Before you form a corporation, you’ll need to complete a business name search with the Oregon Business Name Search tool to check if your corporation name is available.
We'll show you how to check corporation name availability in Oregon in this guide.
Recommended: You’ll want to secure your website domain name as soon as possible. Check GoDaddy to make sure it’s available.
Oregon Corporation Name Search
The Oregon Secretary of State requires all business names to be distinguishable from other business entities in the state. So, you’ll want to search and make sure no other businesses in the state are already using your name.
It is also useful to see if your corporation name is available as a web domain (URL).
SKIP AHEAD:
How to Search Available Oregon Corporation Names
Once you know your corporation name meets Oregon business name guidelines, make sure it’s available by using the Oregon Business Name Search tool.
Want to learn more about corporations? Check out our What Is a Corporation guide to get started.
How to Check Available Domain Names
When deciding on a name for your corporation, you should make sure that a similar or exact domain name is available. A matching URL will help potential customers find your corporation faster.
How to Register a Corporation Name in Oregon
Register Your Name
A corporation name is officially registered when you file your Oregon Articles of Incorporation. You can hire a professional service to form a corporation for you or start a corporation yourself.
Ready to register your corporation name? Use our Form a Corporation guide to get started.
If you want to register a DBA in Oregon, known as an assumed name, that’s a separate process that requires filing a separate form with the Secretary of State.
Reserve Your Name
While not required, you have the option to reserve your corporation name in Oregon for up to 120 days before you register it. This prevents other businesses from registering your name until you are ready to register it yourself.
Name reservations can be filed by mail with the Oregon Secretary of State. The filing fee is $100.
Need Help Forming Your Corporation? ZenBusiness will get you started.
Oregon Corporation Name Requirements
Key Guidelines
Oregon has official requirements for its corporation names.
The name must contain the word “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated,” “limited,” or an abbreviation of one of these terms.
Additionally an Oregon corporation name may contain the following:
- The following special characters: asterisk (*); “at” sign (@); backslash (/); left brace ( { ); right brace ( } ); caret (^); dollar sign ($); “equal to” sign (=); “greater than” sign (>); “less than” sign (<); number sign (#); percentage sign (%); plus sign (+); tilde (~); and underscore (_).
- The following punctuation: apostrophe ( ‘ ); left bracket ([ ); right bracket( ]); colon (:); comma (,); dash or hyphen (-); exclamation point (!); left parenthesis (( ); right parenthesis ( ) ); period (.); question mark (? ); single quote mark (“ ); double quote mark ( “ ” ); semicolon (;); and slash ( / ).
There are also restricted words, such as “FBI” or “Treasury,” that you cannot use in order to keep your LLC from sounding like an official institution.
Oregon also has the following restrictions for corporation names:
- The name cannot include the word "cooperative."
- Your name cannot imply in any way that the business is an agency of the state or any of its political subdivisions without approval.
For more information, check out the Oregon state statutes on the Secretary of State website.
Distinguishability
Your name must be distinguishable from all other Oregon business names. In Oregon, a distinguishable name is one that is substantively different from all other existing or reserved business names in the state.
The following differences make a name distinguishable in Oregon:
- One or more different letter or numerals (except an "s" to make word plural possessive)
- Letters or numerals in a different order
- Different words or a different order of words
- Creative or unusual spelling
- Expressing a number as a numeral versus as a word
The following differences do NOT make a name distinguishable in Oregon:
- Business entity identifiers at the end of the name
- Plural or possessive forms of words
- Punctuation and special characters
- Spacing
- Articles, prepositions, and conjunctions
If your corporation name isn’t distinguishable, your Articles of Incorporation filing will likely be rejected.
What if my corporation name is already taken? Our AI-powered corporation name generator will give you thousands of new ideas.
For a list of brainstorming tips, check out our guide to naming your business.
Oregon Corporation Name Search FAQ
How do I check if a corporation name is taken in Oregon?
You can use the Oregon Business Name Search tool to see if your business name is available.
Learn more about business entity name availability in the Oregon Corporation Name Search section.
Should I name my corporation after myself?
While there’s no rule against naming a corporation after yourself, most experts advise against doing this.
One of the benefits of starting a corporation is the ability to choose a different name for your business, which can make it sound more professional.
To explore other naming options, use our free AI-powered business name generator.
What words can’t be used in an Oregon corporation name?
Business names generally can’t include words that imply the company is a banking or financial institution or that it’s affiliated with a local, state, or federal government agency.
Additionally, Oregon corporation names cannot include the word "cooperative" and cannot imply in any way that the business is an agency of the state or any of its political subdivisions without approval.
Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Oregon Corporation Name Requirements section.
Should I use a business name generator?
If you’re having trouble choosing a name for your corporation, a corporation name generator can help you come up with some ideas.
Do I have to include ‘corporation’ in my name?
Oregon corporation names must contain the word “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated,” “limited,” or an abbreviation of one of these terms.
Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Oregon Corporation Name Requirements section.
Do I need to renew my business name in Oregon?
Oregon doesn't require corporations to renew their legal name, but assumed names must be renewed every two years with the Secretary of State.
Can my business name be different from my corporation name in Oregon?
Some companies choose to operate under a name that’s different from their legal name. This can either be called a “doing business as” (DBA) name or an assumed name in Oregon.
In Oregon, assumed names for corporations are filed with the Secretary of State.
Learn more about assumed names with our Oregon DBA guide.
Does my corporation need a DBA name?
Your corporation doesn’t need a DBA name unless it plans to do business under a name other than its legal name. Learn more with our Oregon DBA guide.