How to Start an Ohio LLC

Are you looking to form a limited liability company (LLC) in the state of Ohio, but you’re not sure how the formation process works? There are several important steps when it comes to creating an Ohio LLC that is compliant and able to do business in the state.

To get started, please reference our 6-step guide below or hire an affordable online LLC formation service.

What is an Ohio LLC?

The Ohio LLC is one of the most popular business structures in state. It's a more casual and flexible type of business than a corporation, but includes personal asset protection that's lacking from sole proprietorships and general partnerships.

LLCs in Ohio have simple formation and maintenance requirements, several options for how they can be taxed, and flexible management. From one-person businesses to multi-member LLCs with several owners, the LLC is a popular choice for a reason.

Forming an LLC in Ohio (in 6 Steps)

Step One) Choose an LLC Name

Your LLC’s name is often the first impression you get to make on potential customers, and therefore it goes without saying that this is an important step. There are a few different aspects to take into consideration when selecting a name for your business:

Legalities

In the state of Ohio, every limited liability company is required to have either the initials “LLC” or the phrase “limited liability company” in the name. In addition, you cannot include any words that refer to other business types (like “corporation” or “incorporated”), and you also can’t use words that are typically used to refer to specific kinds of businesses (like “bank” or “law office”).

Explanatory Naming

Another aspect to consider is including language that explains what your business does ― for example, if you’re a plumber, put the word “plumber” or “plumbing” in your LLC name. Additionally, if your business has strong values like being environmentally friendly, you can indicate that by including the word “green.”

Do You Like It?

At the end of the day, this is your business, and you should choose a name that makes you proud. You should also make sure your LLC name both sounds good when spoken out loud, and looks good when written down.

The most important consideration for naming an LLC is to not get too attached to any one business name until you have either reserved the name with the state of Ohio, or you’ve officially formed your business. Ohio makes this process rather easy, as you can search their entire database of business names at this link. If you’re not yet ready to form your LLC, you can reserve your desired name. You can file the form online, or download the “Name Reservation/Transfer/Cancellation PDF” from this list. Reserving your name gives you an extra 120 days to get your business affairs in order; please note that there is a $39 fee.

Step Two) Designate a Registered Agent

Every LLC in Ohio is required to designate a registered agent, which is the individual or registered agent service that receives government correspondence on behalf of your business, then forwards those documents to you.

According to the Ohio Secretary of State,

All business entities are required to appoint and maintain a statutory agent.  A statutory agent will be served all legal documents regarding your business entity and is responsible for sharing this information with you.  As such, the agent should be chosen carefully…The statutory agent must be one of the following: (1) A natural person who is a resident of this state; or (2) A domestic or foreign corporation, nonprofit corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited partnership association, professional association, business trust, or unincorporated nonprofit association that has a business address in this state.”

Without a registered agent, you could lose your good standing with the state of Ohio, and the state also has the right to dissolve your LLC if they decide to. In a worst-case scenario, the state could fail to alert you regarding a lawsuit against your company, which could even lead to a judgment against your business because you didn’t defend yourself.

Step Three) File Formation Documents with State

Once you are ready to form your Ohio limited liability company, you will fill out the articles of organization.

This is THE document that will register your LLC with the state. You’ll want to ensure all of the following information is correct on the form:

• Your chosen business name
• Name and address of your registered agent
• Management style (member-managed or manager-managed)
• Name(s) and address(es) of the LLC’s manager
• Name and address of the LLC’s organizer
• Signature of organizer and registered agent
• Effective date

You can download the “Articles of Organization for a Domestic Limited Liability Company” pdf here and mail it in. You can also file entirely online with Ohio Business Filings.

Cost to Form an LLC: The state of Ohio charges a $99 fee to form an LLC.

Processing Time: It takes 5 days for the state to process your mailed-in Ohio LLC formation paperwork and get your finalized documents back to you. You can also pay a variety of fees (ranging from $100-$300) to have your filings expedited. The expedited filing times range from a 2-day turnaround to a four-hour turnaround, so if you’re in a hurry, Ohio has you covered. Please note that the estimate of business days begins once ALL required paperwork is in order and filed correctly.

Step Four) Create an Operating Agreement

After you register an LLC in Ohio, create a detailed outline that explains how you will run and manage your new business. Even though it doesn’t need to be filed with the state, put one together and keep it for your records.

When you open a bank account, you may be asked for this document in order to open an account. You’ll also want to keep in mind that any future business partners or managing members may also be interested in seeing your Operating Agreement before joining your company. After all, this document essentially serves as your overall plan for success.

