How to Invoice as a Attorney in Colorado

How to invoice as a attorney in Colorado: CO sales tax 2.90% (services usually exempt), late fees capped at 1.5%/mo under Colo. Rev. Stat. §5-12-101. Step-by-step guide with a free template.

State sales tax
2.9%
Late fee cap
1.5%/mo
Net terms
30 days
Deposit
100%

1. Colorado-specific invoice requirements

  • Sales tax line: 2.90% state rate. Most services rendered in Colorado are exempt from sales tax — but materials, parts, and tangible goods are not. State 2.9%; home-rule cities add their own (combined commonly 7-10%).
  • Late-fee cap: Colorado statute Colo. Rev. Stat. §5-12-101 caps interest on unpaid invoices at 1.5% per month. Spell out the rate in writing on every invoice and in your contract — courts won't enforce undisclosed fees.
  • Right-to-cancel notice: Customers in Colorado get 72-hour cancellation rights on certain home-services contracts. Disclose this in your terms.

2. Attorney line items + standard terms

Every attorney invoice in Colorado should itemize work clearly. Standard attorneys use Net 30 terms with a 100% deposit required upfront.

  • Hourly billing — billed by hour (~$350 default).
  • Flat fee — service — billed by flat.
  • Filing fees (cost advance) — billed by itemized.
  • Trust deposit (IOLTA) — billed by flat.

3. Attorney licensing in Colorado

Bar admission required. Trust accounting (IOLTA) governed by state bar rules; commingling client funds is sanctionable.

4. Send and follow up

Send the invoice the same day work completes. Use software that records open events and offers a one-click online payment so you don't need to chase a check by mail. Colorado customers expect digital payment options today — accepting card and ACH typically reduces days-to-paid by 30–50%.

Average invoice
$2,800
State
CO
Net terms
30 days
Deposit
100%

Colorado metro guides

Metro-specific guides include the combined sales-tax rate and local pricing benchmarks.

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