited Partnership or Article of Organization for a Limited Liability Company with the Secretary of State’s Office.

Additional Business Resources You May Need


If your business is larger, you may need additional resources. If you’re looking for information or guidance on employees, worker’s comp, unemployment insurance, or other general business concerns, we’ve organized that information below.

  • IRS & FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION

    Businesses with Employees are required by federal and state laws to open and maintain a number of accounts for their employees. These accounts are where you deposit federal and state income tax withholding payments from payroll, and where you deposit your FICA matching and Medicare payments for employees. Contact the Colorado Small Business for specific forms and to request their Colorado Business Start Up Kit www.sba.gov/co/ or 1-888-333-7798.


    IRS Form SS-4 establishes your FEIN for deposit of Social Security, federal withholding and federal unemployment taxes at your bank.

  • STATE EMPLOYER REGISTRATION

    Form CR 100 is required for establishing withholding payment accounts for employee income tax withholding. The same form is forwarded by the Department of Revenue to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, which then establishes the state unemployment insurance accounts. This registration also establishes legitimacy to qualify for buying at wholesale process for resale and for additional discount programs available from businesses, which sell to business customers. For a copy of the CR 100 form visit:


    www.coworkforce.com/UIT/EmployersHandbook/Forms.htm

  • UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

    This fund, established by law, provides benefits to employees who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. The employer pays all federal and state unemployment insurance taxes. For more information, contact the Department of labor and Employment, Division of Employment and Training. For more information about the appeals procedure call the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Branch at (303) 318-9299 or 1-800-405-2338 (Toll Free).

  • WORKER'S COMPENSATION INSURANCERANCE

    A Workers’ Comp account is required for employers and may be purchased through your private carrier or the Colorado Compensation Insurance Authority: 720 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 100N, Denver, CO 80222 Phone: 303-782-4082 Fax: 303-782-4031 Website: www.coworkforce.com/dwc/faqs/employerfaqs.asp

  • CONTRACT LABOR

    Form 1099 is required for each worker hired on an independent contract basis to which you paid over $600 during the year. For help in classifying a worker as and employee or a contract worker, contact the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment or call the Small Business Hotline. Employers must meet many guidelines and pay for Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Compensation insurance premiums and state and federal unemployment taxes. The costs can be high in some industries. Some business owners try to avoid paying the proper taxes; fees and premiums by call their employees “independent contractors.” Someone who works for you on your schedule, on your premises, with your equipment, gets paid weekly or monthly, receives training and benefits, takes paid vacation and receives direction from you is an employee. Someone who accepts an assignment, a deadline for completion and a fee agreement, but completes the work on his/her own schedule and with his/her own equipment, is an independent contractor. The difference is the level of control the business owner/manager has over the worker. The penalties for improperly recognizing employees and for not paying the appropriate taxes are severe.

  • WAGE AND HOUR LAWYER

    Nearly all manufacturers, wholesalers and contractors and many retail and service businesses are subject to Federal minimum wage, overtime and child labor requirements. The state of Colorado has established minimum wage requirements for retail stores, laundries, beauty parlors, motels, restaurants, and similar businesses. Information can be obtained from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

  • OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

    The safety and health of employees is protected by federal regulations. Employers should contact OSHA for publications. Specify the type of business in order to receive the appropriate publications for your business.