Get an LLC in Oklahoma Easy and Stress-Free

Quick facts about forming an Oklahoma LLC

Item	Details
State filing fee (Articles of Organization)	$100
Card service charge (4%)	$4 ($104 total; $100 by mailed check)
Processing Time	Online filings are usually processed within a few business days; mailed filings take longer
Annual Report Fee	$25
Registered Agent Required	Yes, must have a physical Oklahoma address
State Franchise Tax	None (Oklahoma repealed its franchise tax starting with tax year 2024)
Business License	No statewide general business license, but local permits may be required
Managing Authority	Oklahoma Secretary of State, Business Filing Department

How to start an LLC in Oklahoma in 5 steps

Registering a limited liability company (LLC) in Oklahoma allows you to enjoy protections offered by incorporation and an advantageous tax structure. An LLC provides limited liability for its owners and protects them from being personally responsible or liable for business obligations and debts. Setting up an LLC may also protect your personal assets from attachment by business creditors.

Oklahoma offers flexibility in how an LLC decides to be taxed. By default, a single-member LLC is taxed like a sole proprietorship and a multi-member LLC like a partnership. An LLC can also elect to be taxed as an S corporation or a C corporation. With the default pass-through taxation structure, the profits flow through the LLC and are not taxed at the corporate level. Instead, the distributions are taxed at the personal level, avoiding double taxation. More advantages to starting an LLC in Oklahoma include that the filing is easy to complete and submit, has easy tax filing requirements every year, and has a low initial filing fee.

To form your Oklahoma LLC, you need to take the following 5 steps:

1. Name your Oklahoma LLC
2. Choose your registered agent
3. File articles of organization
4. Create an operating agreement 
5. Apply for an EIN

Read more for a detailed explanation and video that will help you go through each step of the process.

Step 1: Name your Oklahoma LLC

Now that you’ve decided to file an LLC, you must name your business as part of the process. You can pick any name you like as long as it’s distinguishable from names already on file with the Secretary of State. You can perform an Oklahoma business entity search and go online to www.sos.ok.gov for the Secretary of State’s website and navigate to the company name search page. 

• Business names must be unique to avoid confusion between the state and existing companies
• The company name has to contain the words “limited liability company” or “limited company” or abbreviations including “LLC,” “LC,” “L.L.C.,” or “L.C.”
• If you plan to do business under a different name, you’ll need to file a trade name report with the Secretary of State

Step 2: Choose a registered agent

The state offers multiple options for who you may choose to be your Oklahoma registered agent. You can list yourself as the registered agent as long as you’re an Oklahoma resident with a street address in the state, where you can accept legal papers during regular business hours, or you can use a registered business entity in Oklahoma. The registered agent needs to be available during regular business hours to sign for and receive documents on behalf of the LLC. 

It’s usually preferable to use a registered business entity to provide registered agent services for receiving documents. Another advantage of using our registered agent services is that it allows you to relocate your business to another address in Oklahoma without filing a change of registered office (a $25 filing). If your principal office address changes, you’ll still need to update it with the state. 

Step 3: File articles of organization

Articles of organization for forming an LLC in Oklahoma are straightforward. You need to supply the following information in your articles of organization: 

• Your LLC’s name
• The term of existence (which may be perpetual)
• The street address of the principal place of business (no P.O. boxes)
• The registered agent’s name and street address
• An email address for the company’s primary contact

State fees

Your LLC cost in Oklahoma includes the filing fee for the initial articles of organization: $100, plus a 4% card service charge ($104 total) when you pay by card. A mailed check pays $100.

• State filing fee (Articles of Organization): $100
• Card service charge (4%): $4

Same-day service is available in person for an extra $25 per document. 

Requirements

The principal place of business has to be a physical location. P.O. box addresses are not accepted. An email address for the company’s primary contact (not the registered agent) must be included. Every domestic and foreign LLC registered to do business in the state is required to file an Oklahoma annual certificate LLC on the company’s anniversary date. This confirms it’s an active business still located at the same physical address, and the email hasn’t changed. 

How to file

Articles of organization can be filed in person at the Secretary of State’s office, online, or by mail. 

You need to pay $104 in total fees when filing online (or if we do it for you), which includes the $100 state filing fee and a $4 card service charge (the Secretary of State adds 4% to the filing fee for credit card payments). 

If you file on your own and by mail, you must mail the documents accompanied by a filing fee of $100. You can write out a check, cashier’s check, or money order and make it payable to the Oklahoma Secretary of State. The articles and payment can be mailed to:

Secretary of State 
421 N.W. 13th Suite 210 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103

Online filings are usually processed within a few business days; mailed filings take longer.

Step 4: Create an operating agreement

Oklahoma doesn’t require a written operating agreement, and you don’t file one with the state. However, if you’re forming an LLC with partners, you should seriously consider creating an operating agreement for all partners to abide by. Having one in place from when the LLC is formed will help avoid disagreements and arguments between partners. The operating agreement also lays out goals for the business and how members can exit or dissolve the LLC, which gives everyone involved a framework to reference and build from as the business grows. 

An LLC operating agreement Oklahoma should be considered a must in that it firms up everyone’s intentions for the business and makes its contents enforceable in civil court if needed. The LLC Act recognizes agreements that are written, oral or implied, so putting yours in writing is the safest choice.

Step 5: Apply for an EIN

The EIN, or Employer Identification Number, is issued by the IRS, not the state. You need an EIN if your LLC has employees, has more than one member, or is taxed as a corporation. Single-member LLCs without employees can use the owner’s SSN, but an EIN is still recommended in case your plans change. 

The EIN is issued by the IRS and is a unique identifier used to track a given corporate entity’s taxes. You use the EIN for reporting and submitting payroll and corporate income taxes to the IRS. The EIN is free, and you can easily apply for one online through the IRS website or have us at Tailor Brands take care of it for you. 

If you want to apply on your own, you can go directly to the webpage for the EIN application and enter the requested information. To apply, your business has to be located in the U.S. or a U.S. territory and have a valid Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). This includes a Social Security Number (SSN), Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), or EIN. 

The application for the EIN has to be completed in one session as the IRS does not allow you to save and resume later. The session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity, and you’ll have to start over again. Be sure to review the information requirements before starting the form and have all the information to hand as you fill it out. 

When you file for your EIN, you’ll be asked to identify your business as an LLC and give the number of members. To be taxed as an S corporation, file Form 2553 separately. Each tax status comes with plusses and minuses, and you should consult with a tax professional before choosing one. Depending on your business structure, you may find that a partnership structure makes more sense than an S-corporation structure. 

Getting an EIN has its advantages, even if you’re operating as a sole proprietor. The EIN can be used in place of your SSN, adding a layer of protection between your business and your personal finances. It also enables you to open corporate business accounts and gain access to the flexibility of banking at the business level. You can use your business name on your 1099s if you retain contractors, and it makes it easier to take care of FICA taxes if you hire employees at some point. 

If you’ll sell taxable goods, you’ll also need an Oklahoma sales tax permit.

Next steps: budget for Oklahoma business license costs and look into small business grants in Oklahoma that may help fund your new LLC.

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