Oregon Secretary of State

The Secretary of State (SOS) of Oregon is in charge of business registration, government transparency, and election management. Additionally, it functions as a center for records management and archives. It offers assistance to those who are looking for a business entity. The SOS is also in charge of overseeing notary public commissioning. 

Business Name Search

When you decide to set up a company in Oregon, one of the first factors to consider is the company name. You are to check if the name you want to use is available for use. For this reason, you can enter the Oregon Secretary of State's website and head to the Business Name Search page. 

You can use the search tool to look up a name, using a keyword, business name, registry number, or registered agent's name.

Search for Business Complaints 

Business complaints are not directly addressed by the Oregon Secretary of State's office. However, you can use the Consumer Complaint Search tool on the Oregon Attorney General's website to look up complaints made against a particular company in Oregon. 

You can use the search tool to look up complaints by company name, city, or zip code.

Registered Agents and Service of Process 

The Oregon SOS website also offers its visitors the opportunity to find registered agents and get acquainted with the service of process. The Registered Agent Search tool enables you to run a quick Secretary of State Oregon business search and find an agent by entity name, registry number, or the name of the registered agent.

Register a Business

Before you can legally operate in Oregon, you have to register your entity with the Secretary of State. To do so, you have to visit the Oregon Secretary of State's website and use the Business Registration page. 

In some cases, you can visit the nearest office in person. Yet, it is more time-consuming and overwhelming. 

Register a Business Online

The most convenient way to register a company is to complete all the procedures online. First, you have to run an Oregon Secretary of State business search and check the availability of the name you want to use.

Secondly, you should reserve the name and start to prepare the required documents for registration. The required documents include:  

• Employer Identification Number (EIN)

• Registered Agent

• Business name and type

• Address

• Ownership information  

When you have all of this data, you can use the Oregon Secretary of State's website to register an entity. You must sign up, provide the necessary data and pay the registration fee. After that, you must create an account and fill in the required fields. 

Business Registration Forms

The SOS website enables users to download forms required to be filled in directly from their page. The available forms include:  

• Business Registration Forms

• Ordering Copies and Certificates

• UCC Forms

• Notary Public Forms

Update Your Registration

You can update your registration directly with the SOS online. Generally, you will need to provide the following information:  

• Business name 

• Company identification number

• Supporting documents (for example, Certificate of Assumed Business Name if you are going to make changes)

• Documents of changes to company information. That is, you need to specify what you need to update: business address, registered agent, or purpose.  

Moreover, there are some fees applicable based on the company type and supporting info. 

Order a Copy/Certificate​

The Oregon Secretary of State enables you to order a copy or certificate of registration documents. The fee depends on the type of document you are requesting. For example, the Certificate of Good Standing costs from $5 to $10 and is available either immediately (online) or in 5-10 business days for a paper copy. 

 

UCC copies cost $5 electronically per page and $10/per page for copies. Their electronic delivery takes up to 2 working days and the paper delivery takes 5-10 business days. 

Nearly the same costs apply to entity registration documents and notary commission certificates.

File to Become a Benefit Company

You can use the Benefit Company page on the SOS website to register as a benefit company. The page provides details on the prerequisites and advantages of setting up a benefit company, as well as filing forms.

Register Your Trade or Service Mark

With the Secretary of State Oregon, you can register trade and service marks. It is quite simple. You need to provide information regarding the mark you are registering, such as the mark name, a brief description of the mark, and any associated design elements or logos.

Additionally, you have to define the entity type, fill in the necessary forms and make the necessary payments.  

How Much Does a Business License Cost in Oregon?

There is no fixed fee for permits or licenses. It can vary from less than $100 to hundreds of dollars. Some cities or counties may also require additional permits or fees based on the type of operations.

Moreover, for certain types of professions like contractors, electricians, and plumbers, you not only need county-level but also state-level permits, which may result in extra costs.

To determine if your enterprise requires a license and how much it costs, you can contact the city or county government where the establishment is located. Moreover, you can check the Oregon Secretary of State's website for more information.

Contact Information

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 503-986-2200

Mailing address:

Oregon Secretary of State

255 Capitol St. NE

Suite 151, Salem

OR 97310