• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Evergreen Small Business

Actionable Insights from Small Business CPAs

  • Home
  • Small Business FAQ
  • Monographs
    • Business Planning Workbook
    • Download Your Free Copy of the Thirteen Word Retirement Plan
    • Five Minute Payroll Monograph (2019 Edition)
    • LLC Operating Agreement
    • Maximizing PPP Loan Forgiveness
    • Maximizing Sec. 199A Deductions Monograph
    • Preparing Form 3115 for the Tangible Property Regulations
    • Preparing U.S. Tax Returns for International Taxpayers
    • Real Estate Tax Loopholes & Secrets
    • Red Portfolio Black Portfolio FAQ and Download
    • Sample Corporate Bylaws
    • Setting Low Salaries for S Corporations
    • Small Business Tax Deduction Secrets
    • Small Businesses and the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
    • Joining Our Affiliate Program
  • Our Bloggers
  • Free LLC Formation Kits
    • Alabama LLC
    • Alaska LLC
    • Arizona LLC
    • Arkansas LLC
    • California LLC
    • Colorado LLC
    • Connecticut LLC
    • Delaware LLC
    • Florida LLC
    • Georgia LLC
    • Hawaii LLC
    • Idaho LLC
    • Illinois LLC
    • Indiana LLC
    • Iowa LLC
    • Kansas LLC
    • Kentucky LLC
    • Louisiana LLC
    • Maine LLC
    • Maryland LLC
    • Massachusetts LLC
    • Michigan LLC
    • Minnesota LLC
    • Mississippi LLC
    • Missouri LLC
    • Montana LLC
    • Nebraska LLC
    • Nevada LLC
    • New Hampshire LLC
    • New Jersey LLC
    • New Mexico LLC
    • New York LLC
    • North Carolina LLC
    • North Dakota LLC
    • Ohio LLC
    • Oklahoma LLC
    • Oregon LLC
    • Pennsylvania LLC
    • Rhode Island LLC
    • South Carolina LLC
    • South Dakota LLC
    • Tennessee LLC
    • Texas LLC
    • Utah LLC
    • Vermont LLC
    • Virginia LLC
    • Washington LLC
    • West Virginia LLC
    • Wisconsin LLC
    • Wyoming LLC
  • S Corporation Kits
    • Alabama S Corporation
    • Alaska S Corporation
    • Arizona S Corporation
    • Arkansas S Corporation
    • California S Corporation
    • Colorado S Corporation
    • Connecticut S Corporation
    • Delaware S Corporation
    • Florida S Corporation
    • Georgia S Corporation
    • Hawaii S Corporation
    • Idaho S Corporation
    • Illinois S Corporation
    • Indiana S Corporation
    • Iowa S Corporation
    • Kansas S Corporation
    • Kentucky S Corporation
    • Louisiana S Corporation
    • Maine S Corporation
    • Maryland S Corporation
    • Massachusetts S Corporation
    • Michigan S Corporation
    • Minnesota S Corporation
    • Mississippi S Corporation
    • Missouri S Corporation
    • Montana S Corporation
    • Nebraska S Corporation
    • Nevada S Corporation
    • New Hampshire S Corporation
    • New Jersey S Corporation
    • New Mexico S Corporation
    • New York S Corporation
    • North Carolina S Corporation
    • North Dakota S Corporation
    • Ohio S Corporation
    • Oklahoma S Corporation
    • Oregon S Corporation
    • Pennsylvania S Corporation
    • Rhode Island S Corporation
    • South Carolina S Corporation
    • South Dakota S Corporation
    • Tennessee S Corporation
    • Texas S Corporation
    • Utah S Corporation
    • Vermont S Corporation
    • Virginia S Corporation
    • Washington S Corporation
    • West Virgina S Corporation
    • Wisconsin S Corporation
    • Wyoming S Corporation
  • Contact Nelson CPA
You are here: Home / Free LLC Formation Kits for All Fifty States / Forming an Oregon limited liability company

Forming an Oregon limited liability company

oregonWe’ve got a free, downloadable “do it yourself” kit you can use. In other words, the price you pay to purchase equals “zero.” That kit provides more information about LLCs and includes a couple of free LLC operating agreements. (We used to sell the kit but since the Covid-19 pandemic have simply given the kit away.)

View Cart

If you just need a little help getting the paperwork filed with the state of Oregon, you can just follow these instructions: (These instructions are up-to-date as of August 5, 2020.)

1. Check if the LLC name you want is available

Your first step in setting up an LLC is to check if the name you want to use is even available. To do this, you can use the Oregon Secretary of State’s Corporation Division search form at:

http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.login

By entering the name you want to use in the search form, you’ll be able to see if there’s another business already using the name that you want. You can’t use a name, by the way, that’s the same or deceptively similar to another existing LLC’s name.

2. Download the Articles of Organization form from the Oregon Secretary of State’s web site

The URL, or web page address, for this form is as shown below. You may fill-in this document on-line prior to printing.

https://sos.oregon.gov/business/Documents/business-registry-forms/llc-articles.pdf

You may also file online at:

https://secure.sos.state.or.us/cbrmanager/index.action#stay

Click on “New User”.

The Secretary of State’s Office processes printed/mailed documents in about 2 weeks. On-line documents are processed in 1 to 2 days.

