How to register a business in Ohio: which filing you need
Which Ohio filing you need depends on the business type. An LLC files Form 610 for $99, and a corporation files Form 532A for $99 and up. A sole proprietorship files nothing with the state unless it uses another name, which costs $39. Every type then registers separately for taxes.
Which Ohio business registration do you need?
The Secretary of State filing you need is set by your business type. Find your type in the table, then follow the link for the full walkthrough. Fees are the regular-service amounts in ORC 111.16.
| Business type | What you file with the state | Form | State fee | Detailed guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship | Nothing to exist; a trade or fictitious name only if you use a name other than your own | 534A (name only) | $39 for the name | Ohio sole proprietorship |
| General partnership | Nothing to exist; an optional Statement of Partnership Authority | 535 (optional) | $99 if filed | General partnerships |
| LLC | Articles of Organization | 610 | $99 | How to start an LLC in Ohio |
| For-profit corporation | Articles of Incorporation | 532A | $99 for up to 990 authorized shares; more above that | How to incorporate in Ohio |
| Nonprofit corporation | Articles of Incorporation for a nonprofit | 532B | $99 | How to start a nonprofit in Ohio |
| Out-of-state LLC | Registration of a foreign LLC | 617 | $99 | Ohio foreign LLC registration |
| Out-of-state corporation | License of a foreign corporation | 530A (for-profit) or 530B (nonprofit) | $99 | Ohio foreign corporation license |
| DBA or trade name | Trade name registration or fictitious name report | 534A | $39 | Ohio DBA registration |
Open the detailed guide for your business type:
- Sole proprietorship: Ohio sole proprietorship guide
- General partnership: general partnerships in Ohio
- LLC: how to start an LLC in Ohio
- For-profit corporation: how to incorporate in Ohio
- Nonprofit: how to start a nonprofit in Ohio
- LLC formed in another state: Ohio foreign LLC registration
- Corporation formed in another state: Ohio foreign corporation license
- Trade name only: Ohio DBA registration
Limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships have their own forms, listed in our guide to Ohio business entity types. If you have not settled on a structure yet, compare an Ohio LLC vs. a sole proprietorship before you file anything.
The state filing is only the first of three layers. Next come tax accounts with the IRS, the Department of Taxation, and your city. Last come the licenses and permits for your trade and location. The sections below take each layer in turn.
Does a sole proprietorship or partnership register with the Ohio Secretary of State?
Only for a business name; neither one needs a state filing to exist. A sole proprietorship is one person in business. A general partnership forms whenever two or more people run a business for profit as co-owners (ORC 1776.22(A)).
Under ORC 1329.01, a business using a name other than its owners' names must register or report it. It either registers a trade name or reports a fictitious name. A fictitious name report is due within 30 days after first use. Both go on Form 534A for $39.
A partnership may also file a Statement of Partnership Authority on Form 535 for $99 (ORC 111.16(G)). It is optional, but once it is on file the partnership must keep a statutory agent (ORC 1776.07). Owners of both structures are personally liable for business debts, which is the usual reason to convert a sole proprietorship to an LLC later.
How do you register an LLC or corporation in Ohio?
You file articles with the Ohio Secretary of State. An LLC files Form 610 ($99); a for-profit corporation files Form 532A ($99 and up). The filing is what creates the company. The short version runs in four moves:
- Search the name on the Secretary of State's business search (businesssearch.ohiosos.gov). It must be distinguishable from names already on the record.
- Line up a statutory agent who signs a written acceptance. The state rejects original articles without one.
- File the articles online or by mail and pay the fee.
- Save the filed copy. Banks, landlords, and tax offices ask for it.
A nonprofit follows the same pattern on Form 532B, then applies separately to the IRS for tax exemption. Field-by-field help is in our guides on how to start an LLC in Ohio and how to incorporate in Ohio. Prefer to hand it off? We can form your Ohio LLC for $100 plus the state fee, with us as your agent.
How does an out-of-state company register to do business in Ohio?
It registers its existing company rather than forming a new one. An LLC formed elsewhere files Form 617 under ORC 1706.511, and a corporation files Form 530A, or 530B if it is a nonprofit. Each costs $99.
