To start an LLC in Oregon, file Articles of Organization with the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division, either online through the Oregon Business Registry or by mail. The filing fee is $100 as of October 2026, and the LLC then renews every year on its anniversary date for another $100.
Before filing you need a name ending in “LLC,” “L.L.C.” or “Limited Liability Company” and a registered agent with an Oregon street address. Afterward, sign an operating agreement, get an EIN, and set up any tax accounts and local licenses your business needs.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Oregon (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming an LLC in Oregon, ranked. Mainstay Filing comes first for its flat yearly price; the two Oregon registered agent services below it are options if you only need an agent.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | OR Registered Agent.org | Oregon registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Oregon Registered Agent.co | Oregon registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Oregon. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. OR Registered Agent.org
OR Registered Agent.org is a Oregon registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Oregon Registered Agent.co
Oregon Registered Agent.co is a Oregon registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Oregon LLC basics in one table
| Item | Oregon (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| State agency | Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division |
| Formation document | Articles of Organization |
| Filing fee | $100 (Business Registry fee schedule) |
| Where to file | Online at the Oregon Business Registry, or by mail to Salem |
| Annual report | $100 renewal, due every year on the anniversary of filing |
| Change of registered agent | $0 |
| Registered agent | Required, with a physical Oregon street address |
| Name ending | “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC” or “L.L.C.” |
Step 1: Choose a name the Corporation Division will accept
The Articles of Organization form states that the name must contain the words “Limited Liability Company” or the abbreviation “LLC” or “L.L.C.” Oregon compares new names only against other names in the Oregon Business Registry, so the name must be distinguishable from businesses already on file.
Run your idea through the Oregon Business Registry name search. As the Corporation Division notes, registering a business name does not create trademark rights, so it is worth searching the USPTO trademark database as well.
A good name also needs a matching website and social handles. Namechk checks both in one search, and our business name generator can suggest options if your first choice is taken. For a step-by-step look at Oregon’s search tool, see our Oregon business name search guide.
Step 2: Appoint an Oregon registered agent
Oregon requires every business entity to appoint and maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in Oregon, according to the Corporation Division’s LLC forms page. The agent’s publicly available address must be a street address that matches the agent’s office, Under ORS 63.111, the agent can be an individual who lives in Oregon or an Oregon or authorized foreign business entity, and the registered office cannot be a commercial mail receiving agency, mail forwarding business or virtual office. The LLC cannot name itself as agent, but an owner who lives in Oregon can serve.
Keep privacy in mind. Information you submit becomes public record and is posted online, and the Corporation Division itself suggests avoiding your home address if you can. A commercial agent gives you a business address for the public record and someone to accept legal papers during business hours.
Mainstay Filing includes an Oregon registered agent for the year with its formation service. If you only need an agent, OR Registered Agent.org charges $99 per year, flat. Oregon does not charge a state fee to change your registered agent later.
Step 3: File Articles of Organization ($100)
Most filers use the Oregon Business Registry online. If you prefer paper, download the Articles of Organization and mail it to the Corporation Division, 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 151, Salem, OR 97310, with a $100 check payable to “Corporation Division.” The office does not accept forms or payments by email.
The articles ask for:
- The LLC name
- Duration (perpetual, or a dissolution date)
- The principal office, which must be a physical street address
- The registered agent and the agent’s Oregon street address
- A mailing address for notices from the Division
- Whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed
- The name and address of at least one individual who is a member, manager or authorized representative with direct knowledge of the business
- Any licensed professional services the LLC will provide, and optional provisions such as benefit company status
Want to compare the DIY cost with a filing service? The Oregon LLC cost guide from Mainstay Filing lays out both.
Step 4: Put an operating agreement in writing
Oregon does not require you to file an operating agreement. It is still worth signing one, even as a single owner. The agreement covers ownership percentages, how decisions are made, how profits are distributed, and how ownership can change hands.
Without a written agreement, Oregon’s default LLC statutes govern those questions. Many banks also ask for the operating agreement before opening an account in the LLC’s name.
Step 5: Get an EIN and set up Oregon tax accounts
Apply for a free Employer Identification Number on the IRS website. Your LLC needs one to open a bank account, hire, and file returns.
Oregon has no general sales tax, which simplifies things for many retailers. If you hire employees, you will need to register for Oregon payroll taxes with the state. By default, the IRS treats a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC as a partnership, and the owners report profits on their personal returns unless the LLC elects corporate taxation.
Step 6: Renew your Oregon LLC every year
Oregon calls its annual report a renewal. According to the Secretary of State’s renewal page, it is due on the anniversary date of your original filing, and the Division mails a renewal notice about 45 days before. The fee for a domestic LLC is $100 under the current fee schedule.
File online through the Renew a Business system. The renewal confirms your mailing address, principal place of business and a daytime contact, and asks for at least one member or manager if none is on file. Amending an annual report between renewals costs nothing.
Step 7: Look into licenses and local requirements
Oregon does not have a single general business license. Licenses come from the state board or agency that regulates your work, such as construction contractors or health-related professions, and some cities and counties require their own business licenses or registrations.
If your LLC was formed in another state and you want to do business in Oregon, you register it as a foreign LLC instead of filing Articles of Organization. The fee schedule lists $275 for a foreign LLC application for authority and $275 for each annual renewal, so forming directly in Oregon is cheaper for businesses based here.
Check with the city where you operate before you open. Our Oregon start-a-business guide covers permits, insurance and banking alongside formation.
Oregon LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Oregon?
The Oregon Secretary of State charges $100 to file Articles of Organization as of October 2026, and $100 each year to renew the LLC on its anniversary date. Changing your registered agent is free. Other costs, such as a commercial registered agent, local licenses or professional help, depend on your business.
When is an Oregon LLC annual report due?
An Oregon LLC renews every year on the anniversary date of its original filing. The Corporation Division mails a renewal notice about 45 days before the due date. The current fee schedule lists $100 for a domestic LLC renewal, which you can pay online through the Renew a Business system.
Can I be my own registered agent in Oregon?
Yes, if you live in Oregon and have a physical street address there where you can accept legal papers. That address becomes public record and is posted online. Many owners who work from home or live outside Oregon appoint a commercial registered agent instead to keep their home address off the registry.
Do Oregon LLCs need an operating agreement?
Oregon does not require LLCs to file an operating agreement with the Corporation Division. A written agreement is still recommended because it sets ownership, management and profit-sharing rules that would otherwise default to Oregon statute, and banks often ask for it when you open an account.
Can I file Oregon Articles of Organization online?
Yes. The Oregon Business Registry lets you file Articles of Organization online and pay the $100 fee electronically. You can also mail the paper form to the Corporation Division in Salem with a check. The Division does not accept forms or payments by email.
How do I check if an LLC name is available in Oregon?
Search the Oregon Business Registry name search on the Secretary of State website. The Corporation Division compares new names only against names already in that registry, so a name must be distinguishable from them. Registering the name does not give trademark rights, so also search the USPTO database before you invest in branding.
Does Oregon have a sales tax for LLCs?
No. Oregon has no general state sales tax, so most Oregon LLCs do not need a sales tax permit. LLCs with employees still register for payroll taxes, and owners pay income tax on LLC profits through their personal returns unless the LLC elects to be taxed as a corporation.
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