Starting a business by state
How to start a business in Ohio
Ohio keeps the paperwork light. LLCs file once with the Secretary of State, and there's no yearly LLC report. The step to watch is the vendor's license: you need one before you sell anything that's taxable. Here's the order to do it in.
Fees and rules checked in October 2026. States change them, so confirm on the official site before you file.
1. Pick your business structure
Sole proprietor: no state filing to exist, but you are personally responsible for business debts.
LLC: file Articles of Organization with the Ohio Secretary of State. The filing fee is $99, with extra fees for expedited processing. Ohio LLCs don't file a yearly annual report with the Secretary of State.
2. Check your name and register a trade name if needed
Search the Secretary of State's business records to make sure your name is available. If you'll do business under a name other than your legal name or your LLC's exact name, register it as a trade name with the Secretary of State. The fee is $39.
3. Get your tax IDs and vendor's license
- EIN: free from the IRS.
- Vendor's license: if you sell taxable goods or services in Ohio, you need one before your first sale, through the Ohio Department of Taxation and the Ohio Business Gateway.
- Employer accounts: if you hire, register for withholding, and check whether your city has its own income tax. Many Ohio cities do.
4. Check local and trade licenses
Ohio has no general statewide business license. Check with your city or county for zoning, signs and home business rules. Many trades are licensed by the state, like electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors through the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board, and cosmetologists and barbers.
5. Keep up with taxes
Ohio has a commercial activity tax for businesses above a set amount of yearly sales, and many cities collect their own income tax. An accountant who works with Ohio small businesses can set up what applies to you in one meeting.
6. Open a business bank account
Bring your EIN and your filed Articles of Organization or trade name registration.
Make it look like a real business
The paperwork makes you legal. It doesn't bring customers. Once you're registered in Ohio, people still need to find you and trust you: a name and logo they remember, a website, a business email and a Google Business Profile. Then a plan for your first customers.