Doing Business In Portland, Oregon

Quick Stats

City Population: 535,400
Metro Area Population: 2,137,565
Job Growth: -1.11%
Median Home Price: $301,441
City Website: www.portlandonline.com/

Innovative land use, eco-friendly public transportation, and a productive business community make Portland an exciting option to start and grow a small business. Featured as a "Green" city, Oregon's most populous metro area continues to be a leader in the evolution of environmentally friendly business. Over the last few years it has made its way onto several "Top 10" lists including best places to live and least expensive cities. Ranked among the cleanest areas in the United States by Forbes.com, the Rose City provides business entrepreneurs with a knowledgeable workforce, generous resources to assist employers, and a healthy environment to establish a new or relocated business, as well as a strong and fit home life.

Business Start-Up Assistance

Spending some time researching your idea, writing a business plan, and scouting a location will significantly increase your chances for success. There are a number of free and low-cost services that can help you get your business off the ground:

• Portland Business Portal
  Provides links to resources that assist entrepreneurs in all aspects of business including, but not limited to start-up help, management, financing and incentives, permits/zoning, and taxes.
• Portland SCORE
  Sponsored by the Small Business Administration, the Service Corps of Retired Executives Association (SCORE) provides training services and free counseling to those dedicated to starting or enhancing their small business. Made possible by more than a hundred business owners and corporate executive volunteers, SCORE assigns qualified counselors to small business owners for general consultations or specific needs.
• Oregon Small Business Development Center
  Provides business management assistance to entrepreneurs through all stages of development whether it’s thinking, launching, growing, reinventing, and exiting. Most services are free and include
• Women and Minority Owned Focused Centers
  Find contact information and links of agencies, non-profit organizations and businesses that provide advice, workshops, resource tools and more.
• Portland U.S. Export Assistance Center
  Small to medium sized companies throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington are guided through export related issues such as the identification and evaluation of global partners, understanding proper international documentation, and establishing market entry strategies by experience International Trade Specialists.
• Oregon Economic and Community Development Department
  Oregon's economic and community development interests are addressed through programs that strengthen its business environment, attract and grow businesses, and enhance competitiveness on both national and global scales.

Start and Manage a Business

Checklists and direct contact information are helpful to ensure that you meet important requirements for your new business.

• New Business Checklist
  Use the Portland Development Commission checklist to make sure you meet important requirements for your new business in the City Portland.
• Relocating Your Business
  Business relocation inquires are addressed through the Development Services Center to make relocating in Portland, Oregon an easy and beneficial process for all parties involved. Included are existing site/structure requirements, occupancy classifications, building and fire records, zoning regulations, in addition to many other issues business owners should consider prior to relocation.

Financing Your Business

The following organizations provide help getting loans and other types of financial assistance for businesses in Portland.

• Mercy Corps Northwest Loan Program
  Loan program provides financing to struggling small business entrepreneurs located in one of the Portland-Vancouver metro counties. Mercy Corps lends to start-up projects as well as existing and established business owners.
• Oregon Business Development Corporation
  Provides long-term fixed rate financing through the U.S. Small Business Administration 504 loan program for real estate and equipment.
• Green Investment Fund
  A competitive grant program dedicated to inventive green building projects intended to support building and site-related activities as well as offset costs of going green.

For general information on small business loans and financial assistance visit the Financing Your Business page.

Obtaining Licenses and Permits

To legally operate a business in the city of Portland, you'll need to obtain all necessary business licenses, operating permits and registrations.

• Portland Permits and Zoning
  Permit information by topic. Includes translated information in Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.
• Portland Licensing and Business Forms
  General business forms to apply for licenses and updates. Also, includes frequently asked information on who requires and how to obtain licensing in Portland.

In addition to city permits, you will also need to register your business with the federal government and State of Oregon. Visit the Oregon General Licensing page to learn about obtaining necessary federal and state licenses, permits and registrations.

Tax Credits for Small Businesses

Small business owners in Portland can take advantage of a few of tax credits.

• Business Energy Tax Credits
  Called the Pass Through Option, the Oregon Office of Energy offers the Business Energy Tax Credit to those who invest in energy conservation.
• Oregon Economic and Community Development Department
  Provides a list of financial assistance programs, as well as tax credits and incentives in Oregon.
• Oregon Department of Energy
  Tax Credit Information for Energy-Efficiency.

Additional Resources

• Oregon's Employment Website
  Features business information for employers and employees in the Portland Metro Area.
• The City of Portland's Green Building Program
  Program offers technical assistance, tours and classes, as well as project guidebooks and grants related to innovative green building in Portland.