3. Identify the name you want to use for your new LLC

Enter your business or investment name into box labeled, “Name.”  As this box’s label indicates, the name must include one of the phrases or acronyms, “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” For example, all of the following names should be acceptable:

  • Acme Explosives Limited Liability Company
  • Acme Explosives LLC
  • Acme Explosives L.L.C.

4. Specify LLC duration

Use the Duration box to specify whether the LLC you are forming will end on a specific date or if it will be ongoing (i.e. perpetual).

5. Identify the registered agent

Oregon wants to know the name and contact information for a real person within the state that the state can contact if it has questions or concerns about an LLC’s operation. You can pay someone else to be this registered agent, but it’s really easiest and cheapest to just be your own registered agent.

Accordingly, enter your name and address information into boxes labeled “Name and Address of Oregon State Registered Agent.” Then sign on the line labeled “Signature of Agent.”

6. Give the LLC’s mailing address

In this area, enter the mailing address of the LLC.

7. Identify the people forming the LLC

Oregon also wants to know the names and contact information for the person or people organizing the LLC. To provide this information, enter the names and addresses of the organizer or organizers into the boxes labeled, “Names Addresses of Each Person Existing This Certificate.”

8. Indicate how your LLC will be managed

LLCs can be managed either by their members (owners), or they can be managed by a non-member (manager). To indicate how your LLC will be managed, mark the appropriate checkbox in box labeled “How Will This Limited Liability Company Be Managed?”

Note: If you have multiple members or managers, you’ll absolutely want to have an attorney draft an operating agreement. This operating agreement should describe who the manager is or who the managers are if you’re setting up a manager-managed LLC. If you’re a single member LLC, you should also have an operating agreement because having an operating agreement and honoring its terms improves your liability protection.

9. List professional services rendered (if applicable)

Briefly list any professional service(s) the LLC will render.

10. Indicate if this LLC elects to indemnify its members, managers, employees and agents (optional)

Oregon will allow LLCs to indemnify its members, managers, employees and agents. This means the LLC will legally/financially cover actions of these people in regard to them representing the LLC.

11. List members and/or managers names and addresses (optional)

You are given the option to list names of members and/or managers. This information will be available to the public.

12. Signature

The form must be signed by you and any other parties deemed an organizer of the LLC.

13. Provide a name and phone number to the Secretary of State’s office

At the bottom of the application form, you can see a place to enter your name and telephone number. The box you enter your name in is labeled, “Contact Name.” Should the state having any questions when reviewing this form, this is the person they will contact.

14. Mail in the application

After you complete the Articles of Organization, mail the completed form and a check for $100 to:

Secretary of State
Corporation Division
255 Capitol Street, NE, Suite 151
Salem, OR 97310-1327

Processing lead times vary, but in general, it takes several weeks to get your LLC certificate back from the Secretary of State’s office.

Other Resources You Might Find Useful

Steps to apply for an employer identification number

How to complete a 2553 “S Election” form

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Nelson CPA publishes this blog to help and encourage small business owners. Click here to learn more about our firm.

S corporation Tools

Use our S corporation tax savings calculator to make a quick estimate of the annual tax savings per owner.

Use our S corporation reasonable compensation calculator to estimate appropriate shareholder-employee salaries.

Featured Posts

Washington state estate tax pushes wealthy residents to consider estate planning options.

Planning for the 35% Washington State Estate Tax

Washington state levies an estate tax of up to 35% on estates of decedents dying on or after July 1 2025. That new rate is by far the highest estate … [Read More...] about Planning for the 35% Washington State Estate Tax

the new Washington state professional services sales tax starts October 1, 2025.

Washington State Professional Services Sales Tax

Starting October 1, 2025, Washington State levies a sales tax on many, maybe most, business professional services. Thus, if you’re a business … [Read More...] about Washington State Professional Services Sales Tax

Washington state qualified family-owned business interest deduction

Washington’s Qualified Family-Owned Business Interest Estate Tax Deduction: Updated for 2025

Washington state taxes the estates of high-net-worth residents and high-net-worth nonresidents who own property in the state. The tax rates start at … [Read More...] about Washington’s Qualified Family-Owned Business Interest Estate Tax Deduction: Updated for 2025

International tax issues?

Preparing US tax returns for international taxpayers

Maximize S corporation tax savings

Setting Low S Corporation Salaries

Updated for 2019 tax year changes and now available in print from Amazon!!

Maximizing Sec. 199A Deductions

Free retirement planning help

Picture of Thirteen Word Retirement Plan book

Need to help clients with their PPP loan forgiveness applications?

Recent Comments

  • Stephen Nelson CPA on Washington State Professional Services Sales Tax
  • Mark Freeman on Washington State Professional Services Sales Tax
  • Washington State Professional Services Sales Tax - Evergreen Small Business on Washington’s Qualified Family-Owned Business Interest Estate Tax Deduction: Updated for 2025
  • The New Big Beautiful Section 199A Deduction - Evergreen Small Business on Big Beautiful Section 199A Calculator
  • Big Beautiful Section 199A Calculator - Evergreen Small Business on The New Big Beautiful Section 199A Deduction

Archives

Copyright © 2025 Stephen L. Nelson, Inc. · News Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress