Starting a Business in Portland: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist
A step-by-step plan to open a business in Portland: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.
Permits and registrations specific to Portland, OR
- City business license and local business income taxes — Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon · City (e.g., Portland Revenue Division): Portland / Multnomah County (city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Portland · Portland (Multnomah County) building department (city)
- File Portland and Multnomah County business income taxes · City of Portland Revenue Division (city)
- File Multnomah County business personal property return · Multnomah County Assessor (county)
- Form the business: Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division
- Register for state taxes: Oregon Department of Revenue
- Register as an employer: Oregon Employment Department
Startup sequence and prerequisites in Portland
Based on your selections, this plan has 11 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.
Do these first
- Maintain a registered agent in Oregon
- File formation documents with the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Then, once those are done
- Register for and file Oregon entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- City business license and local business income taxes — Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Portland — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Known charges: $100.00 per year.
Total incomplete: some fees unknown
10 of 11 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 1 step with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule.
Common questions about Portland
The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Portland:
- Contractor licensing: Oregon Construction Contractors Board
- Real estate licensing: Oregon Real Estate Agency
- Alcohol licensing: Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission
- Child care licensing: Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care
- Health facility licensing: Oregon Health Authority
- City business license and local business income taxes — Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon (City (e.g., Portland Revenue Division): Portland / Multnomah County, city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Portland (Portland (Multnomah County) building department, city)
- File Portland and Multnomah County business income taxes (City of Portland Revenue Division, city)
- File Multnomah County business personal property return (Multnomah County Assessor, county)
With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: City business license and local business income taxes — Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Portland. Change the industry above to see yours.
Sources: sos.oregon.gov, oregon.gov, oregon.gov
Formation comes first; tax, license and employer registrations wait on it. In your plan the first steps are:
- Maintain a registered agent in Oregon
- File formation documents with the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Sources: sos.oregon.gov, oregon.gov
Known government fees for your plan: $0.00 one-time and $100.00 per year.
Steps without a recorded fee are not counted, so check each agency's fee schedule before you budget.
Sources: sos.oregon.gov, oregon.gov
In your plan for Portland, requirements come from four levels. Oregon sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.
- Federal (2): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C
- State (4): Maintain a registered agent in Oregon; File Annual Report (Oregon); Register for and file Oregon entity-level taxes; File the annual unclaimed property holder report (Oregon)
- County (1): File Multnomah County business personal property return
- City (3): City business license and local business income taxes — Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Portland; File Portland and Multnomah County business income taxes
Sources: sos.oregon.gov, oregon.gov
- Register for unemployment insurance with Oregon Employment Department.
- Workers' compensation: Oregon Workers' Compensation Division. Required when: 1 employee
- Paid Leave Oregon contributions: applies from 1 employee.
- Register to withhold Oregon income tax from wages.
Sources: oregon.gov, oregon.gov, oregon.gov