Business Start-Up Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start a business in Oklahoma?

Here are the basics that apply to almost all new business start-ups:

1. Get a Federal Employer Identification Number from the IRS at www.irs.gov or 800-829-4933.
2. Register your business with the appropriate state agencies, including
   1. The Secretary of State – This includes checking name availability and protecting your trade name
   2. The Oklahoma Tax Commission – Download this Oklahoma Business Registration Packet.
   3. Oklahoma Employment Security Commission – This applies only if you have employees.
3. Determine what additional statewide licenses and permits may be required for your business by visiting our Business Licensing System. Check with your local city hall to determine if additional licenses or permits are needed.
4. Inform yourself!  Read and take advantage of all the additional resources available to you on this site and others for how to successfully start and run a business.  Start with the additional FAQs below. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact the Commerce 2nd Century Entrepreneurship Center at 800-879-6552 or email us at info@okcommerce.gov.

More Start-Up Frequently Asked Questions

Licensing and Registration

• Do I need an Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number?
• Do I need to register my business trade name with anyone?
• Where do I file a DBA (Doing Business As)?
• Do I need a license to open a business in Oklahoma?
• Is a small business required to have a license (occupational) to sell products or services solely over the Internet?
• I’m starting a construction company. Do I need a license?
• Where do I get a sales tax permit?
• Where do I get a reseller permit?

Business Financing

• How can I finance my new business?
• I’ve heard there is grant money available to help fund my for-profit start-up business. Where can I find those grants?

Business Certification

• How do I get certified as a minority-owned business?
• How do I get certified as a woman-owned business?

Business Resources

• Who can provide assistance for writing a business plan?
• I need assistance in exporting. Does Commerce provide help in this area?
• I have certain questions about developing and operating a small business.What resources are available?

Q: Is a small business required to have a license (occupational) to sell products or services solely over the Internet? FAQ Top
A:Currently, no state license is required to sell over the Internet. However, occupational licenses or other regulatory actions are based on what you sell, not how you sell it.

For example, no occupational license is needed to sell clothing or household cleaning supplies over the Internet (although a Sales Tax Permit may be required). However, regardless of whether they are sold over the Internet, an occupational auto dealer’s license is required to sell new and used cars to the public.

Q: Do I need a license to open a business in Oklahoma? FAQ Top
A: There is no general license to own and operate a business in Oklahoma. Many businesses, business owners and/or employees, such as beauty salons and restaurants, require specific licenses and permits to operate in the state. Using the beauty salon example, the business does not require a license, but the beauty operators do need a license. You may also need to register your business with the Secretary of State or Oklahoma Tax Commission

To find out what licenses, permits, and registrations pertain to your business, select your specific business type from the menu in our Business Licensing System<!–Business Licensing System–>. This online tool provides one-stop information for license and permit requirements for the state of Oklahoma. After selecting your business type from the list, complete the short form that obtains more specific information about your particular business. After submitting the form, you will see a list of the required permits and licenses for your type of business and links, where available, to forms or additional resources.

Q: I’m starting a construction company. Do I need a license? FAQ Top
A: This business activity is considered in the general category of a General Contractor, for which there is no specific state license. Out-of-state contractors must contact the Oklahoma Tax Commission at 405-521-3279 to register and pay a bond (if working on commercial properties). They must also contact the county clerk where the work is located and register the starting and ending dates for the project.

Q: Where do I get a sales tax permit? FAQ Top
A: A sales tax permit is needed if you are selling tangible personal property for monetary or other consideration on an ongoing basis. You can obtain a sales tax permit from the Oklahoma Tax Commission, 405-521-3160.
Q: Where do I get a reseller permit? FAQ Top
A: A sales tax permit is the license under which a retail business owner may purchase goods for resale and charge sales tax from the sale. This may be obtained from the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) by completing an Application for Sales Tax Permit. The application is available for download online in the OTC’s Oklahoma Business Registration Packet A. If you mail your registration, you can expect about a 60-day turnaround to receive your permit. However, the OTC has four one-stop shop locations strategically located throughout the state where you can often get same-day or same-week turnaround. You may visit one of the OTC Assistance Centers at the following locations:

2501 N. Lincoln
Connors Building, Captiol Complex
Oklahoma City, OK
405-521-3160

440 S. Houston, 5th Floor
Tulsa, OK 74127
918-581-2399

1602 NW Lawton Ave., Ste. 5
Lawton, OK 73507
580-248-8440

301 W. Main, Ste. 316
Ardmore, OK 73401
580-226-4636

Q: Do I need to register my business trade name with anyone? FAQ Top
A: It is not required to register a trade name. However, you may want to check the Oklahoma Secretary of State website Business Services section to determine name availability. Once you determine the name you want is available, you can register the name with the State using the Trade Name Report to protect the name of your business.

Q: Where do I file a DBA (Doing Business As)? FAQ Top
A: A DBA is called a Trade Name Report and is filed with the Oklahoma Secretary of State, 405-521-3911.

