About the Small Business Assistance Team

What is the Small Business Assistance Team (OSBA)?

OSBA is housed within the Secretary of State’s Corporation Division. We can help businesses and nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees if they have problems or complaints about state agencies or local governments. Our role is to help get answers and resolve problems in an independent, objective, and professional manner. We have broad powers to investigate complaints and make recommendations, but we cannot force agencies to do something, to stop doing something, or to undo something.

Our services are free and confidential.

OSBA’s authority comes from ORS 56.200-209.

Our administrative rules are in OAR 160-070.

What Can OSBA Do for My Business?

Help you comment on agency interactions. We assist small businesses in providing feedback on audits, inspections, compliance efforts, and communications from state agencies.
Improve interactions with state agencies. We can help you get clear, efficient, timely responses from state agencies.
Develop fair processes. We work with state agencies to find fair and efficient ways to:

Receive your concerns or complaints.
Encourage small business participation in studies or meetings that can improve state agency functions.
Find the causes of delays, inconsistencies, and inefficient resource use within state agencies.
Find solutions for issues and disputes between state agencies and small businesses.

Recommend resources for your business questions. If you have questions about starting, running, or closing a small business in Oregon, we can direct you to appropriate resources.
Facilitate interactions with local governments. We can help you get clear, efficient, timely responses from local governments.
Improve local government processes. We identify and recommend ways to improve how local governments interact with small businesses, including through studies or meetings.
Review and investigate complaints. We may review and investigate complaints from small businesses regarding their interactions with state agencies. For more information, see our page on How to File a Complaint.

Are There Problems OSBA Can’t Handle?

There are limitations on our ability to review and investigate complaints. For more information, see our page on How to File a Complaint.
We don’t have loans, grants, or other financial resources.
We don’t give legal, financial, or business advice.
If you have questions about filing or updating your business registration, please contact the Secretary of State’s Corporation Division directly.

Advocacy Services: Coaching, Assistance and Investigation