Form Your Oregon LLC

Quick facts about forming an Oregon LLC

Filing Fee	$100
Processing Time	1-3 business days online, 1-2 weeks by mail
Annual Report Fee	$100
Registered Agent Required	Yes, must have a physical Oregon address
State Franchise Tax	None for LLCs
Business License	No statewide general license, but local permits may be required
Managing Authority	Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division

Are you thinking of forming a limited liability company in Oregon? If so, you’re in good company: the state boasts some 400,000 small businesses. Oregon has a broad variety of manufacturing concerns and is known for its innovative culture. As an added bonus, the state has no sales tax, a boon if you plan for your LLC to sell goods.

The LLC continues to be the most popular business structure for small entrepreneurs. Its tax and liability advantages are hard to beat. 

There are several required steps to start an LLC in Oregon, but the process needn’t be a mystery. If you’re concerned you might miss a critical task along the way, here’s how to ensure that none of the Oregon LLC requirements get left out: take care of the entire process, from startup to ongoing compliance, with Tailor Brands LLC formation service.

How to start an LLC in Oregon (step-by-step)

Here are the steps you’ll need to take to get your LLC: 

1. Name your Oregon LLC
2. Choose a registered agent
3. File articles of organization
4. Create an operating agreement
5. Apply for an EIN
6. Apply for business license

The Oregon Secretary of State has instructions and the forms you will need. They are available in multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese. 

Step 1: Choose a business name

Your business name is one of your first decisions, and it’s a great opportunity to get off to a good start. The name should match your brand identity and tell the public what you offer. It should be easy to remember and easy to pronounce. It’s also critical that the name is available for you to use. An LLC name in Oregon must be distinguishable, i.e., it has to be different enough from every other business name so that it’s not easily confused. You’ll need to do a Oregon business entity search, and LLC formation services like Tailor Brands provide a search as part of their process.

In addition to being distinguishable in Oregon, your business name should not conflict with a trademarked name anywhere in the U.S. You can make sure that it isn’t at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database. It should be available as a domain name for your website, which you can validate with a search service.

Once you’ve chosen a suitable name, you must complete Oregon business registration with the Secretary of State.

Step 2: Appoint a registered agent

Every LLC must name a registered agent. The registered agent is the party that receives official correspondence from the state as well as legal documents like a notice of a lawsuit. The registered agent must have a street address (not a PO box) in Oregon. You may act as your own Oregon registered agent; however, you will have to be consistently available at your address during business hours, a difficult thing for many entrepreneurs to manage. That’s why a lot of LLCs engage a professional registered agent service.

You specify the name and Oregon address of your registered agent when you file your Articles of Organization.

Step 3: File articles of organization with the Oregon Secretary of State

You may file online or download the form and mail it in. Online submissions will be approved in 2–3 days and mailed ones in 4–6 weeks. Required information includes business name and address, registered agent name and address, and names and addresses of members and managers. The fee is $100 for domestic LLCs and $275 for foreign LLCs (those from a state outside of Oregon).

Step 4: Create an operating agreement

An Oregon operating agreement is not required by the state, but an LLC should have one. It’s a legal document that dictates how an LLC will be managed. It delineates the rights and responsibilities of the members and how disputes will be settled. It described how new members can be added, how existing ones leave, and how the LLC can be dissolved. If there is a disagreement that winds up in court, it will be settled according to the terms of your Operating Agreement. If you don’t have an agreement, the courts will apply default Oregon law, even if it’s not what the parties want.

Even a single-member LLC is wise to have an operating agreement. It establishes credibility, and often banks will want to see it before lending money or opening a business account.

The operating agreement is not filed with any agency, but it should be safeguarded along with other LLC critical documents. Templates for operating agreements are available, and a business attorney can review an operating agreement or even write it.

Step 5: Apply for an employer’s identification number (EIN)

An Employer Identification Number for companies is similar to a social security number for individuals as a unique identifier. Almost all LLCs need a federal EIN to manage taxes, open a business bank account, and hire employees. You can get one directly from the IRS, or, if you use the Tailor Brands formation service, you can obtain your EIN as part of the process as an additional service.

Step 6: Apply for any required state or local business licenses

There is not a required general Oregon business license. However, some specific lines of business require licenses. The Secretary of State maintains a License Directory where you can search for licenses that may be required for your LLC.

Many Oregon cities and counties require business licenses or permits. You can learn about these by consulting the Oregon Blue Book’s list of cities or by calling the information phone numbers of the cities and counties where you plan to do business. You can also use our business license and permits service.

Oregon LLC costs and compliance requirements

In addition to the Articles of Organization with its associated fee, the state requires an Oregon annual report on the anniversary of the LLC’s formation. These reports must include any updates to the names and addresses of the businesses, the members, or the registered agent. The Secretary of State sends a reminder about 45 days before the report is due.

Annual reporting is not optional. Failure to file this documentation can ultimately result in the dissolution of your LLC.

The Oregon LLC fees for initial formation and annual reporting are as follows:

Form	Domestic LLC	Foreign LLC
Initial Articles of Organization	$100	$275
Annual Report	$100	$275

FAQ