How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Oregon?
Last updated: March 2026
Oregon Business Overview
LLC Filing Fee
$100
Sales Tax Rate
0.0%
Minimum Wage
$14.7/hr
Cost of Living Index
111.5
Workers Comp
Required
Annual Report Fee
$100
Starting a Business in Oregon
Oregon businesses register with the Secretary of State's Business Registry. Many cities and counties require local business licenses and special permits.
Oregon has no sales tax and a graduated income tax with rates from 4.75% to 9.9%. The Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) applies to businesses with Oregon commercial activity over $1 million.
Oregon's no sales tax policy makes retail businesses competitive. Portland's tech and creative economy drives demand for digital and professional services businesses.
For official formation documents, visit the Oregon Secretary of State.
Startup Costs for 100 Business Types in Oregon
The table below shows estimated startup costs for every major business type, adjusted for Oregon’s cost of living index of 111.5. Click any column header to sort. Click a business name to see full cost breakdowns, calculator, and licensing requirements.
| Accounting Firm | Professional Services | $7,840 | $22,400 | $51,520 |
| Airbnb / Vacation Rental | Real Estate | $12,320 | $33,600 | $100,800 |
| Ambulance Service | Transportation & Logistics | $89,600 | $224,000 | $560,000 |
| App Development Company | Tech & Online | $11,200 | $33,600 | $89,600 |
| Architecture Firm | Professional Services | $22,400 | $61,600 | $145,600 |
| Auto Detailing Business | Automotive | $5,600 | $33,600 | $112,000 |
| Auto Repair Shop | Automotive | $84,000 | $224,000 | $560,000 |
| Bakery | Food & Beverage | $22,400 | $106,400 | $336,000 |
| Bar & Nightclub | Food & Beverage | $112,000 | $392,000 | $952,000 |
| Barbershop | Beauty & Personal Care | $16,800 | $72,800 | $196,000 |
| Beauty Supply Store | Beauty & Personal Care | $33,600 | $112,000 | $336,000 |
| Bookstore | Retail | $28,000 | $112,000 | $336,000 |
| Brewery / Microbrewery | Food & Beverage | $112,000 | $448,000 | $1,120,000 |
| Cannabis Dispensary | Specialty & Regulated | $139,440 | $371,840 | $1,394,400 |
| Car Wash | Automotive | $139,440 | $609,280 | $1,740,480 |
| Carpentry & Woodworking Shop | Construction & Trades | $11,760 | $31,360 | $78,400 |
| Catering Business | Food & Beverage | $13,440 | $59,360 | $145,600 |
| Chiropractic Office | Health & Wellness | $44,800 | $134,400 | $336,000 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $1,680 | $12,320 | $41,440 |
| Clothing Boutique | Retail | $33,600 | $112,000 | $336,000 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Beverage | $28,000 | $134,400 | $392,000 |
| Concrete Business | Construction & Trades | $28,000 | $72,800 | $168,000 |
| Consulting Business | Professional Services | $2,240 | $10,080 | $29,120 |
| Convenience Store | Retail | $56,000 | $313,600 | $840,000 |
| Courier & Delivery Service | Transportation & Logistics | $8,960 | $24,640 | $61,600 |
| Cybersecurity Firm | Tech & Online | $22,400 | $61,600 | $168,000 |
| Dance Studio | Childcare & Education | $22,400 | $89,600 | $280,000 |
| Daycare Center | Childcare & Education | $67,200 | $201,600 | $560,000 |
| Demolition Company | Construction & Trades | $33,600 | $89,600 | $224,000 |
| Dental Practice | Health & Wellness | $280,000 | $560,000 | $1,120,000 |
| Digital Marketing Agency | Tech & Online | $4,480 | $13,440 | $35,840 |
| E-Commerce Store | Tech & Online | $5,600 | $16,800 | $56,000 |
| Electrical Business | Home Services | $16,800 | $61,600 | $179,200 |
| Esthetics & Skincare Business | Beauty & Personal Care | $8,960 | $44,800 | $134,400 |
| Excavation Company | Construction & Trades | $56,000 | $145,600 | $392,000 |
| Financial Planning Practice | Professional Services | $22,400 | $61,600 | $145,600 |
