Relocating a Business
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Always consider legal or tax advice when making decisions about relocating your business. In the context of professional advice you may receive, select the link below that best describes what you are planning to do for how to steps.
DOMESTIC BUSINESS REGISTRATION:
If your goal is to have Oregon be your home jurisdiction.
- There are two options for registering as a domestic Oregon business entity:
- Simply register online or with a paper form as a new Oregon business entity: Select the type of business from Business Registration Forms
- Oregon does not require any evidence of your company's status in your former state.
- It is completely up to you to dissolve or change your prior state's registration.
- The result will be a new business registry in Oregon, with no reference to your prior business history.
- Articles of Conversion may be filed for most business types, allowing you to "convert" your prior state's LLC or Corporation to an Oregon LLC or Corporation. Your initial Oregon filing will include the Conversion document, showing that you were previously registered in your former state.
- You may receive tax or legal advice that your prior state requires a conversion when you relocate to Oregon. If so,
contact the Corporation Division to request this form. (Another less common option is "Articles of Merger". That form is available on our
Forms website.)
FOREIGN BUSINESS REGISTRATION:
If your goal is to have your home jurisdiction be a state other than Oregon.
- See the Resources below for other steps to get started as a new business in Oregon.
Note: Forms are not accepted via email for security reasons.
ABOUT TAXES:
Oregon has no sales tax, but there are state and local taxes that apply. And if you have employees, you will need to register for a state Business Identification Number (BIN). Visit The
Oregon Department of Revenue’s Business page for more information.
RESOURCES FOR STARTING YOUR OREGON BUSINESS
SCORE.org provides free one-on-one advice for setting up your business or answering specific questions. Just click to
"Find a Mentor", enter your new zip code, and complete their short questionnaire.
Welcome to Oregon!
DOMESTIC BUSINESS REGISTRATION:
If your goal is to have Oregon be your home jurisdiction.
There are two options:
- Articles of Conversion may be filed for most business types, allowing you to "convert" your prior foreign registry to a domestic registration. Your existing registry number and anniversary date will not change. Contact the Corporation Division to request this form.
- Withdraw your prior foreign registration by filing the applicable Application for Withdrawal for your foreign entity. Then register online or with a paper form as a new domestic business entity. These forms may be submitted at the same time, but both filing fees will apply. Visit our Forms website for what you need. The result will be a new business registry number and anniversary date in Oregon, with no reference to your prior business history.
Note: Forms are not accepted via email for security reasons.
See our
Delivery Options page for information on processing times.
If your physical location in Oregon is also changing, please refer to the “Relocating within Oregon” section below.
BUSINESS REGISTRATION:
It is important that you get registered in the new state before closing or changing your Oregon registration. Some states have a requirement that you prove your business is active in Oregon before registering there. After that, since you can't "move" your business registry out of Oregon, you have a decision as to how you make your business inactive here. (An attorney or accountant may have advice that will affect your choice.)
- Mail or fax the Articles of Dissolution form for your entity type. This puts a signed form in the public record of your business documenting its dissolution in Oregon, with an effective date; (and space there to write "Moved to <state>" if you wish). (For an ABN, the ABN Cancellation form does the same thing for $50.)
Find forms here.
- Mail or fax Articles of Conversion, "converting" your Oregon business to a foreign business in Oregon. The fee for this is $275, whether or not your business registry will remain active in Oregon. This form is only available by request from the
Corporation Division. Conversion is not an option for a Nonprofit corporation.
NOTE: Forms are not accepted via email for security reasons.
ABOUT TAXES:
OTHER STEPS:
If you will no longer be doing business in Oregon, visit
Close a Business for more information.
LOCAL LICENSING:
To plan ahead for what is required in your new location, check with the new city and county to determine license, permit or zoning requirements. Their website is a good place to start; (see the
Oregon Blue Book’s list of cities). If there is nothing specific about business licenses, call the city’s information number.
RESOURCES:
- Small Business Development Centers located throughout Oregon offer free business advice and training, tailored to your new locale.
- SCORE.org provides free one-on-one advice for setting up your business or answering specific questions. Just click to "Find a Mentor", enter your new zip code, and complete their short questionnaire.