Forming a corporation in Oregon

Each state has its own set of rules for businesses seeking to form a corporation there. If you've decided to incorporate in Oregon, incorporate.com will take care of all the details. We'll research the availability of your company name and help you prepare and file your Articles of Incorporation with the Oregon Secretary of State. We can also assist with many of your follow-up needs such as amendment filings, written consents, and annual report preparation and filing.

Here are some helpful facts about Oregon's incorporation requirements:

Corporate Name Requirements

Oregon requires corporations to have names that can't be confused with any corporate, professional corporate, not-for-profit, cooperative, limited partnership, business trust, reserved, registered or assumed business names. When you incorporate with incorporate.com's help, we'll research your company name to make sure it meets Oregon's standards.

Permitted designations: Oregon corporate names may be followed by several approved designations, including:

• Co.
• Company
• Corp.
• Corporation
• Inc.
• Incorporated
• Limited
• Ltd.

Restricted designations: The use of certain words and phrases in corporate names is considered "restricted" in Oregon, meaning they require special approval by the state. These include:

• Accounting
• BanCard
• Banc
• Bancorp
• Bank
• BankCard
• Banker
• Banker's Syndicate
• Bankers
• Banking
• Banks
• Building and Loan
• Capital
• Commerce
• Commerce Bank
• Commerce and Capital
• Commerce and Credit
• Commercial Bank
• Credit
• Credit Financial
• Credit Union
• CreditFin
• Finance
• Financial
• Funding
• Interbank
• Interbanking
• Intercredit
• Lending
• Loan
• Safe Deposit
• Safe Deposits
• Saving
• Savings
• Savings Bank
• Trust
• Trustee
• Trustees
• Trusts

Prohibited designations: Oregon prohibits the use of certain words and phrases in corporate names. These include:

• Cooperative

Filing Requirements

Remember, when you work with incorporate.com, we'll take care of your incorporation filing for you. This information is presented only for your reference.

Required documents: The state of Oregon requires businesses to file Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State.

Turnaround time: In general, turnaround time for incorporating a business in Oregon is 3-5 business days.

Follow-up filings: Not required.

Officers/Directors Information

Minimum number: Corporations are required to have one or more directors.

Director qualifications: The Articles of Incorporation or bylaws may prescribe the qualifications for directors. A director does not need to be a resident of Oregon or a shareholder unless so prescribed in the articles or bylaws.

Appearance in articles: Not required. Directors' names and addresses do not have to appear in the Articles of Incorporation.

Written consent: Permitted. Directors may act in writing in lieu of holding a meeting.

Annual Reports

Time to file: Corporations must file annual reports with the Oregon Secretary of State on or before the date that marks the anniversary of incorporation.

Turnaround time: Turnaround time at the state is three business days.

Signatures: Only company officers are authorized to sign annual reports. Emailed or faxed signatures are accepted.

Filing extensions: Permitted. One extension of 45 days is allowed.