How to Start an LLC in Oklahoma: If you’re looking to start an Oklahoma LLC, you’ve come to the right page. Setting up an LLC is easy and cost-effective. To form an LLC, you must follow a few steps that include naming your LLC, hiring a registered agent, filing your formation documents, doing the operating agreement, and finally obtaining the EIN. You can easily set up your LLC at a very low cost in Oklahoma. Though, you must pay the mandatory state filing fee. These fees and charges can be tax deductible, making the LLC formation cost almost negligible.
On this page, You’ll find all the steps that must be taken to ensure that your Oklahoma LLC has been correctly formed. We recommend you read the whole article very carefully, word by word, don’t miss anything 🙂
How to Start an LLC in Oklahoma
An LLC (aka Limited Liability Company) is a hybrid business entity combining a corporation’s characteristics with a partnership or sole proprietorship. It separates your personal assets from your business assets, thus giving you personal asset protection. For an LLC, members’ personal assets are not affected by business debts. However, in some cases, if the LLC is sued for business debts, courts might pierce the corporate veil and use the owner’s personal assets to meet their corporate liabilities.
If you wish to start an LLC in Oklahoma, you must file your Articles of Organization with the State and pay a filing fee of $100. While it’s the most important step, it’s not the only one. There are 4 other crucial steps to follow to get your LLC formed in Oklahoma. Below are all 5 steps that explain everything you need to do to start an Oklahoma LLC in 2024. Let’s get started! You can always hire a professional LLC formation service in Oklahoma to set up your LLC instead of doing it alone; a Pro service will ensure everything is done properly.
Step 1: Decide a Name for Your Oklahoma LLC
The very first step while forming an LLC in Oklahoma is to give a proper name to your LLC. Before you name your business, you must know that the name should be easy to remember, available in the state, and follows all the LLC naming guidelines.
LLC Naming Guidelines in Oklahoma
There are a few specific requirements all the LLCs in Oklahoma have to follow while naming their Company. Some of the most important requirements are as follows:
- Your business name should be available, and no other existing business in Oklahoma can have the same name. ZenBusiness offers unlimited business name searches without any hassle.
- “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Company”, “L.C.”, “LC”, “LLC”, and “L.L.C.” – any one of these has to be used as a suffix in your business name.
- You cannot use any name for your business that is confusing or misleading. Terms such as “Treasury”, “State Department”, “FBI”, “CIA”, etc. shouldn’t be included.
- Terms like “Bank“, “University“, “Attorney“, “Doctor“, etc can be added only after the additional requirements by Oklahoma State Government are fulfilled.
- (Optional) It’s better to name your business something for which your desired domain is available.
Important Links – | Submit Offline Form to – |
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Oklahoma Business Entity Search – Online Name Search Name Reservation Form – PDF Name Reservation Form – Online Name Availability Standards – Guidelines Oklahoma LLC Name Search – Instructions | Oklahoma Secretary of State 421 N.W. 13th, Suite 210 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103 |
Reserve Business Name for Future
If you do not wish to file your LLC right now but want to hold the name you have decided on, then you can reserve your LLC name for 60 days. To keep the name, you must file a name reservation application and pay $10 to reserve your name with the Oklahoma Secretary of State.
Doing Business As (DBA) or Trade Name
Once you have a legal name for your LLC, you can register it. However, it is not mandatory. You can, instead, use DBA, Fictitious Name, or Trade Name. In that case, you must register your name with the Oklahoma Secretary of State by submitting an Application to Register Trade Name in Oklahoma along with the filing fee of $25.
Recommended: You can do name search, business domain, website, emails, and a lot more in one place by hiring a professional service. We recommend using –
ZenBusiness – ($0 for LLC Formation)
Apart from LLC formation, ZenBusiness offers customized website templates and business emails at a very reasonable price. If you plan to get a website, then it is wise to have a “.com” domain for your business, but these days you can also use other TLDs like “.io”, “.company”, “.xyz,” etc. Here you can get everything you need for your business in one dashboard.
It is not legally mandatory to use the word LLC in your domain name or email. If you want you can use it. However, it is recommended not to use LLC in the domain name. A domain name should be short and easy to remember.