An attorney can help you outline your Operating Agreement or create one from a free template online. You can read more about Operating Agreements here, but some of the basic information you’ll want to have includes:

• Individual members' ownership percentages
• Rights and responsibilities
• Voting powers and meeting guidelines
• Allocation of profits and losses
• Management rules for the LLC
• Provisions for buying a member owner out, or transferring their shares in the case of illness or death

Step Five) Handle Taxation Requirements

Federal Requirements

The vast majority of LLCs require a federal tax ID number, or EIN. An EIN is basically the business version of a social security number, and it’s used for a variety of important LLC functions.

For instance, you’ll need an EIN if you want to hire any employees, and many banks require them to open business bank accounts as well. You’ll also need one for tax purposes, hence the name federal tax ID number. Get an EIN for your LLC for free through the IRS.

State Requirements

When it comes to state-level LLC taxes, Ohio levies these taxes based on the nature of your business. If your LLC is considered a pass-through entity—usually a sole proprietorship or partnership—you’ll pay income taxes on your individual tax returns. However, LLCs which choose to be taxed as corporations do not technically pay a corporate income tax (they do in most states).

That said, all businesses in Ohio could be subject to the Commercial Activity Tax. This tax is based on gross receipts; businesses with gross receipts that exceed $150,000 are required to pay the tax. You can learn more about the Commercial Activity Tax here.

LLCs involved in retail sales will also need to pay sales taxes to the state. The current rate in Ohio is 5.75% in most situations. You can learn more about sales tax rates and requirements here.

LLC owners with employees are also required to pay a number of taxes. First, employers are responsible to pay withholding taxes on employee wages. Essentially, you’ll keep back a portion of an employee’s wages and forward that tax to the state. You can learn more about Ohio’s withholding taxes here. Similarly, Ohio employers are also required to make payments to the state’s unemployment insurance. While it’s not technically a tax, you do need to pay it on a regular basis, so we’ve included it in this section. You can learn more about this fund at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

In addition to these general taxes, Ohio also requires taxes specific to particular industries. For example, there are taxes on horse racing, replacement tires, and more. You can browse the state’s listing of taxes for businesses here.

Taxes can be overwhelming, but Ohio makes it easy to register for and file most of your business taxes at the Ohio Business Gateway.

Local Requirements

Depending on where in Ohio your business is located, you could also need to pay some local taxes. For example, individual counties in Ohio can levy additional sales tax on top of what the state charges. Look here to find the current sales tax rates listed by address. This is also a helpful tool to determine if you’ll be subject to school district income taxes, which are required in some areas.

Step Six) Obtain Business Licenses and Permits

The state of Ohio requires that all businesses obtain a license to operate in the state. You can obtain it simply by registering with the Secretary of State.

Ohio also upholds the licensure required by the federal government for certain occupations, including agriculture, aviation, and more. Please consult the Small Business Association’s listings for federally-regulated industries requiring licensure.

And much like the state has industry-specific tax requirements, it also has licenses and permits that are required for businesses in certain industries. Ohio has more than 250 of these licenses and permits, so there’s a good chance at least one of them applies to your LLC. We recommend that every LLC owner search through the state database of licenses for businesses here, and don’t forget that your local government may require licenses or permits as well.

Next Steps: What to do After Creating an Ohio LLC

Open a business bank account

We highly recommend that you establish a separate business banking account so that your business and personal finances are maintained completely separate. This is important because it helps protect your personal assets and also makes filing taxes much easier. Once you receive your EIN from the IRS, you’ll be able to use it to establish an account at the bank or credit union of your choice.

Get Business Insurance

Every Ohio business with employees is strictly required to acquire workers’ compensation insurance. For more information on this policy, check out the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Essentially, this policy helps to pay your employees when a work injury or illness keeps them from working. After you obtain these legally required policies, it’s probably also a good idea to pursue general liability insurance, as well as some industry-specific policies.

Understand income reporting

Income reporting is just what it sounds like – reporting the income you made from your business. It’s important to note that you must file this form whether you made or lost money over the course of the year. The state of Ohio offers resources on rules and fees as well as forms for your business’s income reports here.

Understand annual reporting

Unlike most states, Ohio does not require that LLCs file an annual report. Normally, an annual report serves to update the state on any pertinent information regarding your business that has changed over the course of the year.

Find an accountant

We don’t recommend that you attempt to manage your business finances without the help of a professional. There is too much room for error, and a professional can ultimately save you time and money by guiding you on how best to manage your business finances. At a minimum, enlist professional help to set you up with software and the steps for keeping up with your finances on a regular basis. Then, consult back with your accountant at least a couple of times per year – and especially at tax time – to ensure you’re keeping track of everything correctly.