How to start a business in Oregon

What do you file before you open in Oregon?

1. Pick a structure

   Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See Oregon LLC guide, Oregon corporation guide, S corp or C corp in Oregon. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.

2. Check and register the name

   Search the Secretary of State records before you pick a name: state name search. The Oregon Secretary of State's Corporation Division registers assumed business names, also known as DBAs, and an assumed business name renews every two years. ¹ See Oregon name search guide.

3. File with the state

   Oregon charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $100 ² and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $100 ³. See LLC cost.

4. Name a registered agent

   An Oregon registered office must be a physical street address where process can be served, and cannot be a commercial mail receiving agency, a mail forwarding business or a virtual office. ⁴ Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See Oregon registered agent rules.

Which accounts do you open after you file in Oregon?

1. Get an EIN

   An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. ⁵

2. Open your state tax accounts

   New Oregon businesses register for state tax programs with the Oregon Department of Revenue through its Revenue Online site. ⁶ See Sales tax permit.

3. Register as an employer

   Oregon employers register with the Oregon Employment Department before issuing any paychecks, and employers with employees are then directed to the Department of Revenue for a Business Identification Number. ⁷ Oregon employers report each new hire and rehire to the Oregon Child Support Program within 20 days of the hire date, including the first day of work. ⁸ The Oregon Workers' Compensation Division says Oregon requires almost all employers to carry coverage; anyone who employs one or more workers is an employer, and about 30 exemptions exist in Oregon law. ⁹

What keeps your Oregon business in good standing?

1. Check licenses and permits

   The Oregon Secretary of State says licenses in Oregon are issued at the state level by profession or industry, and also by some cities and a few counties. ¹⁰

2. Calendar the yearly filings

   Oregon annual report: $100, due by your formation anniversary date. ¹¹ See Oregon annual report.

3. Use free local help

   Small business advising in Oregon runs through the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network. ¹² Oregon Business Xpress points new owners to the state's License Directory, where a keyword search shows whether a business is regulated and which agency to contact. ¹³

What it costs to start a business in Oregon

Do you need a business license in Oregon?

It depends on the trade and the place. The U.S. Small Business Administration says most small businesses need a combination of licenses and permits from federal and state agencies, and that requirements and fees depend on the business activity and the issuing agency. ¹⁵ Oregon's own rule is in step 8. ¹⁰ Where to look up licenses: Oregon Business Xpress.

How to register a business name in Oregon

Check that the name is free first: state name search.

Also in Oregon

• Corporate Activity Tax. The Oregon Department of Revenue imposes a Corporate Activity Tax on all types of business entities, but only those with more than $1 million of taxable Oregon commercial activity owe a payment. ¹⁶
• Statewide Transit Tax withholding. Oregon employers withhold the Statewide Transit Tax, one-tenth of 1 percent of wages, from wages of Oregon residents and of nonresidents who perform services in Oregon. ¹⁷

More for Oregon

• LLC guide
• Corporation guide
• Oregon LLC cost
• Name search
• Registered agent
• Oregon sales tax permit
• Annual report
• S corp or C corp

Common questions