Step 2: Assign a Registered Agent in Oklahoma
The second step to forming an LLC in Oklahoma is to appoint a Registered Agent. A registered agent is a person or business entity working on your LLC’s behalf. This person or business will receive important tax forms, legal documents, all notices of lawsuits, and other official government correspondence in Oklahoma. Hence, hiring a competent Oklahoma Registered Agent for your LLC is necessary.
Make sure your registered agent is a resident of Oklahoma or has a physical street address. This address will be used as the principal address of your LLC to receive any legal documents. Most LLC formation companies also provide registered agent services. Below are two great LLC formation services; even if you buy their cheapest plan (normally $0), you also get registered agent service and other services at a very reasonable price.
These two are our top recommendations for registered agent service, as they are competent and authorized to conduct business in Oklahoma. Some LLC formation services also offer standalone Oklahoma registered agent services. You can purchase only Registered Agent services without purchasing any other LLC formation services. This standalone service might become handy if you are doing it yourself and don’t want to disclose your home address or you don’t want to pierce the corporate veil.
A person above 18 years of age and has a physical address in the state of Oklahoma can be a Registered Agent. A Registered Agent can be an independent person or can be a business entity. One is responsible for handling all the legal documents on the LLCs behalf.
Yes, you can be your own registered agent if you are a resident of the state of Oklahoma and you are above 18 years of age. To become a registered agent, you must have the authority to conduct any type of business in Oklahoma.
There are a few reasons why you shouldn’t be your own registered agent. The address of the registered agent is used to communicate with the SOS or for any legal activities. If you are your own registered agent, you might have to upload your personal address to the public forum. Besides, the registered agent must be at the address during business hours. It won’t be easy for you as you also have to take care of other things in your LLC. Hence, it is wiser to appoint a separate entity as your registered agent.
If an LLC is sued in Oklahoma, in some cases, courts might decide to lift the corporate veil, which means the owners of the LLC will be personally liable for their business debts. They might have to forgo their personal assets to repay their business debts. This is called piercing the corporate veil, where personal and business assets are not separated anymore. Your personal assets can be protected if you have enough capital and all your LLC documents are properly filed.
Registered Agent Consent Application
In Oklahoma, there is no separate Consent Letter to be produced to the Secretary of State. At the time of change of Registered Agent (or the name or address), the new Registered Agent has to sign the consent letter. It comes with the Application form to Change the Registered Agent. The filing fee of $25 should be paid for it. For more information on the same, read our guide on Oklahoma Registered Agent.
Step 3: File Articles of Organization in Oklahoma
The third and most important step in forming an Oklahoma LLC is to file the Articles of Organization. This Oklahoma Articles of Organization is a legal document that is required to register your business with the Oklahoma Secretary of State. It costs $100 (by mail and $208 online) to file your formation certificate in Oklahoma.
The Articles of Organization include details like the name of the LLC, the registered agent’s name, address, employees’ details, and the company’s structure (member-managed or manager-managed). Before hiring employees in Oklahoma LLC, one should know about the rules and regulations thoroughly. Also if you are expanding your existing business (an LLC) in other states to Oklahoma, you must register as an Oklahoma Foreign LLC.
How to File Online
Go to the Secretary of State Online Service. You will get the online service page. You do not need to log in to start filing your LLC. You can provide your name and email ID and start filing your LLC. Click on the “Online Filing” button below. Read more about the Oklahoma Articles of Organization for online registration.
Processing Time: Normally, it takes around 7-10 business days (approx) to get your LLC formed in Oklahoma. The processing time for online filing might be a little faster than offline filing. With an additional cost, you can get expedited filing as well. However, the document processing time can be changed due to various factors.
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ZenBusiness – ($0 + State Fees) Online LLC Setup
Every LLC owner has to pay the filing fees to register their business in Oklahoma. This fee is mandatory but also tax deductible. If you’re doing it yourself (filing on your own), it will not cost you any additional service fee. However, it is not feasible to do that as the DIY process might be delayed, complicated, and messy, especially if you’re a novice entrepreneur. Hence, it is recommended to get professional guidance to get your LLC formed in Oklahoma.
