If you are forming an LLC, partnership, non-profit, etc., you must file your business with the Oklahoma Secretary of State. As a registered business, you can legally sell goods or services in Oklahoma.
The Secretary of State’s Business Filing Department processes corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, certificate of partnership fictitious name for general partnership, trade name, and trademark registration filings. Such filings include new registrations, amendments, mergers, dissolutions and withdrawals for both domestic and foreign entities.
Registering your business takes about 15 minutes and costs $100 plus a service fee. After completing the online filing and paying the fee, you should receive a copy of your business registration, including your business’s Secretary of State filing number.
Business Name
To complete the business registration process in the State of Oklahoma, start by performing a name availability search to see if your business name is available.
When ready, registration is available electronically or by filling out the appropriate forms and submitting them to the Oklahoma Secretary of State.
Business Name Reservation
If your business name is available and you are still not ready to register the business, you may reserve your business name for up to 60 days by filing a name reservation. Note that a name reservation is not a business registration, its purpose is to only reserve the business name.
Business Structure
When you decide on your desired business structure, note which formal types of business structures must be registered. These business registrations are available electronically or by filling out the appropriate forms and submitting them to our office.
- An LLC and a Limited Partnership must also pay an annual fee of $25.00 (LLC) and $55.00 (Limited Partnership) to the SOS to keep its registration active and in good standing.
- A corporation must file an annual franchise tax return with the Oklahoma Tax Commission and, if owed, pay a franchise tax amount. Computation of the tax will require the two basic financial statements of a business: a “Balance Sheet” and an “Income Statement.” However, no annual fee or tax is required for a “Trade Name” registration. (Franchise tax is to be eliminated beginning tax year 2024. Corporations suspended prior to July 1, 2023 for failure to file franchise tax will still be required to reinstate.)
- A name is always included when registering a business with the SOS. Additionally, at the specific time of the registration, the desired name must also be available (not being used by another business).
Selecting the legal structure or entity type under which to operate a business is the decision of the business owner(s). The staff of the Secretary of State's office will not discuss what the selection should be. However, the structure selected and started with, initially, can be changed, later, to another type. Thus, if a future owner cannot consult or confer with a qualified professional (i.e., tax accountant or CPA, attorney or other source) before starting the business, then he or she should do so, as soon as possible, afterwards. Persons involved as owners in a general partnership or an LLC (including family members should develop and maintain a written “partnership agreement” or “operating agreement” as applicable. Information concerning comparisons regarding starting or owning a small business can also be searched on the Internet. The entity registrations with the SOS are also, often, mistakenly confused as the same actions to obtain various licenses or permits required to operate a business in Oklahoma. Licenses and permits are completely different requirements that are covered in the next section of this document.
