Step 1: Choose a name Oregon will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. It also has to differ from the names already on the Oregon Secretary of State Corporation Division's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Oregon against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $100, for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Oregon who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Oregon companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Oregon Secretary of State Corporation Division. The fee is $100. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. 1 to 3 business days. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Oregon doesn't require one (ORS 63.057), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Oregon LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Oregon has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Oregon LLC annual report
Fee: $100 (domestic LLC annual report/renewal); amendments to an annual report $0. Due: Each year by the anniversary date of the original filing (ORS 63.787); renewal notices are sent about 45 days before the due date. (Source: Br fee schedule (PDF), sos.oregon.gov.)
| After formation | Oregon |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $100 each year (due on the anniversary date) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | Corporate Activity Tax above $1 million in Oregon commercial activity |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Existence, $10 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Oregon certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Oregon
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $100 |
| First year, state fees | $100 |
| Each year after | $100 |
Over five years, Oregon's state fees come to $500. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Br fee schedule (PDF), sos.oregon.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Business registry certificates, sos.oregon.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Ordering copies and certificates, sos.oregon.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Obr annual report renewal, sos.oregon.gov, checked 2026-10-07
sos.oregon.gov, checked 2026-10-08
ORS chapter 63, oregonlegislature.gov, checked 2026-10-07
ORS chapter 60, oregonlegislature.gov, checked 2026-10-07
ORS chapter 648, oregonlegislature.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Display division rules, secure.sos.state.or.us, checked 2026-10-07
Corporate activity tax, oregon.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Business registry certificates, sos.oregon.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Pkg web name srch inq, egov.sos.state.or.us, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Oregon
- Choose a name Oregon will accept and check it against the Oregon Secretary of State Corporation Division's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Oregon.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Oregon Secretary of State Corporation Division ($100).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Oregon?
$100 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $100 in the first year and $100 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Oregon?
The Oregon Secretary of State Corporation Division gives 1 to 3 business days.
Do I need an operating agreement in Oregon?
Oregon doesn't require one (ORS 63.057), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Oregon online?
Yes. The Oregon Secretary of State Corporation Division takes the Articles of Organization online, for $100.
When is the Oregon LLC annual report due?
Each year by the anniversary date of the original filing (ORS 63.787); renewal notices are sent about 45 days before the due date.
Does Oregon require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Oregon's recurring filing: $100 each year (due on the anniversary date).