If you'd like to start a small business in Oklahoma, you might want to consider forming a limited liability company (LLC). An LLC is a popular business structure that provides owners with limited liability for business debts, flexible management options, and tax advantages.
Follow these steps to create an LLC in Oklahoma. For more information on how to form an LLC in any state, see our article on how to start an LLC. You can also use our online LLC formation service to register your LLC.
To create an LLC in Oklahoma, you'll need to pick a business name. Make sure you follow Oklahoma's laws about LLC names.
LLC name must be distinguishable. Your LLC's name must be distinguishable from the names of other business entities already organized, reserved, or registered with the Oklahoma Secretary of State (SOS). You can check which business names are available using the SOS's corporation entities search. (Okla. Stat. tit. 18, § 2008 (2024).)
LLC name must include an entity designator. Under Oklahoma law, an LLC name must include the words "limited liability company" or "limited company" or one of the following abbreviations:
In addition, the words "limited" can be abbreviated to "ltd." and "company" can be abbreviated to "co." (Okla. Stat. tit. 18, § 2008 (2024).)
Name reservation. You can reserve an available business name for exclusive use in Oklahoma for 60 days. You can reserve a business name online using the SOS's On-Line Services. You'll just need to find the name reservation link near the bottom of the page. You can also file by mail using the form, Application for Name Reservation. As of 2024, the filing fee to reserve a name is $10. (Okla. Stat. tit. 18, § 2009 (2024).)
Using a trade name. You don't have to use your LLC's legal name listed on its articles of organization when you do business out in the real world. You can instead use a trade name, also called a "DBA" (short for "doing business as"), "assumed name," or "fictitious business name." If you use a trade name in Oklahoma, you must register it with the SOS. You can register your trade name online or by mail using the form, Trade Name Report. As of 2024, the filing fee to register your trade name is $25. (Okla. Stat. tit. 18, § 1140 (2024).)
See the register your business page of the Oklahoma Business Hub for more details on business names.
Every Oklahoma LLC must have an agent for service of process (called a "registered agent") in the state. A "registered agent" is an individual or business entity that agrees to accept legal and government papers on the LLC's behalf.
In Oklahoma, a registered agent can be either:
The registered agent must have a physical address in Oklahoma that's open during regular business hours to accept service of process.
(Okla. Stat. tit. 18, § 2010 (2024).)
You can create an Oklahoma LLC by filing Articles of Organization with the SOS. The articles must include:
(Okla. Stat. tit. 18, § 2005 (2024).)
You can file the articles online using the SOS's On-Line Services. Alternatively, you can deliver a paper copy of the articles by mail or hand delivery. As of 2024, the filing fee for Oklahoma Articles of Organization is $100.
Oklahoma, like many states, doesn't require LLCs to have an operating agreement. While not required, it's a good idea to create this foundational document for your company and to put it in writing. If your LLC doesn't have an operating agreement, Oklahoma's LLC Act will govern how your LLC is run. You don't need to file your operating agreement with the state; it's purely internal.
Your LLC operating agreement should specify the LLC's management structure. In addition, your agreement should provide rules and procedures for the following areas:
(Okla. Stat. tit. 18, § 2012.2 (2024).)
There are several advantages to creating an operating agreement for your company. Having an agreement can help preserve your limited liability by showing that your LLC is truly a separate business entity from its owners. In addition, investors and banks typically like to see an LLC's operating agreement when determining whether to invest or loan money to the company.
For help creating an LLC operating agreement, you can use our online LLC formation service. You can also work with an Oklahoma attorney to help you draft your LLC's operating agreement.
Other tax and regulatory requirements might apply to your LLC. For instance, your LLC might need to obtain an EIN, apply for business licenses and permits, and register for business taxes.
EIN. If your LLC has more than one member, it must obtain a federal employer identification number (EIN), even if it has no employees. If you form a single-member LLC, you must obtain an EIN for your LLC only if either you elect to have your business taxed as a corporation instead of a sole proprietorship (disregarded entity) or your single-member LLC has employees. You can get an EIN by completing an online EIN application on the IRS website. There's no filing fee.
Business licenses. Depending on your LLC's location and activities, you might need to obtain state and local business licenses and permits. For local licenses, check with your city or county clerk or visit your local government's website. For state license information, consult the obtain licenses and permits section of the Oklahoma Business Hub website.
Oklahoma Tax Commission. In some cases, for example, if you have employees or will be selling goods and collecting sales tax, you'll need to register with the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC). You can register your business online for multiple types of business taxes through OkTAP. For more information on Oklahoma LLC tax registration, check out the LLC annual report and tax filing requirements in Oklahoma.
