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<v Dan>The 5 best registered agents in Oregon in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest

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<v Dan>Registered Agent, OR Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and

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<v Dan>Oregon Registered Agent.co.

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<v Maya>Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast.

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<v Maya>Oregon. Where do owners trip up?

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<v Dan>On the address. Oregon won't accept a mail forwarder or a virtual office as your

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<v Dan>registered office. The good news is that changing agents costs nothing with the

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<v Dan>state.

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<v Maya>What does the statute say?

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<v Dan>Under chapter 63, an Oregon LLC has to continuously maintain a registered agent and

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<v Dan>a registered office in the state.

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<v Maya>Who can be the agent?

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<v Dan>An individual who lives in Oregon and whose business office is the registered

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<v Dan>office. Or a domestic LLC or corporation with its business office at that address.

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<v Dan>Or a foreign one authorized to do business in the state.

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<v Maya>Can I name my own LLC?

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<v Dan>No. An entity can't be its own agent, but an individual owner can.

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<v Maya>I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan.

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<v Dan>Thanks, Maya. Let's go through the five.

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<v Maya>Number one?

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<v Dan>Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, and the same $149 at renewal.

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<v Maya>What do I get?

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<v Dan>Its Oregon address on the public record in place of yours.

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<v Dan>Served papers are scanned and uploaded the same business day, with no fee.

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<v Dan>And the first three government mailings a year are scanned free.

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<v Maya>What about switching in?

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<v Dan>Mainstay files the change for you, and Oregon charges no state fee for it.

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<v Maya>The honest catch?

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<v Dan>If you want the lowest flat price, two agents on this list are at $99.

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<v Maya>Second?

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<v Dan>Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year.

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<v Dan>Its page says the price hasn't gone up in 20 years.

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<v Dan>Up to 10 pieces of business mail a year are scanned free.

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<v Maya>The catch?

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<v Dan>Signing up auto-enrolls you in its annual report filing service.

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<v Dan>It's $100 plus state fees for each filing, until you cancel.

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<v Maya>And Oregon's own annual report?

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<v Dan>The state charges $100 for it.

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<v Dan>So that service would double the cost of the filing.

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<v Maya>Third?

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<v Dan>OR Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, same at renewal.

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<v Dan>The office address on file, scanned legal mail and compliance reminders ahead of

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<v Dan>state deadlines.

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<v Maya>What does it cost to switch?

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<v Dan>No state fee at all.

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<v Maya>And the catch?

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<v Dan>Annual report filing is a separate service.

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<v Maya>Compared with number one?

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<v Dan>$50 less a year. That's $150 over three years.

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<v Maya>Four?

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<v Dan>Bizee, formerly Incfile. Free the first year with any formation package, then $149 a

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<v Dan>year.

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<v Maya>What should I know?

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<v Dan>The free year needs a formation order.

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<v Dan>And the $149 renewal is automatic.

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<v Maya>Already formed?

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<v Dan>Then you pay $149 from day one.

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<v Dan>Two years would be $298.

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<v Maya>And the fifth?

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<v Dan>Oregon Registered Agent.co, a flat $99 a year.

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<v Dan>The address on your filings, same-day scans of state correspondence, and deadline

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<v Dan>reminders.

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<v Maya>Is that different from number three?

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<v Dan>On the listings, no. Same price, and the same catch.

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<v Dan>Annual report filing is a separate service.

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<v Maya>Where does the agent go when I form the LLC?

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<v Dan>In the Articles of Organization.

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<v Dan>You give the agent's name and its Oregon street address.

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<v Maya>How much?

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<v Dan>$100, through the Oregon Business Registry or on paper.

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<v Maya>Does the agent have to agree?

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<v Dan>Yes. The Secretary of State says the person or business named must have consented to

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<v Dan>serve.

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<v Maya>What if someone names me without asking?

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<v Dan>You can deliver a signed written statement saying you aren't associated with the

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<v Dan>business and never consented.

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<v Maya>What's the actual address rule?

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<v Dan>A physical street address where a process server can hand papers to the agent in

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<v Dan>person.

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<v Maya>What's ruled out?

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<v Dan>A commercial mail receiving agency, a mail forwarding business, and a virtual

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<v Dan>office. And a P.O. box, naturally.

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<v Maya>Why so strict?

