Forming an Oregon LLC Through the Secretary of State

Oregon LLC formation runs through the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division. The formation document is the Articles of Organization, filed on paper or online through the Oregon Business Registry, with a $100 fee (ORS 63.044; ORS 63.047). One Oregon quirk before you start: the state does not number its forms. The filing is titled "Articles of Organization - Limited Liability Company" and carries only a revision date, so ignore any guide that cites an Oregon form number. Here is the sequence. For the overview, see our main formation guide.

The Steps in Order

1. Search the Business Registry for your name. The name must be distinguishable from every entity already on the registry and must include "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." Search variations, since near-matches fail too. Our name search guide has tactics.
2. Reserve the name if you are not ready to file (optional). The Corporation Division accepts name reservations for a separate state charge; see our name reservation guide. If you are filing right away, skip this and let the articles claim the name.
3. Line up your registered agent and registered office. ORS 63.111 requires an agent whose registered office is a physical Oregon street address where process may be personally served on the agent. The statute rules out a commercial mail receiving agency, a mail forwarding business, and a virtual office by name, and the agent's business office must be identical to the registered office. Details on our registered agent page.
4. Prepare the Articles of Organization. Gather the LLC name, the registered agent's name and Oregon street address, the principal office address, a mailing address, whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed, and the organizer's name. Under ORS 63.044, one or more individuals 18 years of age or older, or other entities, may form the LLC. See our filing document guide.
5. File with the Corporation Division and pay $100. File online through the Oregon Business Registry or mail the paper form to the Corporation Division in Salem. A successful filing comes back with your Oregon Registry Number, the identifier the state uses for your LLC from then on.
6. Adopt an operating agreement. Not filed with the state, but it is the document that governs ownership splits, management authority, and exits. Without one, the default rules of ORS Chapter 63 fill the gaps. Our operating agreement guide covers what to include.
7. Get your EIN from the IRS. Free and online. See our EIN guide.
8. Open the bank account and handle registrations. Banks want the filed articles and the EIN letter. Register with the Oregon Department of Revenue if you will have employees or elect corporate taxation, and check your city's business license rules. Oregon has no sales tax, so there is no seller's permit step.
9. Calendar the annual report. Oregon's annual report, also called the annual renewal, is $100 and due on the anniversary of your formation date every year (ORS 63.787). The state mails a renewal notice about 45 days ahead, but not receiving it does not excuse the filing. Details on our annual filing page.

Filing Fees at a Glance

The full breakdown lives on our filing fees page.

Prefer to hand it off? Our formation service is $199 and includes your first year of registered agent service, renewing at $99 per year afterward. Form Your Oregon LLC

FAQ

Does Oregon use form numbers?

No. Corporation Division forms carry revision dates only. The formation document is titled "Articles of Organization - Limited Liability Company," and you file it on paper or through the Oregon Business Registry online.

Does Oregon require newspaper publication?

No. There is no publication step in Oregon. The articles filing and the $100 fee complete formation.

Can someone outside Oregon form an Oregon LLC?

Yes. Members and managers can live anywhere. The constraint is the registered agent: the LLC needs an agent with a physical Oregon street address where process can be personally served, per ORS 63.111.

What happens after I file?

The Corporation Division adds the LLC to the Business Registry and assigns your Oregon Registry Number. Oregon identifies your LLC by that number rather than by an EIN, so keep it with your records; the Business Registry uses it for renewals and later filings.