| Flower Shop | Retail | $22,400 | $84,000 | $224,000 |
| Food Delivery Service | Food & Beverage | $11,200 | $58,240 | $145,600 |
| Food Processing Business | Food & Beverage | $84,000 | $280,000 | $840,000 |
| Food Truck | Food & Beverage | $50,400 | $134,400 | $224,000 |
| Freight Brokerage | Transportation & Logistics | $17,920 | $40,320 | $89,600 |
| Furniture Store | Retail | $56,000 | $224,000 | $672,000 |
| General Contracting Business | Construction & Trades | $22,400 | $61,600 | $145,600 |
| Ghost Kitchen | Food & Beverage | $22,400 | $67,200 | $168,000 |
| Gift Shop | Retail | $22,400 | $78,400 | $224,000 |
| Gym & Fitness Center | Health & Wellness | $56,000 | $280,000 | $1,120,000 |
| Hair Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $16,800 | $84,000 | $280,000 |
| Handyman Business | Home Services | $2,240 | $11,200 | $36,960 |
| Home Health Care Agency | Health & Wellness | $44,800 | $145,600 | $336,000 |
| HVAC Business | Home Services | $22,400 | $78,400 | $224,000 |
| Ice Cream Shop | Food & Beverage | $22,400 | $84,000 | $224,000 |
| Insurance Agency | Professional Services | $16,800 | $44,800 | $100,800 |
| IT Services Business | Tech & Online | $16,800 | $44,800 | $112,000 |
| Juice Bar & Smoothie Shop | Food & Beverage | $28,000 | $100,800 | $280,000 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $11,200 | $44,800 | $134,400 |
| Laundromat | Real Estate | $112,000 | $280,000 | $672,000 |
| Law Firm | Professional Services | $13,440 | $38,080 | $90,720 |
| Limousine & Car Service | Transportation & Logistics | $44,800 | $100,800 | $246,400 |
| Liquor Store | Retail | $56,000 | $201,600 | $560,000 |
| Marketing Agency | Professional Services | $5,600 | $20,160 | $56,000 |
| Martial Arts Studio | Childcare & Education | $22,400 | $78,400 | $224,000 |
| Meal Prep Business | Food & Beverage | $22,400 | $72,800 | $224,000 |
| Med Spa | Health & Wellness | $112,000 | $392,000 | $1,120,000 |
| Medical Practice | Health & Wellness | $168,000 | $448,000 | $1,120,000 |
| Mental Health Practice | Health & Wellness | $16,800 | $56,000 | $168,000 |
| Moving Company | Home Services | $33,600 | $112,000 | $336,000 |
| Music School | Childcare & Education | $11,200 | $56,000 | $168,000 |
| Nail Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $22,400 | $100,800 | $280,000 |
| Painting Business | Home Services | $5,600 | $28,000 | $89,600 |
| Personal Training Business | Health & Wellness | $5,600 | $28,000 | $112,000 |
| Pest Control Business | Home Services | $11,200 | $44,800 | $134,400 |
| Pet Store | Retail | $33,600 | $112,000 | $336,000 |
| Pharmacy | Health & Wellness | $168,000 | $448,000 | $1,120,000 |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | Health & Wellness | $67,200 | $201,600 | $504,000 |
| Pizza Shop | Food & Beverage | $56,000 | $196,000 | $448,000 |
| Plumbing Business | Home Services | $16,800 | $56,000 | $168,000 |
| Podcast Production Company | Tech & Online | $2,240 | $6,720 | $20,160 |
| Preschool | Childcare & Education | $56,000 | $168,000 | $448,000 |
| Property Management Company | Real Estate | $11,760 | $26,880 | $61,600 |
| Real Estate Agency | Professional Services | $11,200 | $31,360 | $78,400 |
| Real Estate Investing (Rental) | Real Estate | $28,000 | $84,000 | $280,000 |
| Restaurant | Food & Beverage | $196,000 | $420,000 | $840,000 |
| Roofing Company | Home Services | $16,800 | $67,200 | $201,600 |
| SaaS Company | Tech & Online | $22,400 | $67,200 | $224,000 |
| Spa & Massage Therapy | Health & Wellness | $11,200 | $78,400 | $280,000 |
| Staffing Agency | Professional Services | $22,400 | $61,600 | $168,000 |
| Storage Unit Facility | Real Estate | $224,000 | $672,000 | $2,240,000 |
| Tattoo Shop | Beauty & Personal Care | $22,400 | $66,080 | $224,000 |
| Tax Preparation Business | Professional Services | $3,920 | $11,200 | $30,240 |
