Licenses and permits to open a dessert shop in Denver
Desserts served on site make it a food service business, with the health permit and inspection that go with it. Here are the 6 filings, in the order they're made.
Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Internal Revenue ServiceUS federal
Owners with an SSN or ITIN apply online. A company whose responsible party has neither (most China-based owners) faxes or mails Form SS-4, or calls the IRS international line.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Paper form, faxed or mailed
- Takes
- Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call.
Colorado sales tax and withholding registration
Colorado Department of RevenueCO
A business with a Colorado location applies in MyBizColorado for the sales tax license and the wage withholding account (or on paper Form CR0100); MyBizColorado also connects you with the Department of Labor and Employment to set up unemployment insurance.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- Applied for online, the account number is shown online; the sales tax license arrives by mail.
Denver sales tax license
City and County of Denver, Department of Finance, TreasuryDenver
Denver collects its own sales tax: a Denver business making retail sales registers in the eBiz Tax Center. With staff working in Denver, also register for the Occupational Privilege Tax.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every 2 years.
Denver zoning use permit
Denver Community Planning and DevelopmentDenver
Apply on e-permits (select Zoning Permit); the permit is issued once its fee is paid, and lapses unless a building permit or certificate of occupancy follows within 180 days. Denver's retail food license won't issue without it.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
Food establishment plan review
Denver Department of Public Health and EnvironmentDenver
Denver Public Health lists plan review among the steps to open a food business, and its inspection comes before the retail food license.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
Denver retail food establishment license
City and County of Denver, Business LicensingDenver
Apply in Denver's Online Permitting and Licensing Center with the entity and on-site manager details, and the Denver sales tax license if you sell taxable goods. After review, Development Services, the Fire Department, Public Health and Zoning inspect.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- Denver aims to review a complete application within seven business days; the inspections follow.
- Renews
- Every year; renew online before it expires.
More on opening in Denver
Questions people ask
Other businesses in Denver
Agency requirements change. Check each agency's page before you file.
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Get the plan for your dessert shop in Denver
This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
- The full list for your address, in filing order
- The official forms, filled line by line
- Renewal and inspection reminders