Oklahoma Small Employer Quality Jobs Program
Oklahoma Department of Commerce
Up to 5% of new payroll, 7 yrs
5% OK payroll rebate, 7 yrs, small employers
Oklahoma's Small Employer Quality Jobs Program pays quarterly cash rebates of up to 5% of new taxable payroll for up to 7 years to qualifying small businesses (500 employees or fewer) that create new jobs paying at least 110% of the average county wage and derive 35% of sales from outside Oklahoma (rising to 60% after Year 2). It is the most accessible of Oklahoma's Quality Jobs suite — lower wage floors and fewer employees required than the standard program.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount
- Quarterly cash payments of up to 5% of new taxable payroll for qualifying jobs, for up to 7 years. A small business creating 15 jobs at $55,000/yr average would receive up to $41,250/yr — $288,750 over the full 7-year term.
- Realistic amount
- Small businesses creating 10–30 qualifying jobs typically receive $20,000–$100,000/yr in quarterly rebates.
- Deadline
- Rolling — must execute a contract with Commerce before qualifying jobs are created
- Status
- active
- States
- OK
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Company must be a qualifying small employer with 500 or fewer total employees
- New jobs must pay annual salaries that are at least 110% of the average wage of the county where the jobs are located (standard areas) or 100% of county average wage (qualifying reduced-threshold counties)
- At least 35% of sales must be derived from outside Oklahoma during the first two years; 60% thereafter
- Employees must be offered basic health insurance within 180 days of employment, with employee cost not exceeding 50% of the total premium
- Contract with Commerce must be executed before qualifying jobs are created
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Location restriction: Oklahoma
- Max 500 employees
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Quarterly rebates are unrestricted cash — no use restrictions once received
Ineligible expenses
- Positions earning below the 110% county average wage floor
- Jobs created before contract execution
- Seasonal or temporary employees
How to apply
-
1
Request free cost/benefit analysis
Call Oklahoma Department of Commerce at 800-588-5959. A Regional Development Specialist reviews your business's projected jobs, wages, and out-of-state sales to confirm eligibility and model annual rebate payments.
~2 hrs
-
2
Submit application and worksheet
Complete the Small Employer Quality Jobs Program Application and Worksheet (Excel format, available from Commerce). Include projected new job count, wages by position, industry NAICS codes, and out-of-state sales evidence.
~5 hrs
-
3
Execute program contract
Commerce issues a formal contract establishing qualifying thresholds, rebate rate, program period, and reporting requirements. Both parties sign before any qualifying jobs are created.
~2 hrs
-
4
Create jobs and receive quarterly rebates
Create net new qualifying jobs and submit quarterly payroll reports to Commerce. Rebate payments are issued quarterly. Maintain the out-of-state sales percentage to sustain payments.
~6 hrs
The out-of-state sales requirement rises from 35% to 60% after Year 2 — plan your sales mix carefully. B2B companies serving national customers clear this easily; purely local service businesses typically don't qualify.
Deadline & timing
A contract with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce must be in place before qualifying jobs are counted. Contact Commerce at 800-588-5959 for a free cost/benefit analysis before applying.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.