Updated October 15, 2026. Data: U.S. Census Bureau, through September 2026. Next update: after Census posts the October numbers in mid-November.
Oklahoma logged 58,049 new business applications from January through September 2026, up 35% from the same months of 2025. An unusual surge in February accounts for part of that. Leave February out and filings are still up 24%, and still the most for those months since Census records begin in 2005.
A business application here means someone asked the IRS for an employer ID number (EIN) for a new business with a Oklahoma address. Not every application turns into an operating business. Some are side projects, and some never open. But the count is the fastest public signal of how many people are starting something, and Census publishes it every month.
The trend, month by month
Most months of 2026 have run ahead of 2025. About 30% of this year’s applications were what Census calls high-propensity: ones that show signs of becoming a business with employees, such as planned payroll or a corporate filing. Those were up 35% from last year.
| Month | 2019 | 2025 | 2026 | 2026 vs 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4,327 | 5,113 | 6,695 | +31% |
| Feb | 3,774 | 4,284 | 10,034 | +134% |
| Mar | 3,746 | 5,466 | 5,792 | +6% |
| Apr | 3,415 | 5,988 | 6,922 | +16% |
| May | 3,771 | 4,234 | 4,941 | +17% |
| Jun | 3,232 | 4,413 | 4,964 | +12% |
| Jul | 3,006 | 4,976 | 7,506 | +51% |
| Aug | 4,163 | 4,290 | 4,935 | +15% |
| Sep | 2,947 | 4,123 | 6,260 | +52% |
| Jan–Sep | 32,381 | 42,887 | 58,049 | +35% |
What happened in February
Oklahoma recorded 10,034 applications in February 2026, more than double February 2025 (4,284). Census’s weekly data puts almost all of the extra filings in three weeks, February 8 to 28. Applications with planned payroll roughly tripled that month, and so did high-propensity applications. Neighboring months were back near normal by March.
Census doesn’t say what caused it, and we couldn’t find a public explanation. It could be a one-time batch of filings rather than a wave of new businesses, so we don’t lean on it. Without February, Oklahoma’s applications for the year are still up 24% (48,015 vs. 38,603), and still a record for those eight months.
Which industries are opening new businesses
Census doesn’t break the monthly application counts out by industry for each state. A second Census data set does count new employer locations, meaning a business site with at least one paid employee opening for the first time, by industry. The latest year is 2023, when Oklahoma saw 8,785 open, 13% more than in 2019. These are the industries with the most openings:
| Industry | 2019 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 843 | 1,075 | +28% |
| Professional services (legal, accounting, design, consulting) | 944 | 1,066 | +13% |
| Construction | 819 | 1,035 | +26% |
| Retail stores | 996 | 1,010 | +1% |
| Restaurants, bars and hotels | 810 | 865 | +7% |
| Repair, personal care and other services | 613 | 828 | +35% |
| Real estate and rental | 456 | 539 | +18% |
| Office support, cleaning and landscaping services | 469 | 519 | +11% |
| All industries | 7,753 | 8,785 | +13% |
New employer locations only. Most new applications are for businesses with no employees, so this table shows a different, smaller slice than the monthly counts above.
What forming an LLC costs in Oklahoma
Many new owners set up a limited liability company (LLC) to keep business debts separate from personal savings. Filing an Oklahoma LLC costs $100, plus a $25 Annual Certificate every year after that. For the full breakdown and filing steps, see how much a Oklahoma LLC costs.
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (Secretary of State) | $100 |
| Annual Certificate, every year after you form | $25 |
| Paying by card online | 4% service charge |
| Same-day in-person filing (optional) | +$25 |
State fees are only part of the startup bill. If you need money for equipment, a lease or your first hires, compare your options in our guide to Oklahoma business loans.
Download the data
Download the CSV with the monthly counts for 2019, 2025 and 2026 and the new-employer-location counts by industry. Free to use with credit to StartBusinessByState.
Source: StartBusinessByState analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, https://startbusinessbystate.com/oklahoma-business-filings-record/
How we counted
- Applications: the business applications series from the Census Bureau’s Business Formation Statistics, monthly, not seasonally adjusted, Oklahoma only. We added up January through September for each year so the comparison is like for like. Data were downloaded October 15, 2026.
- What counts: EIN applications for new businesses. Census leaves out tax liens, estates, trusts, some financial filings and a few other types. One person can file more than one application.
- High-propensity applications: the Census subset with features linked to later hiring, such as planned wages or a corporate filing.
- Industries: establishment openings from Census’s Business Dynamics Statistics, 2019 and 2023 (latest available). Industry names are shortened.
- LLC fees: taken from our Oklahoma LLC guide, which cites the state’s own fee schedule. Fees can change; check with the state before you file.
- February 2026: weekly state counts from the same Census release were used to date the surge.
FAQ
How many businesses started in Oklahoma in 2026?
Census counted 58,049 new business applications in Oklahoma from January through September 2026, up 35% from the same months of 2025. Not every application becomes an operating business.
Why did Oklahoma filings spike in February 2026?
Applications more than doubled to 10,034, almost all in the last three weeks of February. Census hasn’t given a reason. Without February, filings for the year are still up 24%.
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Oklahoma?
Filing an Oklahoma LLC costs $100, plus a $25 Annual Certificate every year after that.
Where does this data come from?
The U.S. Census Bureau’s Business Formation Statistics, which count applications for employer ID numbers (EINs) each month, and its Business Dynamics Statistics for new employer locations by industry.
Last updated October 15, 2026 by StartBusinessByState.