Oklahoma Articles of Organization

How to File Your Oklahoma Articles of Organization

In Oklahoma, the Secretary of State’s office processes Articles of Organization. Through that office, you can obtain fillable or online forms to get your Articles of Organization in Oklahoma filed quickly and easily. Once your forms are completed, you can file them online or by mail.

Some of the key information for business registration of your LLC includes: 

• The name of your LLC
• The address of the principal place of business (a P.O. Box is not acceptable)
• The name of your registered agent and the registered office address
• The names and signature of at least one organizer
• A designated contact person
• The duration of the LLC

This may sound like a lot of information, but we’ll walk you through the steps for getting all your LLC documents properly prepared and submitted.

Step 1: Submit Your Oklahoma LLC’s Official Name 

In addition to filing your State of Oklahoma Articles of Organization, you’ll also need to register your LLC’s name. Some entrepreneurs find choosing the perfect name to be the most challenging part of setting up a new company. Oklahoma’s naming rules state you need to include “LLC,” “limited,” or similar words identifying your company as an LLC. Otherwise, you can name your LLC almost anything you want. 

Make sure to search the Oklahoma business name database to ensure your name is unique. Even if the name you want to use is similar to another company’s, you may still be able to use it. You can request permission to use a similar name if the other company consents. You’ll need to submit both your company’s official name reservation and the consent form as part of your LLC formation documents if you choose to use a similar name.  

Step 2: Add a Copy of the Name Reservation Certificate

When submitting your Articles of Organization in Oklahoma to register your business, you should include a copy of your Name Reservation Certificate. The Secretary of State’s office will provide you with a certificate once your name registration is complete. 

Step 3: Provide Street Address and Email

Provide the street address of the company’s principal place of business. P.O. Boxes are not acceptable. You also need to give an email address for the LLC. This is important because notice of your annual certificate requirement is sent only to its last email address of record.

Step 4: Provide the Name and Address of Your Registered Agent

You need to have a Registered Agent for your Oklahoma LLC. A Registered Agent accepts service of process and important business documents on behalf of your LLC. Our Registered Agent Service can help find the right agent for you when you file your Articles of Organization in Oklahoma. 

Step 5: Choose a Filing Date

In Oklahoma, you select the date you want your LLC registration to be effective. When filing your Articles of Organization in Oklahoma, make sure to specify whether you want the effective date of your business registration to be upon filing or some other date. You also need to indicate if you wish the LLC to endure for only a specific period of time, also known as the duration of the LLC.

Step 6: Signature 

At least one person must sign the Articles of Organization. This person need not be (but may be) a member of the LLC.

Where to File Your Oklahoma Articles of Organization

The easiest way is to file your Articles of Organization in Oklahoma is online through the Secretary of State’s web portal. You can also pay the filing fees online. You can also print the forms and file them by mail. However, you choose to mail your Articles of Organization in Oklahoma, be sure to pay your filing fees. Your filing won’t be accepted without payment, causing your filing to be returned to you and creating an unnecessary delay.

What are the next steps? 

Once your filing has been sent off to the Secretary of State, it’s tempting to want to put your feet up! However, after filing Articles of Organization for your LLC in Oklahoma, there are more things to do before you can finalize your business entity. 

Create an Operating Agreement

To best manage your LLC, you and your co-managers may want to enter into an Operating Agreement. An Operating Agreement spells out the rules of how the LLC operates. It also describes the relationships among the LLC members and between the entity itself and the people who manage it. 

While Oklahoma does not require you to have an Operating Agreement, Oklahoma law looks to your operating agreement in the event of a dispute between you and your co-managers. Issues not covered by an Operating Agreement need to be resolved according to the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act. The provisions of the law may not be a great fit for resolving your disputes. Typically, business owners prefer to have an Operating Agreement in place!

If you don’t know where to start when writing your LLC’s Operating Agreement, you can use our Operating Agreement Template for guidance. Using our template to guide you, you can create an Operating Agreement that fits your business’s unique management needs.

Apply for an EIN

After completing business registration in Oklahoma, applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) is an essential next step. The IRS grants the EIN, which is like a social security number for your business. You’ll use it to file federal tax returns and to open bank accounts, as well as hire employees and claim certain federal business benefits.

However, if you’re the only member of your LLC and you don’t obtain an EIN, you have to use your Social Security Number for business purposes. This may require you to post your social security number on public documents. Having an EIN can help protect your privacy. Our Employer ID Number Service can save you time and obtain an EIN for you. 

We can help

We take care of the paperwork so you can focus on the work you love. Our comprehensive suite of award-winning business services can help you throughout the life of your business. Our Oklahoma LLC Formation Service can help you navigate the part of starting your business quickly and easily. We can even take the paperwork off your plate with any future Oklahoma LLC Amendments. We can even help you easily keep track of your invoices, expenses, and income with our ZenBusiness Money Service. And we can help you keep your business legally compliant with our Worry-Free Compliance Service.