Starting a Business
The Oregon Secretary of State publishes the informative booklet, "How to Start a Business in Oregon." This PDF document includes a comprehensive new business checklist and covers topics like:
- Choosing a business structure
- Choosing and registering a business name
- Understanding tax obligations
- Reporting requirements
- Licensing requirements
- Zoning requirement contacts
- Income, state, federal and other jurisdictional or business tax information (Oregon has no state sales tax)
- Access to capital and other financial, management and technical services assistance programs
- Patent, copyright, trademark and service mark information
- Environmental regulations
The site also features a Business Wizard to help determine which government requirements apply to your business, as well as what resources are available to help. Other helpful links:
- The Small Business Administration
- Small Business Legal Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School
- Oregon Economic & Community Development Department for information on financing, management and technical services
- Employer's Guide for Doing Business in Oregon
- Business Registry Database for name searches
- Register Your Business Name Online with the Oregon Secretary of State
- US Patent and Trademark Office
- Bureau of Labor and Industries for current minimum wage information
- Applying to the IRS for a federal tax identification number (TIN)