Step 4: Create Your Oklahoma LLC Operating Agreement
Moving on to the fourth step, filing your operating agreement. An operating agreement is a document that legally outlines the proprietorship and operating procedures of your LLC. If you’re starting an LLC with your spouse/real-life partner, you must need an operating agreement for that. This document is vital as it ensures that all business owners are on the same page regarding how they operate, thus reducing future conflicts.
When it comes to filing an Oklahoma LLC Operating Agreement, the state does not require you to have a comprehensive operating agreement, but it is ideal to have one that contains all the details of your business operation that helps in taking future business decisions, especially if you decide to dissolve Oklahoma LLC later. Hence, having an operating agreement may not be necessary, but it is surely ideal.
Recommended: You can get a professionally made operating agreement for very less cost with ZenBusiness. You don’t need to worry about drafting it as they will take care of it on your behalf. We recommend using –
ZenBusiness – ($0 + State Fees) Online LLC Setup
The operating agreement draft can be created for free if you don’t hire a professional. However, there is an advantage to appointing a proficient person/service. You will get a businesslike quality operating agreement at a very cheap fee, which will help you in the future. Hiring a professional service means you can sleep well at night 🙂
Step 5: Filing an Oklahoma LLC EIN
The Employer Identification Number (aka EIN) is a nine-digit number given by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to make it easier to identify the type of business for tax purposes and taxes in general. The EIN is necessary for any active business or any form of business.
An EIN number in Oklahoma is needed when the LLC hires employees. Hiring employees in Oklahoma LLC requires following specific rules and regulations. On the other side, EIN for Oklahoma foreign LLC should be obtained if your LLC is based in other states.
To obtain EIN (aka FEIN), one must fill up a form (Online or by mail) and submit it to the IRS. Enter details of your LLC, and finally, complete the form and send it to the address given. You can also get an EIN Assistant to help you with the process.
Mail to: Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999
Fax: (855) 641-6935 | Fee: Free
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ZenBusiness – ($0 + State Fees) Online LLC Setup
Note: You don’t need a Social Security number when getting an EIN. You can proceed to fill out I.R.S. Form SS-4 and leave section 7b blank. You must then call the IRS at (267) 941-1099 to complete your application. Agents or employees will help you with that.
Congratulations, you are now done with all the necessary steps to form your Limited Liability Company in Oklahoma. If you do it yourself, it should take you a long time to understand and do all the steps properly.
However, if you use ZenBusiness, it should be way faster. You will always have a live chat option and phone support with experts for any help you need. Their worry-free service will make things easier for you.
After Starting Your Oklahoma LLC
After forming your LLC, there are still some things that you will need. The most important thing is to separate your business and personal assets. LLCs have limited liability protection that protects your personal assets from business liability. This is called a corporate veil. However, the corporate veil can be lifted or pierced by the court if the LLC is sued. In that case, the owners of the LLC become personally liable for their corporate debts. A few things like appointing a legit registered agent, having enough capital, and filing all the major documents with the state can save the LLCs from being pierced into the corporate veil.
BOI Report Filing
According to the Corporate Transparency Act, every LLC, corporation, and other type of business that is registered with the Oklahoma SOS or similar authority, must file the BOI report with FinCEN. From January 1, 2024, it is mandatory to file a BOI report for every business entity. In this report, LLCs have to share information about the beneficial owners (having equal or more than 25% share). LLC owners can file BOI reports online or offline.
LLCs in Oklahoma that are created before January 1, 2024, should file their BOI report by January 1, 2025. LLCs that are created in 2024, must file the BOI report within 90 business days of finishing the LLC formation process. Missing out on filing the BOI report may lead to a monetary penalty of $500/day.
Apart from that, there are a few things you need to take note of,
- Get a company business bank account
- File Oklahoma business permits & licenses
- Get general liability insurance and professional liability insurance with coverage for employees.
- File an Oklahoma LLC annual report or biennial report
This page has provided you with steps to LLC formation and filing processes. You now have to remember upcoming filing deadlines and filing fees or filing costs, including fees for late filings to make sure your LLC is up-to-date.
