Business Licensing in Oregon
In Oregon, businesses must consider various licensing requirements, including local business licenses, home occupation permits, and professional licenses. Local licenses are typically issued by cities or counties, allowing businesses to operate within those areas. For home-based businesses, a home occupation permit may be necessary to ensure compliance with zoning laws and that the business doesn't disrupt the surrounding neighborhood. Fortunately, information about local business licenses and home occupation permits can usually be found on your city or county website.
Professional licenses are different from local licenses. They are required for certain fields and are regulated by state boards or agencies to ensure individuals meet industry standards. Professions relating to healthcare, law, real estate, and construction often require specialized state-issued licenses. For example, doctors must be licensed by the Oregon Medical Board, and contractors must be certified by the Construction Contractors Board. These licenses generally focus on skills, ethics, and the safety of the services provided, instead of the business’s physical location. Fortunately, like city and county license requirements, regulatory board websites are usually easy to find. The Business Xpress License Directory, an initiative of the Oregon Secretary of State, also provides information about various state and local license requirements.
Unlike many other states, Oregon does not have a general, statewide business license. Instead, we have a business name registry. Any business in Oregon that is an LLC, a corporation, or using an assumed business name needs to register with the Oregon Secretary of State. Business name registration can be done online through the Secretary of State website.
Each of the above requirements serves a different function, so it's important for business owners to research and ensure they’re in full compliance at the local and state level.
State Workforce Analysts Want to Help Your Business Succeed
Do you know how the wages you pay your staff compare to the wages paid by other businesses in your area, the state, or even nationally? Do you want to know whether your customer base is growing or shrinking? What is the age distribution of your market area? Would growth predictions for your industry over the next 10 years be helpful for you?
Maybe you would like a monthly update on the current economic and labor market trends for Oregon or your specific region.
The Employment Department's Workforce Analyst Program has a team of economists who live and work throughout Oregon and are experts in your regional labor market. They want to help your small business. Workforce Analysts can respond quickly to your information needs, often within one business day, and are available to you at no direct cost.
You can connect with your regional economist by finding the Workforce Analyst that covers your county. You can also find general state employment articles and the latest economic data by visiting the Quality Info website.
Required Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting
Federal law now requires certain business entities to disclose who really owns or controls them. As a result, many small businesses must report their beneficial ownership information to the federal Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Failure to report carries stiff penalties. It can lead to civil fines of up to $591 daily, as well as criminal penalties of up to two years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.
Businesses can file beneficial ownership information reports online and at no cost. To file a report, or for more information on the reporting requirements, go to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) website.
OSBA Quarterly Report
- The Office of Small Business Assistance (OSBA) helped 192 businesses in the third quarter of 2024.
- 55% of OSBA cases originated from phone calls, 25% from web form submissions, and 20% from emails.
- Cases most commonly involved one of the following four state agencies: the Secretary of State's Corporation Division (for business registration questions), the Department of Revenue, the Construction Contractors Board, and Business Oregon.
- OSBA staff closed 41% of all cases within the first 3 days of customer contact, while 30% of cases took between 4 and 10 days to resolve. 29% of cases required more than 10 days to resolve.
- During the third quarter, OSBA staff attended 22 business events in 7 counties.
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