| Thrift Store | Retail | $22,400 | $84,000 | $224,000 |
| Tire Shop | Automotive | $56,000 | $168,000 | $448,000 |
| Towing Company | Automotive | $56,000 | $168,000 | $448,000 |
| Trucking Company | Transportation & Logistics | $33,600 | $89,600 | $224,000 |
| Tutoring Business | Childcare & Education | $2,240 | $26,880 | $112,000 |
| Used Car Dealership | Automotive | $56,000 | $224,000 | $672,000 |
| Vape Shop | Retail | $28,000 | $84,000 | $224,000 |
| Web Development Agency | Tech & Online | $3,920 | $13,440 | $36,960 |
| Welding Business | Construction & Trades | $16,800 | $44,800 | $112,000 |
| Winery | Food & Beverage | $168,000 | $853,440 | $3,360,000 |
| Yoga Studio | Health & Wellness | $16,800 | $89,600 | $224,000 |
Most Popular Business Types in Oregon
Restaurant
Food & Beverage
$196,000 – $840,000
Cannabis Dispensary
Specialty & Regulated
$139,440 – $1,394,400
Cleaning Business
Home Services
$1,680 – $41,440
Web Development Agency
Tech & Online
$3,920 – $36,960
Landscaping Business
Home Services
$11,200 – $134,400
Brewery / Microbrewery
Food & Beverage
$112,000 – $1,120,000
Licenses & Permits in Oregon
General Business License
Oregon does not have a statewide general business license and notably has no sales tax, significantly simplifying business registration. Businesses must register their entity with the Oregon Secretary of State and register with the Oregon Department of Revenue for income tax purposes. Some Oregon cities require local business licenses — Portland has an extensive business licensing system through the Business License System, and many other cities have their own requirements. Multnomah County requires additional business registration.
Industry-Specific Licenses
- Food Handler Card and Food Service Facility License — Oregon Department of Agriculture or Local Health AuthorityCost: $100-$600 • Renewal: Annual
- General Contractor License (CCB License) — Oregon Construction Contractors BoardCost: $200-$600 • Renewal: Biennial
- Cosmetology Salon License — Oregon Health Licensing OfficeCost: $50-$200 • Renewal: Annual
- Real Estate Broker License — Oregon Real Estate AgencyCost: $230-$500 • Renewal: Biennial
- Certified Childcare Center License — Oregon Department of Early Learning and CareCost: $100-$400 • Renewal: Annual
- Recreational Marijuana Retailer License — Oregon Liquor and Cannabis CommissionCost: $4,750-$5,000 • Renewal: Annual
- Full On-Premises Sales License — Oregon Liquor and Cannabis CommissionCost: $400-$2,500 • Renewal: Annual
- Motor Carrier Certificate — Oregon Department of Transportation — Motor Carrier Transportation DivisionCost: $100-$500 • Renewal: Annual
Home-Based Business Rules
Oregon municipalities regulate home-based businesses through local zoning ordinances within the statewide planning framework. Portland allows home occupations in residential zones with restrictions on customer visits, delivery frequency, and commercial vehicle storage. Oregon's urban growth boundary system means home-based businesses are common and generally supported given the high cost of commercial space. Oregon's cottage food law supports home-based food production and direct consumer sales up to $50,000 annually.
Oregon Business Resources
SBA District Office
Oregon SBA District Office — Portland
Secretary of State
https://sos.oregon.gov/businessZoning Information
Oregon has unique statewide land use planning laws (Goal 9, 10). Portland's Metro government coordinates zoning across the region. Oregon has very strict urban growth boundaries.
Health Department Notes
Food establishments require a license from the Oregon Department of Agriculture or Oregon Health Authority depending on the type of operation.
Workers Compensation
Required for all employers. Oregon operates a competitive workers comp market but has some of the highest premiums in the nation.