The LLC formation processing time in Oklahoma is 5-7 business days if filing offline (by mail). The process takes 1-2 business days if filed online. Check how long it takes to form an LLC to know about the tentative timelines.
Cost of Oklahoma LLC
LLCs can be formed by spending very less price, considering they have pass-through taxation. Apart from the mandatory state filing fees, you don’t have to bear additional service charges if you do it yourself. Following are the fees and taxes LLCs in Oklahoma must pay to register and run a business in the state. Forming an LLC is no doubt cost-effective compared to other business structures. However, the fees and charges (tax-deductible) that you must pay to the state, such as name reservation fee, name filing fee, LLC filing fee, and Franchise Tax & Sales Tax (If applicable). Here are the main fees and taxes you must pay while forming your limited liability company in Oklahoma,
Fees/Tax | Amount to be Paid |
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Name Reservation Fee | $10 |
DBA filing fee | $25 |
Articles of Organozation Fee | $100 |
LLC Annual Fee | $25 |
Sales Tax | 4.5% |
In Oklahoma, an LLC name reservation is not mandatory. You can register your LLC name at the time of registering your LLC. If you wish to hold the name for some time without registering your LLC, then you can do that online. Your LLC name will be reserved for 60 days without registering your LLC. It can be renewed by paying $10.
In Oklahoma, an Annual Report has to be produced every year. It costs $25. Also, the State of Oklahoma requires LLCs to pay a Sales Tax of 4.5% every year. Read our guide on LLC costs in Oklahoma for more information.
Oklahoma Foreign LLC
If you are interested in forming a Foreign LLC in Oklahoma then you need to file the Certificate of Foreign LLC to the Oklahoma Secretary of State. Foreign LLCs allow you to operate your business in more than one state. Along with the Certificate of Foreign LLC, you need to submit some more documents like the Certificate of Good Standing, etc. to the Oklahoma SOS to form your foreign LLC in Oklahoma. To know more in detail, check out our guide on Oklahoma Foreign LLC.
Reasons to Start an LLC in Oklahoma
Oklahoma is becoming a dream destination for a start-up to incorporate and start an LLC. This is the cost of labor low in the state, which will provide the same qualified labor as in the other states. Other than this, the state offers various business funding options and a reduction in tax liabilities as well. Read more on Oklahoma’s classification of LLC tax. Also, it provides a supportive environment for business flourishment to the business with the help of several incentives, of which some are discussed below.
Oklahoma Quality Job Program
When an LLC is set up in Oklahoma, it is sure that it will require some extraordinary people to work for them. For this, the entrepreneurs also start hiring for such quality people and start providing them jobs. Still, little they are known that with providing quality jobs, an Oklahoma LLC is also going to be benefited financially.
- LLC will receive a 5% return on the yearly package of the quality jobs they are offering. The government is offering this incentive quarterly for a duration of 10 long years.
- If the LLC provides a high-impacting quality job, it will receive a rebate of 2.5% on the employee’s taxable wage. This policy lasts for 6 years duration.
- The last program is for small employers who will receive 5% as a cashback of their employee’s payroll for 7 years in a row.
Oklahoma Enterprise Zone
If we consider Oklahoma state, then more than 30% of people in the state live below poverty, and the government is making continuous efforts to lift their status. For this reason, they have formed Enterprise Zone in such areas to attract LLCs and entrepreneurs. They bring along with their investment and unique ideas, which will create jobs in the enterprise zones.
Many tax benefits are given to such people to keep on generating jobs in the state and expand their business. Oklahoma Local Development handles this incentive program and provides timely incentives to LLC in Oklahoma.
Tax Credit Programs Of Oklahoma
If you want to start an LLC in Oklahoma, you must get yourself ready to receive tax benefits bundles. Some of them are:-
- There are some certified Community Development Entities in which the small businesses make some equity investment. From this investment, the LLC will get a tax rebate.
- After that, there is an incentive to create new jobs in the manufacturing sector and by property. A tax credit will be provided to the businessman for both activities.
