Legal insights for Oregon and Idaho small business owners.
This blog is the written companion to the Doing Business As podcast. From formation to succession, each episode breaks down the legal decisions that shape your business—clearly, practically, and without the fluff. Authored by attorney Jared Hight of Track Town Law, each post is tailored to real-world entrepreneurs who want to build wisely and avoid preventable mistakes.
Assumed Business Names in Oregon: What a DBA Does and What It Does Not
An Oregon assumed business name is required before you operate under a trade name, and skipping it can cost you standing to sue. It does not create an entity, protect your assets, or give you the name.
Does Your Oregon Business Need an Employee Handbook?
Oregon does not require an employee handbook, but it requires every employer, even one with a single employee, to adopt a written anti-discrimination policy with contents set by statute, plus written notice of sick time, Paid Leave Oregon, and pregnancy accommodation rights. Here is what a handbook has to contain and the one way it can hurt you.
What Happens to Your Oregon LLC If You Become Incapacitated
Oregon's LLC statute only treats an owner as incapacitated when a court says so, and almost nobody's incapacity is ever adjudicated. Without planning, an incapacitated owner keeps every membership right and nobody can exercise them. Here is what actually happens and how a power of attorney and operating agreement fix it.
What to Expect from a Free Business Law Consultation in Oregon
A free 25-minute Zoom call to find out whether your business issue is one I handle, how I would approach it, and what it would cost. Here is what to expect before, during, and after.
Contractor or Employee? How Oregon Actually Decides — and What Getting It Wrong Costs
Calling a worker an independent contractor doesn't make them one — Oregon disregards the label and examines the substance of the relationship, under multiple tests enforced by agencies that coordinate. Here's how classification really gets made, and what the 1099 shortcut costs.
Selling Your Oregon Business: What to Know Before You Sign Anything
You'll sell a business once; the buyer may do it every quarter. Asset sale vs. entity sale, the LOI trap, reps and indemnification, earnouts — and the noncompete Oregon's employee protections won't touch. What to know before signing anything.
Oregon Business Licenses: What You Actually Need to Operate Legally
Oregon has no general statewide business license — but that doesn't mean you need nothing. State registration, occupational licenses, city-by-city local rules, and tax registrations form a stack, and no single filing ever tells you you're done.
Leaving an Oregon LLC: Why Walking Away Doesn't Cash You Out
You can leave an Oregon LLC on six months' notice — but Oregon repealed the withdrawing member's buyout right in 1997. Leaving ends your vote, not your investment, and the operating agreement is the only thing that makes an exit clean.
The Handshake Partnership: What Happens When an Informal Oregon Business Partnership Falls Apart
If you've been running a business with someone and never formed an entity, Oregon law made you general partners automatically — and Oregon's default rules govern the breakup. For two-person partnerships, that likely means winding up the business, not a buyout.
What Happens to an Oregon LLC When an Owner Dies?
When an Oregon LLC member dies, their heirs inherit the money but not automatically the management role — and for single-member LLCs, the wrong setup can shut the business down. Here's what actually happens and how to plan for it.
Should You Hold Your Rental Property in an LLC?
Holding rental property in an LLC can separate your personal assets from the risks of being a landlord — but only if it's structured and maintained correctly. Here's what Oregon and Idaho landlords need to know, including why Oregon prohibits series LLCs and when a holding company structure makes sense for a growing portfolio.
Oregon At-Will Employment: What It Actually Means — and Where It Ends
Oregon is an at-will employment state — but the list of illegal termination reasons is long, well-enforced, and applies to employers that would be exempt from equivalent federal protections. Here's what the exceptions actually cover.
How to Add a Member to an Oregon LLC
Adding a member to an Oregon LLC is a legal and tax event, not just an administrative one. Here's what the process actually involves — and what to think through before anyone signs anything.
Commercial Leases in Oregon: What Small Business Owners Miss Before Signing
Oregon has no statutes governing commercial lease terms — the document you sign is the entire agreement. Here's what small business owners consistently miss before committing to a space.
Oregon Non-Compete Agreements After 2022: What Employers Can and Can't Enforce
Oregon's non-compete law tightened significantly in 2022 and has continued to restrict since. Most non-competes that don't meet current statutory requirements aren't just unenforceable — they're void. Here's what Oregon small business owners need to know.
What's Flat-Fee and What's Not: How Business Legal Services Are Priced at Track Town Law
Flat-fee business law pricing removes the uncertainty from working with an attorney — but not every service fits that model. Here's what's flat-fee, what's hourly, and why the distinction matters for Oregon and Idaho small business owners.
When Your LLC Isn't the Right Structure Anymore
Most Oregon businesses start as LLCs and should stay that way. But some businesses outgrow the structure. Here's how to know when converting to a corporation makes sense — and what the Oregon process actually involves.
Missed the S-Corp Election Deadline? Here's Where You Stand.
The S-corp election deadline for 2026 was March 17. If you missed it, you may still have options — and if you didn't, now is the right time to plan for 2027.
You're Ready to Hire. Oregon Has Some Things to Say About That.
Hiring your first employee means your business has grown. It also means Oregon has a lot of new rules for you. Here's what to have in place before day one.
Your Website Is a Legal Document. Does It Know That?
Your website collects information, makes promises, and closes transactions. Most Oregon and Idaho small businesses have no legal documents governing any of it.