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<v Dan>Because a process server can't physically serve an agent at a P.O.

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<v Dan>box or a mail forwarder. That's the point of the address.

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<v Maya>And the hours?

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<v Dan>The state describes it as the place where the agent is located during normal

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<v Dan>business hours.

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<v Maya>How do I change it?

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<v Dan>With an Information Change. You log in to the Business Registry, enter your registry

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<v Dan>number, and submit.

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<v Maya>What's the fee?

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<v Dan>Nothing. The state fee schedule lists $0 for a change of registered agent or

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<v Dan>address.

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<v Maya>Is there a paper way?

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<v Dan>Yes. The same form can be sent by mail or fax.

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<v Maya>What does the filing say?

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<v Dan>The new agent, that the agent has consented, and that the registered office and the

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<v Dan>agent's business office will be identical.

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<v Maya>Any other route?

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<v Dan>When your renewal is available each year, you can report changes on the annual

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<v Dan>report.

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<v Maya>Does the agent get the state's mail?

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<v Dan>Only if you let it. Oregon mails correspondence, renewal notices and late notices to

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<v Dan>the registered office address, unless you give a separate mailing address.

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<v Maya>Is there a place for that address?

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<v Dan>Yes. The Articles and the Information Change both ask for a mailing address for

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<v Dan>notices.

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<v Maya>So that's worth setting on purpose.

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<v Dan>Yes. Otherwise a stranger's inbox gets your renewal notice.

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<v Maya>What if my agent quits?

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<v Dan>It delivers a signed statement to the state and sends a copy to your LLC's mailing

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<v Dan>address or principal office.

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<v Maya>When does it end?

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<v Dan>On the 31st day after the state files it, unless you appoint a new agent sooner.

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<v Maya>Any fee?

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<v Dan>The fee schedule lists none.

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<v Maya>And if I miss it?

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<v Dan>The state says failing to name a new agent results in administrative dissolution.

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<v Maya>What happens to lawsuits with no agent?

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<v Dan>The Secretary of State becomes your agent if you fail to keep one, or the agent

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<v Dan>can't be found at the office.

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<v Maya>How?

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<v Dan>The person suing serves the state, and mails a copy by certified or registered mail

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<v Dan>to your last registered office and the address most likely to reach you.

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<v Maya>What does that cost?

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<v Dan>A $20 process service fee for each business served.

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<v Maya>Does the state tell me?

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<v Dan>No. The Secretary of State says it doesn't notify the business or contact its agent

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<v Dan>about the complaint.

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<v Maya>What does Oregon want every year?

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<v Dan>An annual report, $100, due by your anniversary.

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<v Maya>Do I get a warning?

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<v Dan>Renewal notices go out about 45 days before the due date.

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<v Maya>And a late fee?

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<v Dan>There isn't one. But being without a registered agent or office is a ground for

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<v Dan>administrative dissolution. The LLC is dissolved if you don't fix it within 45 days

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<v Dan>after notice.

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<v Maya>So the agent's address matters twice.

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<v Dan>Yes. That's where the state's notices go.

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<v Maya>Can I be my own agent in Oregon?

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<v Dan>If you live there, yes. The LLC can't be its own agent, but you, as an individual

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<v Dan>owner, can.

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<v Maya>What's the catch?

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<v Dan>Your business office has to be the registered office.

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<v Dan>And you have to be there in normal business hours.

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<v Maya>And your home?

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<v Dan>It becomes the public address.

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<v Dan>Many owners don't want that.

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<v Maya>What does the agent do?

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<v Dan>Accepts physical delivery of legal documents, such as lawsuits, liens and subpoenas.

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<v Maya>How should an Oregon owner pick?

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<v Dan>Check three things. Is the price the same at renewal, is the address a real Oregon

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<v Dan>street address, and who files the change when you move.

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<v Maya>And your pick?

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<v Dan>Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Oregon, at $149 a year.

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<v Maya>All five, once more?

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<v Dan>One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal.

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<v Dan>Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel.

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<v Dan>Three, OR Registered Agent.org: $99 flat.

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<v Dan>Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then

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<v Dan>$149. Five, Oregon Registered Agent.co:

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<v Dan>$99 flat.

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<v Maya>The links are in the show notes.

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<v Maya>Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.