How to File the Oregon LLC Articles of Organization
The Oregon Articles of Organization is the LLC form you fill out and file with the state to form an LLC.
Follow the steps in our How to File the Oregon LLC Articles of Organization guide below to get started.
Or simply use a professional service:
Northwest ($29 + State Fees)
Filing the Oregon Articles of Organization Is Easy!
We'll take you through three easy steps for filing the Oregon LLC Articles of Organization.
- Get Your Articles of Organization Forms
- Fill out the Articles of Organization
- File the Articles of Organization
Step 1: Get Your Articles of Organization Forms
You can download and mail in your Oregon Articles of Organization, OR you can create an account and file online. For this first step, choose your preferred method below.
Get Your Oregon Articles of Organization
Option 1: Create an account with the Oregon Secretary of State. After logging in, select “New Business” from the top toolbar. Then, select “Start” under “Register a Business Name.”
Create Account- OR -
Option 2: Download the Articles of Organization PDF from the Secretary of State’s website. This form will need to be mailed to the Corporation Division.
Download PDFStep 2: Fill Out the Articles of Organization
In this step, we will help you complete the Oregon Articles of Organization form.
You will need to know the following information to complete each section:
- Entity Name and Address
- LLC Duration
- Registered Agent Name and Registered Office Address
- Governing Authority Type
- Business Purpose
- Organizers
Entity Name and Address
Having a creative and smart business name is important but not as important as having a legally correct name.
When you choose a name for your business, you have to make sure the name:
- meets Oregon naming guidelines.
- is not already in use by another business in Oregon.
Follow the Oregon Naming Guidelines:
- Your name must include the phrase “limited liability company” or one of its abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.).
- Your name cannot include the following: cooperative, corporation, corp., incorporated, Inc., limited partnership, L.P., LP, Ltd., limited liability partnership, L.L.P., and LLP.
- Your name may include the following special characters: asterisk (*); “at” sign (@); backslash (/); left brace ( { ); right brace ( } ); caret (^); dollar sign ($); “equal to” sign (=); “greater than” sign (>); “less than” sign (<); number sign (#); percentage sign (%); plus sign (+); tilde (~); and underscore (_).
- Your name may include the following punctuation: apostrophe ( ‘ ); left bracket ([ ); right bracket( ]); colon (:); comma (,); dash or hyphen (-); exclamation point (!); left parenthesis (( ); right parenthesis ( ) ); period (.); question mark (? ); single quote mark (“ ); double quote marks ( “ ” ); semicolon (;); and slash ( / ).
- Your name cannot imply in any way that the business is an agency of the state or any of its political subdivisions without approval.
- In some states, certain restricted words (e.g., Bank, Attorney, University) may require additional paperwork and a licensed individual to be part of your LLC.
- Your name must be distinguishable from any existing business in the state. This includes Oregon reserved names.
Check Name Availability:
Is your name available in Oregon? Make sure the name you want isn't already taken by doing a name search on the Oregon Secretary of State website.
To learn more about naming your business, including best practices and creative branding, visit our How to Name a Business in Oregon guide.
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our Business Name Generator.
Register Your Domain Name:
We recommend checking to see if your business name is available as a web domain. Even if you don't plan to make a business website today, you may want to buy the URL in order to prevent others from acquiring it.
LLC Duration
Indicate whether your LLC’s duration will be perpetual or list the date of dissolution.
Registered Agent and Registered Office
A registered agent accepts and sends legal documents on your LLC’s behalf. When you register your Oregon LLC, you are required to list your registered agent and your registered office.
Your registered agent can be anyone 18 years or older that lives in Oregon. Your registered agent must always be available at the registered office during regular business hours. Your registered office address cannot be a P.O. box alone.
To learn more about choosing an Oregon registered agent, read our How to Choose an Oregon Registered Agent guide.
To learn more about what a registered agent does and how to choose one, read our What is a Registered Agent guide.
Governing Authority
You will need to decide if your LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed. For more information, read our Management by Members or Managers article to determine the best structure for your LLC.
Purpose
In Oregon, you only need to describe your business purpose if you are offering a licensed professional service.
Keep in mind that a business purpose that involves licensing, tax-exemption, or tax-deductible status requires specific language from the IRS or a professional license.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
To register your LLC, you will need to file the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State.
There are two ways to file your Articles of Organization:
- Complete the form online.
- Submit a hard copy by mail.
File the Oregon Articles of Organization
Option 1: Create or log into your account with the Oregon Secretary of State. Select “New Business” from the top toolbar and select “Start” under “Register a Business Name.” Then select “Register Name,” fill in the required fields, and submit.
File Online- OR -
Option 2: Download and mail in the Articles of Organization PDF to the Secretary of State’s Corporation Division.
Download PDFState Filing Cost: $100
Mail to:
Secretary of State, Corporation Division
255 Capitol St. NE
Suite 151
Salem, OR 97310
Turnaround Time: Filings sent in by mail can take around a week to process, while online filings are processed in an hour or so.
Steps After Your Oregon LLC Is Officially Formed
Once you’ve filed your Articles of Organization, you should take the following steps:
Create an Operating Agreement
An Oregon LLC operating agreement is a legal document that outlines the ownership structure and member roles of your LLC.
In Oregon, you aren't required to have an Operating Agreement to officially form an LLC, but it's still a good idea to have one. You can start your operating agreement before, during, or after you file your Articles of Organization.
Your operating agreement will be kept in your LLC's private business records; you do not file it with the state.
Use our free Operating Agreement Tool to draft a customized operating agreement for your LLC.
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is like a social security number for your LLC. You will need an EIN if you want to hire employees or open business bank accounts.
You can get your EIN for free through the IRS website, via fax, or by mail. If you would like to learn more about EINs and how they can benefit your LLC, read our What is an EIN article.
Open a Business Bank Account
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential to protect your business' corporate veil. When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your LLC is sued.
For reviews on some of our most trusted business banks, visit our Best Banks for Small Business review.
Get Licenses and Permits
When you are registering an LLC, you need to determine if your business needs any licenses or permits to remain compliant. On the federal level, there are a handful of business activities that require licenses or permits.
Find out how to obtain necessary licenses and permits for your business or have a professional service do it for you:
- Federal: Use the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guide to federal business licenses and permits.
- State: Apply for or learn more about licenses, permits, and registration with Oregon's Business Information Center.
- Local: Contact your local county clerk and ask about local licenses and permits.
State of Oregon Quick Links
Oregon Online Business Registration
Oregon Business Registration Forms
Brand Your Business
The strongest and most memorable businesses are built on a solid brand. When developing your brand, think about what your business stands for. Customers and clients are looking for companies that have a compelling brand, as much as they are shopping for high-quality products and services.
Creating a logo for your business is vital for increasing brand awareness. You can design your own unique logo using our Free Logo Generator. Our free tool can help you design your own unique logo for your new business idea.