Determine Your Business’s Entity Structureīefore registering your startup in Ohio, you must first determine your organization’s legal entity structure. Once you’ve identified some of the basics about your startup’s operation, it is time to register your business.īelow, we’ve broken the Ohio requirements into an easy step-by-step process. Ohio’s Department of Development also offers numerous resources for Ohio founders when starting a new business, in addition to resources specifically for entrepreneurs. Small Business Administration or SCORE, which focuses specifically on small businesses and startups. To help guide you in drafting your business plan, you can check in with the U.S. You can do this by drafting a business plan. Before registering, though, it’s a good idea to map out your business, including your location, your ideal customer, and your marketing and sales approach, to name a few topics. When you register a business in Ohio, you’ll need to satisfy several requirements, allowing you to start your company legally and compliantly. When Do You Need to Register a Business in Ohio? Top small business industries include professional, scientific, and technical services construction retail trade health care and social assistance and accommodation and food services.Īs you’re launching your startup and exploring where to locate your new business, this article will explore registering your business in Ohio. In 2020, Ohio was home to just over 965,000 small businesses, employing 2.2 million people. Small business numbers are equally impressive. ” And Cincinnati’s startups raised $650 million in 2021. In 2021, Ohio startups received $2 billion in outside investment, “reaching the $2 billion mark for the first time in a single year - and they hit that milestone all the way back in October,” according to TechOhio.Ĭleveland’s JumpStart indicates that “between 20, startups and small businesses supported by the organization have generated $9.1 billion in economic impact. However, if you have a Delaware registered startup but want to conduct business in Ohio, your business would be considered a “foreign” startup.Īs the 7th largest state by population in the United States, Ohio has earned its bragging rights for startups and entrepreneurs. For example, a registered startup in Ohio is a “domestic” startup. Whether a business is a domestic or foreign entity depends upon where the startup was formed and which state governs its management and operation. If you founded a startup in a state other than Ohio but want to conduct business in Ohio, you’ll have to register your business as a foreign entity.You’ll need to file annual reports for your entity, requiring a filing fee. For example, as stated above, you must pay a non-refundable $99 filing fee for registering a for-profit corporation, LLC, or a limited partnerships. Depending upon your chosen entity for your startup, you will have your initial filing fee payment, any additional annual filings, and any taxes.The State of Ohio provides sample forms for your use or review for new entities. Finally, after completing the above steps, it’s time to submit your formation forms to Ohio’s Secretary of State.A statutory agent is an individual or a business that can receive legal and financial documents on behalf of the startup. Next, after choosing your startup’s name, you need to identify a statutory agent (often referred to as a registered agent in other states).Further, your startup’s name must comply with Ohio’s naming conventions. When picking a name for an LLC, corporation, or limited partnership, you’ll need to distinguish it from other business names already registered with the state. You’ll also have to choose a name in choosing your startup’s structure.In addition to sole proprietorships, five other popular Ohio business entities include general partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations.Instead, any profits or losses are reported on your personal tax return. If you operate as a sole proprietorship, you do not have to file your startup in Ohio formally. One of the more prevalent business types is the sole proprietorship. In Ohio, you can choose from several different types of business structures.When you register a business in Ohio, you’ll need to satisfy several requirements, allowing you to start your company legally and compliantly.