Do you need a business license to work from home in Oregon?

Oregon has no general state license, but check whether your city or county restricts home-based businesses. Your local planning office can tell you. If your home is inside Bend city limits, you may still need to register, unless you fall under the small activity exemption.

Do independent contractors need a business license in Oregon?

Independent contractors don't need a general business license at the state level in Oregon. Sole proprietorships don't have to register with the Secretary of State unless they use an assumed business name. If your trade is regulated, such as construction work, you'll need to get the appropriate license. In Portland, independent workers, including rideshare drivers, register for a revenue division tax account.

Do you need a business license for each Oregon city you work in?

You may need a business license for each Oregon city in which you operate but it depends on the type of work you do and where you do it. Bend requires registration for businesses doing work inside its limits, even if they're based elsewhere, unless they follow under an exemption. Salem licenses only certain activities. Check each city where you actually do work.

Is an assumed business name the same as a business license in Oregon?

No, an assumed name is not the same as a business license in Oregon. You register an assumed name also called a DBA, when your business name doesn't disclose the real names of the people or organizations running it. It costs $50 and renews every two years.

Do out-of-state businesses need an Oregon business license?

There's no General Oregon business license, but a business formed elsewhere may need the Secretary of State's authorization before it does business in Oregon. The fee for a foreign LLC application is $275. You'll also need any license required for your specific business activity as well as meeting local registration requirements, such as Portland's.

Does Oregon require a seller's permit to sell online?

No, Oregon does not have a general sales tax so there's no state sellers permit. Salem also says that online businesses don't need a city license. Oregon offers a resale certificate for buying goods from out of state sellers to resell.

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Oregon business license: what you need and how to get it

Written byGerri Detweiler

Reviewed by Robin Saks Frankel

November 2, 2026|9 min read

view of a city in Oregon with the mountains behind

Summary

Oregon has no general statewide business license and no sales tax, so there's no single state license or seller's permit that every business needs
Instead, the state tracks more than 1,100 specific licenses, permits, and certifications by activity, and you can search them in the Oregon Business Xpress license directory
The most common requirements are registering with the Secretary of State, a state board license for regulated trades like construction or landscaping, and city or county licensing and business tax registration.

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Operating your business in more than one state? Check out Nav's guide for Washington and California. Also see Nav’s business licensing by state guide shows how other states compare.

Do you need a business license in Oregon?

Oregon doesn't issue a general business license, but many businesses will need some type of licensing or registration. You may need to register with the Oregon Secretary of State, get a license from a state board if your trade is regulated, and get a city or county license or business tax registration where you operate.

Registering a corporation, or assumed business name with the Secretary of State creates or names your business, but it isn't a license.

So how do you know where to start? Start with the State's own guidance: many occupations or business activities need special licenses, permits, or certifications from State agencies or boards. Then check your city and county, because they can add their own rules.

How to find the licenses your Oregon business needs

The fastest way to find out what applies to your business is the Oregon Business Xpress License Directory. The Secretary of State maintains it, and it helps you find information on applying for or renewing licenses, permits, and registrations. It can also connect you with an agency, city, or county.

Each listing shows whose issues the license, how to apply, and what you'll need. Listings can include fees, exams, bonding, and insurance requirements. For example:

A residential contractor will need to contact the Construction Contractors Board
A landscaper will contact the Board of Landscape Contractors
Someone with a cosmetology business (barber, esthetics, hair design, nail technology, natural hair care, eyelash services) will contact the Health Licensing Office
A food truck or food cart owner must contact their County Environmental Health Department
Someone who owns a residential cleaning service will find that a license is not required, but if they operate a residential remediation business (such as water removal) must get a license from the Construction Contractors Board

You won't find a seller's permit, because Oregon doesn't have a general sales tax.

How to get a business license in Oregon in five steps

Oregon doesn't have one license to apply for, so getting a business license means working through various steps to make sure your business is set up to operate properly in the state.

Register your business with the Secretary of State. Corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs) must register, and you can file online through the Oregon Business Registry. Sole proprietorships and partnerships don't have to register unless they use a business name that doesn't include the owner’s real names. In that case, you'll register an assumed business name also known as a DBA. Registry information is public record so the Oregon Small Business Development Center (SBDC) suggests you don't use your home address.
Get an EIN. An employer identification number is your business's federal tax ID number and the IRS issues it for free. If you have already formed a corporation or LLC you may have obtained an EIN. It may be optional for sole proprietors and single member LLCs without employees. Refer to Nav's step-by-step EIN guide.
Set up payroll accounts. If you have employees, you register for payroll withholding with the Department of Revenue.
Check the license directory and apply for any required licenses. Search by your activity, then apply with the board or agency that issues the license if you're required to get one.
Register with your city or county. Rules vary by location so check where your business operates. Portland’s business registration, for example, can be found within Business XPress.

Do you need a city or county business license in Oregon?

Whether you need a city or county license depends on the city or county, and the type of business you operate. Here are a few examples:

Portland: Businesses operating in the City of Portland or Multnomah County register for a revenue division tax account within 60 days. That account covers the Portland business license tax and the Multnomah County business income tax, and the two are filed together. Portland's tax is a net income tax, not a permit, and it doesn't give you the right to do business that other laws don't allow.