A foreign corporation also attaches a home-state certificate of good standing dated within 90 days before filing (ORC 1703.04(A)). Either kind must name an Ohio statutory agent, even if its home-state registered agent is somewhere else. Our foreign business registration service prepares the filing.
Which Ohio businesses need a statutory agent?
Every business that the Secretary of State creates or registers needs one. The agent's name and Ohio address go on the public record, and the agent accepts lawsuits and state notices for the business.
| Business type | Agent required? | Law |
|---|---|---|
| LLC, and registered foreign LLC | Yes, at all times | ORC 1706.09(A) |
| For-profit corporation | Yes | ORC 1701.07 |
| Nonprofit corporation | Yes | ORC 1702.06 |
| Licensed foreign corporation | Yes | ORC 1703.041 |
| General partnership | Only if it files a Statement of Partnership Authority | ORC 1776.07 |
| Sole proprietorship | No | None |
The agent can be an Ohio resident or a business with an Ohio street address (ORC 1706.09(A)). You can serve as your own agent if you live in Ohio. Your home address then becomes public, and you have to be there when a process server comes. Our Ohio statutory agent service is $49 per business per year. The full rules are in our guide to Ohio statutory agent requirements.
Which tax registrations does a new Ohio business need?
The Secretary of State filing opens no tax account. Each registration below is separate, with its own agency, and each applies only when its trigger is met.
| Registration | Who needs it | Where | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| EIN (federal tax ID) | Corporations, multi-member LLCs, and any employer; most banks ask single-member LLCs for one too. Free | IRS, online | How to get an EIN |
| Vendor's license | Retail sales of taxable goods or services; $50 per fixed place of business (ORC 5739.17) | County auditor or the Department of Taxation | Ohio vendor's license |
| Employer withholding | Any employer; register within 15 days of the duty to withhold | Department of Taxation, OH|TAX eServices | Withholding registration |
| Commercial Activity Tax | Ohio taxable gross receipts above $6 million a year (ORC 5751.01(R)) | Department of Taxation | Ohio CAT |
| Municipal income tax | Net profit or employees in a city that levies the tax (ORC Chapter 718) | Each city, or the state's centralized filing option | City income tax |
| Unemployment insurance | $1,500 in wages in a calendar quarter, or a worker in 20 different weeks (ORC 4141.011) | ODJFS | Unemployment registration |
| Workers' compensation | Any employer, from the first employee; $120 application fee on Form U-3 | Bureau of Workers' Compensation | Workers' comp for an LLC |
Our guides cover each one: the EIN, the vendor's license, employer withholding, the Commercial Activity Tax, city income tax, unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation.
Get the EIN first, after the state files your articles, so the legal name matches. Most of the other accounts ask for it. A one-person service LLC with no employees and no taxable sales may start with just the EIN and a city tax account.
What local permits does a new Ohio business need?
That depends on your work and your address, because Ohio has no general statewide business license. The permits come from three places:
- State boards and agencies that license regulated trades and professions.
- Your city or township: zoning approval, building permits, a certificate of occupancy, and any city license.
- The local health district, if you handle food or provide regulated personal services.
Confirm zoning before you sign a lease. Our guide to Ohio business licenses and permits lists where to check in each large city, and home-based businesses have a few extra rules.
In what order should you register a new Ohio business?
Register in this order, because each item needs something from the one before it. Most owners finish in about 30 days.
- Days 1 to 3: pick the business type and search the name.
- Days 3 to 5: choose a statutory agent and get the signed acceptance.
- Days 5 to 10: file with the Secretary of State, or file the DBA if you are a sole proprietor.
- Days 10 to 12: get the EIN once the filing is approved.
- Days 12 to 15: open a business bank account in the exact legal name.
- Days 15 to 25: open the tax accounts that apply, before your first sale.
- Days 20 to 30: secure local permits and licenses before you open, and payroll accounts before your first paycheck.
Day ranges are a planning guide, not legal deadlines. For insurance, payroll setup, and record keeping through day 90, use our Ohio new business checklist.