Here are some other questions you might have about your Oklahoma LLC.
If you're just starting your business or have already been operating as a sole proprietor, you should consider forming an LLC. LLCs limit an owner's personal liability for business debts and lawsuits and offer a lot of flexibility when it comes to ownership, management, and taxation of the business.
To learn more about LLCs and decide if it's the right business structure for you, see our article on LLC basics.
Below are the fees (as of 2024) you might need to pay to form your LLC in Oklahoma:
Filing on your own is often the cheapest option, but completing all of the forms and filing them yourself can be complicated. Hiring a lawyer is another option, but it will often cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in the process. If you'd like help completing all the filings, try our online LLC formation service.
To learn more about the costs associated with forming and running an LLC, see our article on how much it costs to form an LLC.
Yes. All LLCs doing business in Oklahoma must file an Annual Certificate with the SOS. The report is due each year by the anniversary date of your LLC's formation. (Okla. Stat. tit. 18, § 2055.2 (2024).)
You can file your annual certificate online using the SOS's On-Line Services. As of 2024, the filing fee for LLC annual certificates is $25.
Apart from annual certificates, your LLC will need to file and pay applicable taxes to the local, state, and federal governments. In addition, your LLC might need to obtain and periodically renew any required general or special business licenses or permits. You'll be responsible for keeping track of these maintenance requirements to keep your LLC in good standing and legally compliant.
Starting in 2024, all LLCs were previously required to submit a beneficial ownership information (BOI) report to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Treasury. However, in March 2025, after some constitutional challenges, FinCEN revised the BOI reporting rule so that the requirement only applies to companies created outside the U.S. So, if you form your LLC within the U.S., then you no longer need to worry about the BOI reporting requirement.
Your LLC isn't required to have an operating agreement in Oklahoma. But it's highly advantageous to have this foundational document. An operating agreement will help protect your limited liability status, prevent financial and managerial misunderstandings, and ensure that you decide on the rules governing your business instead of state law by default.
Yes. To do business in Oklahoma, all LLCs organized outside of the state (called "foreign LLCs") must register with the SOS. Your foreign LLC must appoint a registered agent for service of process that's physically located in Oklahoma.
To register, file an Application for Registration with the SOS. The completed application must be accompanied by a certificate of good standing or existence or a similar document from the foreign LLC's home state dated not more than 60 days before the application is filed.
Before filing, make sure your LLC's name is available in Oklahoma and meets Oklahoma's LLC naming requirements. You can check whether your LLC name is available using the corporation entities search. If the LLC name isn't available, the foreign LLC must adopt a fictitious business name for use in Oklahoma. You must complete and attach a Statement of Fictitious Name Report or include a statement by your LLC's manager duly adopting a fictitious name.
You can file your Application for Registration online using the SOS's On-Line Services. You can alternatively submit a paper copy of the application by mail or hand delivery. As of 2024, the filing fee to register your foreign LLC is $300.
(Okla. Stat. tit. 18, §§ 2042 and following (2024).)
See our guide to qualifying to do business outside your state for more information.
Yes. For most formation purposes, an Oklahoma single-member LLC is considered the same as a multi-member LLC. The steps to form a single-member LLC in Oklahoma are generally the same as those listed above.
Single-member LLCs do have additional flexibility when it comes to filing a tax return. To learn more, see our article on how single-member LLCs pay federal income tax.
Yes. If you provide a licensed professional service in Oklahoma and want to form an LLC, you can form a professional LLC (PLLC). Examples of providers of professional services include architects, dentists, physicians, certified public accountants, and more. Generally, if you provide a service that requires you to be licensed by the state, then you provide a professional service. But you should check to make sure your professional service qualifies.
In Oklahoma, you can form a PLLC to provide one type of professional service or related professional services and services ancillary to performing the professional services. Your PLLC's members must be licensed to provide the professional services it was organized to perform.
To form a PLLC in Oklahoma, you must file Professional Articles of Organization with the SOS. With your articles, you must attach an original letter or certificate of good standing from your profession's regulating board. As of 2024, the filing fee for Professional Articles of Organization is $100.
(Okla. Stat. tit. 18, §§ 801 and following (2024).)
When you're ready to end your business, you should legally dissolve your LLC to limit your liability for lawsuits and government fees. To dissolve an LLC in Oklahoma, you should:
(Okla. Stat. tit. 18, §§ 2037 and following (2024).)
You also need to close your tax accounts and take any other steps necessary to close out your business. See our article on what you need to do when closing your business for more in-depth information and guidance.
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