Here are some figures, current as of Nov. 1, 2026:

The city rate is 2.6% and the county rate is 2%. Each has a $100 minimum.
The city exempts businesses with gross receipts under $75,000 for tax years beginning in 2026, rising to $100,000 in 2027.
The county exempts businesses with gross receipts under $100,000.
If you qualify for an exemption, you still have to file a return each year to claim it.
If you only work in Multnomah County outside Portland, such as in Gresham or Troutdale, you register but only owe the county tax.

Washington County: City-level licensing is most common. Hillsboro, for example, requires a general business license for any business operating there. Also contact your county administrative offices to check county level requirements

Salem, Eugene, and Bend: Each handles it differently:

Salem requires licenses only for certain activities, such as short-term rentals, vehicles for hire, and mobile food units. Cleaning services, janitorial services, and online businesses don't need a Salem license.
Eugene doesn't issue a general business license. It licenses payday lenders, public passenger vehicle companies, and tobacco retail outlets.
Bend requires most businesses working in city limits to register, with a $121 initial fee and a $94 annual renewal. Bend's registration isn't a license to do any particular kind of work. Even online businesses with a physical location in Bend must register. Activity under 32 hours a year or under $3,000 in revenue is exempt.

Your best move is to contact the cities or counties where your business is located and where it operates. The Oregon SBDC offers free business mentoring, and can help you navigate starting a business in Oregon as well.

How much does a business license cost in Oregon?

A general state business license costs $0 because there is none. Costs will show up in other ways. Here are current figures as of Nov. 1, 2026:

What you pay for	Cost	Notes
General state business license	$0	Oregon doesn’t issue one
LLC articles of organization	$100	Filed with the Secretary of State. This is a business registration cost, not licensing.
LLC annual report	$100 a year	Keeps your LLC active
Assumed business name	$50	Renews every two years for $50
State occupational licenses	Varies by board	Some occupations require an exam, surety bond, insurance, a registration fee, and/or a licensing fee
City or county licenses and business taxes	Varies by location	Bend’s registration is $121 to start and $94 to renew Portland’s city and county taxes each have a $100 minimum

Which Oregon occupations need a state license?

If your trade is regulated, you'll need a license from the state agency that oversees it. Here are some examples::

Construction Contractors Board: Anyone paid to do construction work on real property, with a required bond and liability insurance
Landscaping Contractors Board: Landscaping contracting businesses, with an exam, bond, and insurance requirements
Health Licensing Office: Cosmetology, barbering, nail technicians, etc. including licenses for the facility itself
Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission: manufacturing, distribution, and sale of alcohol and cannabis
Oregon Real Estate Agency: Real estate brokers and property managers

Oregon construction work falls under ORS 701. The CCB says anyone who works for or makes improvements to real property generally needs a license, and roofing, siding, and painting are on that list.

Two trades come up frequently. Cleaning businesses typically don't need a state occupational license, and Salem confirms cleaning and janitorial services need no city license. You'll still register your business and check any local rules where you work.

Landscaping businesses often need both an individual landscape construction professional license and a landscape contracting business license. If your business applies pesticides, you may need a pesticide license.

Oregon tax registrations that come with starting a business

Oregon has no sales tax so there's no sales tax return to file, but other taxes can still apply:

Payroll taxes: Once you hire an employee, you'll deal with employer withholding and unemployment insurance. Employers also handle transit taxes. The Department of Revenue administers District taxes for TriMet and Lane Transit district, and employers paying wages for work in those districts must register.

Corporate activity tax: Businesses with Oregon commercial activity of $750,000 or more must register. You only owe the tax on commercial activity over $1 million.

How licensing helps with financing and business credit

Registration and licensing is one way to make your business easier to verify and more trustworthy whether you're trying to get financing or land a large contract. The Oregon Secretary of State notes that filing a business name lets banks and licensing agencies know who they're doing business with. Lenders, landlords and suppliers may ask for business licenses if they are required.

Nav is not a lender or a credit bureau. Credit information is provided by third-party sources.

A registered business with its own EIN, bank account, and supplier accounts is also part of the foundation for building business credit. Here’s Nav’s guide on how to establish business credit.

The bottom line

Oregon has no general business license or sales tax. Its license directory shows which specific state licenses apply to your trade. City or county registration, like Portland's, comes on top.

Ready to grow your business? Browse Nav's business loan marketplace to see what financing you may qualify for, and check out Nav Prime to help build, manage, and monitor your business credit.

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Gerri Detweiler
Education Consultant, Nav
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Gerri Detweiler has spent more than 30 years helping people make sense of credit and financing, with a special focus on helping small business owners. As an Education Consultant for Nav, she guides entrepreneurs in building strong business credit and understanding how it can open doors for growth.
Gerri has answered thousands of credit questions online, written or coauthored six books — including Finance Your Own Business: Get on the Financing Fast Track — and has been interviewed in thousands of media stories as a trusted credit expert. Through her widely syndicated articles, webinars for organizations like SCORE and Small Business Development Centers, as well as educational videos, she makes complex financial topics clear and practical, empowering business owners to take control of their credit and grow healthier companies.
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Reviewed by
Robin Saks Frankel
Managing Editor
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Robin has worked as a personal finance writer, editor, and spokesperson for over a decade. Her work has appeared in national publications including Forbes Advisor, USA TODAY, NerdWallet, Bankrate, the Associated Press, and more. She has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC, and CBS TV affiliates nationwide.

Robin holds an M.S. in Business and Economic Journalism from Boston University and dual B.A. degrees in Economics and International Relations from Boston University. In addition, she is an accredited CEPF® and holds an ACES certificate in Editing from the Poynter Institute.
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