Q: Do I need an Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number? FAQ Top
A: In short, the answer is yes.  That number is a unique number used to identify your business.  You’ll need it when registering your business with state or federal agencies.  You must have an EIN if you sell goods and/or have employees. Occasionally, some sole proprietors choose to use their social security number (SSN) in lieu of an EIN; however, in today’s world where identify theft is a very real threat, it’s a safer bet to protect your SSN and use an EIN, even if you’re a sole proprietor.

Follow these simple steps to receive your FEIN fast:
1. Apply online by visiting the IRS site at www.irs.gov, or
2. Call and apply by phone. Call the IRS at 800-829-4933.
3. The IRS will only issue an EIN over the phone or online to those duly qualified as listed above.
4. Write the number you are issued and keep it in a safe place.
5. If you would prefer to file for your FEIN by mail, visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov and download the
Form SS-4. Complete, sign and date the form and mail to the address shown on the form.

Q: How can I finance my new business? FAQ Top
A: Assistance from personal resources, such as family and friends, followed by traditional financing through a local lending institution where you have an established relationship are the most common methods for funding your start-up business. Some businesses may qualify for assistance in the form of loan guarantees from the Small Business Administration (SBA). In fact, most financial institutions will require an SBA guarantee. Many banks have departments that specialize in SBA lending. An SBA Prequalification Intermediary can help you to prepare your application for a loan. To find the intermediary closest to you, contact the SBA district office in Oklahoma City at 405-231-5521.  Visit our Business Financing section for additional financial resources.

It is possible non-profit organizations could find some financing assistance through federal or foundation grants. Any reputable lender and many grant administrators will expect to see a thorough business plan.

Q: I’ve heard there is grant money available to help fund my for-profit start-up business. Where can I find those grants? FAQ Top
A: Typically, grant money is only available to assist non-profit organizations. If your business is non-profit, you will want to start with the www.grants.gov and Foundation Center websites. However, the availability of grant funds for for-profit businesses is extremely limited and typically highly specialized. We have found no consistent, reliable source for small businesses either public or private. We don’t want to discourage you from searching for such funding, but the Oklahoma Department of Commerce is not aware of for-profit grant funding.

Q: Who can provide assistance for writing a business plan? FAQ Top
A: You can get one-to-one assistance through one of the many Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers located throughout Oklahoma. To find the closest center to you, call 800-522-6154 or visit the OSBDC website. You may also find business plan help through one of Oklahoma’s Career Technology Centers. Visit the CareerTech website to learn more about the help available or call 800-522-6154. If you prefer to go online to get help, visit the Small Business Administration Business Plan Basics website. To download a Business Plan guide, which walks you through every step of developing a business plan, click below to select the English version or the Spanish version.

Business Plan Guide
El Plan de Negocios
Q: How do I get certified as a minority-owned business? FAQ Top
A: There are several organizations that certify minority-owned businesses; each is different in its emphasis, depending on your target market. For instance, there are certification programs if you want to compete only in the private sector or for federal contracts. Certification as a minority-owned business can be an asset in competing for contracts and in procurement needs. For more information, visit our Minority-Owned Business page.

Q: How do I get certified as a woman-owned business? FAQ Top
A: Like minority business owners, women-owned businesses have several advantages when competing for contracting opportunities in Oklahoma. To qualify for Oklahoma Department of Commerce certification as a woman-owned business, a business must be at least 51 percent owned and controlled on a day-to-day basis by one or more women.

To apply for certification, download and complete the application below:

Women-Owned Business Certification Application

Mail the completed document to:
Oklahoma Department of Commerce
Woman-owned Business Certification Program
900 North Stiles Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73104-3234

For more information on the certification program and additional resources, visit our Women-Owned Business page.

Q: I need assistance in exporting. Does the Department of Commerce provide help in this area? FAQ Top
A: Yes. The Commerce Global Business Services team provides comprehensive assistance to businesses wishing to develop their global markets. Global Busienss Solutions, working closely with the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers workshops, information and one-to-one consulting to help businesses with exporting needs. This group provides assistance in customs, foreign permits, financing, and market analysis as well as hosts foreign trade missions and sponsors global catalog trade shows. To learn more, visit the Export Assistance section of our website or contact the Global Business Solutions team at 800-879-6552.

Q: I have certain questions about developing and operating a small business. What resources are available? FAQ Top
A: There are dozens of resources available to help you with your start-up business. Here are few:

• If you’re just starting out, a great online resource is the Small Business Administration Frequently Asked Questions page.
• For help a little closer to home, visit the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center website and find a location closest to you. The OSBDC provides workshops and consultation throughout the year at numerous locations around the state.
• Oklahoma’s nationally recognized CareerTech system (Oklahoma Career and Technology Education) offers an abundance of resources for small businesses, from business plan assistance to financial analysis to marketing. They also offer a wide variety of classes for new and potential business owners.
• Perhaps you’d like to learn more about Oklahoma business incubators that accelerate development and success of start-up and existing businesses.
• The Business Development section of this website provides a wealth of other information and links to helpful resources.
• The Tulsa Metro Chamber Small Business Council mentors early-stage businesses and the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce offers a handy document for download called “10 Steps to Starting Your Own Business“.
• Ronin Software offers a free online step-by-step guide to Starting and Operating a Business in Oklahoma.

Contact:
Business Solutions
405-815-5143
800-879-6552

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