Top Businesses in Oklahoma
Oklahoma is one of the most significant industrial areas with lots of ups and downs in its economy. That is why before a businessman thinks of starting an LLC in Oklahoma State, one should know the details about the state’s top businesses.
Forestry and Agriculture
The forestry industry flourished in Oklahoma from time immemorial. It is noticed that the state is one of the largest producers of sandalwood timber in the state, with 20% of forest cover. Also, the state is known for the production of the below-mentioned products.
- Wheat accounts for 6.1% of the state total.
- Hogs and Broilers
- Dairy products
- Pigs and cattle
The overall contribution of this sector to the economy of the state is $6.1 billion.
Energy businesses
The energy production sector of Oklahoma is dependent mainly on non-renewable resources, primarily coal and natural gas. Renewable energy is significantly less manufactured in the state due to the non-supporting environment. Still, the business sector is the main contributor to the state’s economy that is $41.47. This value includes the value of oil and gas extraction and the production sector of energy.
Natural Resources
The value of minerals that is present in the soil of Oklahoma is enormous. There are various stones and elements found in the statistics of soil testing. Iodine is produced the most in Oklahoma state and also supports its refineries businesses.
Apart from that, it is the 3rd largest producer of natural gases and 5th in crude oil. This important sector of the state contributes around $35 billion to its overall GDP, which is the highest for any sector. Also, the labor force of this sector is happy due to their higher pay scales.
Some small businesses that are established in the state are:-
- Recycling and its pick up
- Food truck
- Healthcare consultancy
Oklahoma LLC Formation Review
Time needed: 5 minutes
Just to recap, here are the easy steps again when forming an LLC in Oklahoma. Click on the steps in this list to read the full detail.
- Name your Oklahoma LLC
The first thing you must do is to choose a company name, which should be unique, easy to find, and available in the state.
- Choose a Registered Agent
In Oklahoma, it is mandatory to select a registered agent for your LLC. Get a professional Registered Agent from LLC formation services to get things done hassle-free.
- File a Formation Certificate
Filing a formation certificate is necessary when forming an LLC in Oklahoma. Depending on the state, it could be called any of the following: Certificate of Formation, Articles of Organization, or Certificate of Organization.
- Create an Operating Agreement
An operating agreement is not a strict requirement in Oklahoma but something encouraged when you start an LLC to avoid future conflicts.
- Get an EIN
The Employer Identification Number (EIN), also called Federal Tax Identification Number, serves to identify a business entity like a social security number but for a company.
F.A.Qs
If you are a resident of Oklahoma, then you can file your LLC by yourself. However, it is always worth having a professional than doing it yourself to handle legal complexities, paperwork, and other documentation.
Apart from the formation fee of $100 (domestic LLC) and $300 (foreign LLC), LLC costs in Oklahoma include $25 for Annual Reports every year. LLCs are liable to pay sales tax of 4.5% every year
It takes 2 business days to get an LLC in Oklahoma if you file it online. For the mail filing, it takes 7-10 business days to get an LLC. If you hire a professional LLC service, then it might take less than that. We recommend TailorBrands which has impeccable turnaround time.
Every year all the LLCs have to submit an Annual Report and pay $25 to the Oklahoma Secretary of State and renew the LLC. It is mandatory to renew your LLC every year.
Generally, for the LLCs, it is a default tax structure. Once you will obtain the EIN, you will get the various tax structure options to select. Sometimes LLCs choose S Corp to reduce federal tax burdens. Read more on the Oklahoma Classification of LLC Tax.
In Conclusion
When it comes to forming an LLC in Oklahoma, it is much simpler than other business structures. In Oklahoma, starting a small business or a start-up is easy because of its diverse resources. For small budget holders, forming a limited liability company is desirable. The steps explained in this article are generic steps for starting a business in Oklahoma. It is recommended to consult an attorney or service provider.
In Oklahoma, while establishing an LLC, make sure you check with the local bodies like the city council and district office to get updated with local regulations. We recommend ZenBusiness, one of the best LLC services that offers LLC formation at $0 (+ state filing fees). Hiring a professional service would make things easier. From having a registered agent to complying with the local and state government, everything will be smoother than doing things all by yourself.