Does an Ohio business registration have to be renewed?
Not for LLCs and for-profit corporations, which file no annual report with the Secretary of State. Three filings do recur:
- Trade names last five years and renew for $25.
- Nonprofit corporations file a Statement of Continued Existence (Form 522, $25) every five years.
- Limited liability partnerships file a biennial report (Form 520, $25).
What every filed entity keeps up is its statutory agent. A change of agent or agent address is Form 521, $25, and an entity without a reachable agent can be canceled. Our Ohio LLC ongoing requirements guide covers the rest.
More questions about registering a business in Ohio
Is registering a business in Ohio the same as getting a business license?
No, registering a business in Ohio and licensing it are separate steps. Registration with the Secretary of State creates or records the business, and its name. Ohio has no general statewide business license. Licenses come from the state board for your trade, your city, and your health district, depending on your work and location.
Can I register an Ohio business online?
Yes, every Ohio registration step can be done online. Secretary of State filings go through Ohio Business Central, the EIN comes from irs.gov, and state tax accounts open through OH|TAX eServices. Workers' compensation applications go online at bwc.ohio.gov. Paper filing by mail is still available for the Secretary of State forms.
What is the cheapest way to register a business in Ohio?
The cheapest way is a sole proprietorship under your own name, which costs nothing at the state level. Using another name adds a $39 trade or fictitious name filing. The cheapest liability shield is an LLC at $99, with you as your own statutory agent if you live in Ohio. Tax accounts and local permits may add their own fees.
Do I register my business with the county in Ohio?
Not as a separate registration. Entity filings go to the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county. Counties come in for specific items: the county auditor can issue a vendor's license under ORC 5739.17, and local health districts license food businesses. Your city or township handles zoning and building permits.
Do I need a lawyer to register a business in Ohio?
No, Ohio does not require a lawyer to register a business. Owners file their own Secretary of State forms, EIN, and tax accounts every day. A lawyer earns the fee on documents the state never reviews, such as a partnership or operating agreement. Regulated professions with special entity rules also benefit.
How do I register a business name in Ohio without forming an LLC?
Register it as a trade name or report it as a fictitious name on Form 534A, for $39. A trade name claims the name; a fictitious name report only discloses that you use it. If you plan to form an LLC or corporation later, a name reservation holds the name for 180 days for $39.
Is an EIN part of registering an Ohio business?
No, the EIN is a separate federal registration with the IRS. It is free, and Ohio does not issue a state EIN of its own. Get it after the Secretary of State files your articles, so the legal name on the EIN matches. You then use it to open Ohio tax accounts and a business bank account.
Which agencies does a new Ohio business register with?
Up to seven, depending on what the business does. The Secretary of State creates the entity, the IRS issues the EIN, and the Department of Taxation handles sales tax, withholding, and the CAT. Your city handles income tax and permits. ODJFS covers unemployment insurance, the BWC covers workers' compensation, and licensing boards cover regulated work.
Is a partnership agreement filed when you register an Ohio partnership?
No, an Ohio partnership agreement is never filed with the state. The partners keep it themselves. The partnership's only possible Secretary of State filings are the optional Statement of Partnership Authority (Form 535, $99) and a name filing.
Does registering an LLC in Ohio also register it for sales tax?
No, forming an LLC opens no tax account of any kind. If the LLC sells taxable goods or services at retail, it needs a vendor's license from the county auditor or the Department of Taxation. The fee is $50 for each fixed place of business under ORC 5739.17. Get the license before the first taxable sale.
Does a sole proprietor need a statutory agent in Ohio?
No, a sole proprietor does not need a statutory agent in Ohio. The agent requirement applies to entities the Secretary of State creates or registers, such as LLCs, corporations, nonprofits, and registered foreign companies. A lawsuit against a sole proprietor is served on the owner directly. Forming an LLC later brings the agent requirement with it.
Related Ohio guides
Need an Ohio statutory agent?
$49 per business per year. You file the appointment with the Ohio Secretary of State, or we file it for you. We scan documents the same business day, and call if a lawsuit goes unacknowledged.