How Much Does an LLC Cost in Oregon

The minimum Oregon LLC cost is $100, which covers the processing fee for filing your LLC formation documents, known as the Articles of Organization.

Having said that, the total cost of forming an Oregon LLC will depend on several factors, including your personal preferences and business needs.

In our How Much Does an LLC Cost in Oregon article, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about the different costs associated with launching and maintaining an LLC.

Oregon LLC Cost

In the table below, you can find a summary of the main requirements of forming a Oregon limited liability company (LLC) and their associated fees.

                                                         

Requirement	Fee
Articles of Organization	$100-$275
Registered Agent	$0-$150+
LLC Name	$0-$150
Operating Agreement	$0+

Oregon LLC Filing Fee ($100-$275)

In Oregon, all domestic LLCs are required to submit their Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State in order to be registered.

If you choose to submit this formation document independently, you will need to pay a $100 processing fee.

If you are registering a foreign LLC instead, you will have to fill out and submit an Application for Authority to Transact Business form and pay a $275 filing fee.

Having said that, if you choose to use an LLC formation service, the cost will be a little higher as it will include a small service fee in addition to Oregon’s state filing fee.

The fees for an LLC formation service can range significantly, but can start from as low as $29, increasing if you decide to purchase any additional offerings.

Note: For more details on the formation process, you can check out our Oregon LLC Formation guide.

Oregon Registered Agent ($0-$150+)

As part of your LLC’s formation process, you will have to appoint a registered agent. This is a person or entity that you must assign to receive tax, legal, and governmental correspondence on behalf of your Oregon LLC.

While you can act as your own registered agent at no extra cost, it’s often recommended to hire a professional service so you avoid any potential penalties or legal issues caused by non-compliance with state regulations.

Hiring a registered agent service can be a great alternative to working with a business attorney — as it’s more affordable — and can also help keep your personal information private.

The cost of registered agent services in Oregon vary, but will generally be around $130 per annum.

Alternatively, you can find some of the top recommendations for professional RA services in our Best Registered Agent Services of 2024 article.

Naming Your Oregon LLC ($0-$150)

When forming your OregonLLC, you’ll be required to pick a suitable name that’s available to use.

There are two potential costs to be aware of when naming your LLC.

Reserving Name

If you’re not ready to form your LLC but have found a name you like, you’ll be able to reserve it for a period of up to 120 days by filing an Application for Name Reservation with the Secretary of State Corporation Division and paying the $100 non-refundable processing fee.

Note: We recommend first performing Business Name Search on the Oregon Secretary of State’s website in order to confirm the name you’re hoping to reserve is actually available.

This can ensure that you do not end up unnecessarily wasting $100.

When choosing a name for your LLC, it’s important to select one that corresponds to an available domain. This is because a matching domain ensures consistency between your LLC’s name and its online presence, which helps to strengthen its brand recognition and credibility.

Doing Business As (DBA) Name

If you’re considering operating your business under a name that’s different from the one it’s legally registered as, you’ll need to apply for a Doing Business As (DBA) name — also known as an Assumed Business Name in Oregon.

To do this, you will need to fill out an Assumed Business Name New Registration form and submit it to the Oregon Secretary of State along with a $50 fee. If accepted, this will secure your requested name for a period of two years.

Prior to registering, you should conduct a Business Name Search on the Oregon Secretary of State’s website in order to ensure your assumed name isn’t already in use by another business entity.

Oregon LLC Operating Agreement ($0+)

While not mandatory, it’s good practice for LLCs to have an operating agreement.

This document defines the roles and responsibilities of the members or managers in your LLC and will help prevent and solve any business disputes that may arise later on.

While you can opt to hire an online service or business attorney to draft this document for you (which typically costs at least a few hundred dollars), it’s actually quite straightforward to do it yourself at no extra cost.

It’s also important to note that this doesn’t actually need to be filed with the Oregon Secretary of State — it’s purely an internal document.

Additional Oregon LLC Formation Costs

On top of the more common fees outlined above, there are a number of additional formation costs that LLCs in Oregon may encounter depending on their circumstances.

We’ve summarized some of these additional costs below:

Local Business Licenses

In order to comply with the local-level regulations of your city and county, your business may be required to obtain some local business licenses.

While very few municipalities impose a general licensing requirement for businesses operating within their limits, your LLC might need a municipal license if it’s involved in certain activities.

For instance, if your LLC operates a warehouse in Portland, you will need to obtain an annual warehouse license from the city, which comes at a cost of $200.

Certificate of Existence

An Oregon Certificate of Existence is a document often required to open a business bank account; it can also be requested by lenders in order to check that your LLC is properly registered and legally authorized to conduct business in the state.

You can request a Certificate of Existence online through the Oregon Secretary of State’s website by logging into the Oregon Business Registry, selecting the option for a Certificate of Existence, and paying a $10 processing fee.

Certified Copies of Business Documents

You may need certified copies of your business documents if you’re dealing with financial institutions, regulatory bodies, or are involved in legal proceedings.

You can request certified copies of your business documents by submitting a completed Request for Copy to the Oregon Secretary of State. This service comes at a cost of $15 per certified copy.

Cost to Maintain an LLC in Oregon

In addition to the cost of forming an LLC in Oregon, there are also several ongoing costs you’ll be responsible for paying each year.

We’ve outlined these recurring costs associated with maintaining an Oregon LLC below.

Annual Report Fee

You will need to file an Annual Report with the Secretary of State’s Corporation Division in order to maintain your Oregon LLC’s good standing.

This report, which includes information such as your LLC’s name, registered agent’s details, and member information, can be submitted online via the Oregon Business Registry portal.

It should be noted that the annual report is due every year before the anniversary of your LLC’s initial registration and includes a $100 processing fee.

Registered Agent Maintenance

If you decide to take advantage of a professional registered agent in order to handle your legal documents, you’ll be required to pay an annual fee in return for their services. This fee commonly ranges between $35 and $300 depending on the provider and features you select.

While you’re not required to use a professional registered agent service, it’s highly recommended.

Taxes

In addition to the federal taxes your LLC is required to pay regardless of the state it’s based in, there are a variety of state-specific taxes in Oregon you need to be aware of, including:

• Sales tax
• Employment taxes
• Business privilege taxes
• Property taxes

Additionally, there are various local taxes your LLC may need to pay depending on the municipality or county it’s based in, such as:

• Sales and use taxes
• Property tax

Oregon vs Other States

Oregon offers modest filing and maintenance fees for LLCs, making it a cost-effective choice for entrepreneurs.

Regardless, it’s important to understand that the best state to form your LLC will generally almost always be the one in which you plan to primarily operate your business from.

This is because this makes it far easier to stay legally compliant on a number of levels, including taxation, licensing, and filing requirements, as you’ll only need to deal with one state’s set of rules.