Starting an LLC can be an exciting and overwhelming process — leading you to wonder where to begin. In this guide, we’ll take you through all the steps of forming an LLC in Ohio. 

The good news is that once you know the steps and resources that you can utilize, forming an LLC in the Buckeye State won’t be as daunting. In fact, much of the process can be done online and streamlined with the help of a professional LLC partner like us.

We’ve compiled this guide to walk you through each of the five steps to forming an LLC, providing insights and helpful tips along the way and showing you how our services can make things easier for you. Let us help you better understand the LLC creation process, so you can focus on what matters most — launching and growing your new company.

Forming an LLC in Ohio requires registering your business with the Secretary of State. This step is crucial because it allows the state to recognize your new company and stay in contact with you on any new laws or important business communications.

However, before you can do this, you’ll need to come up with an official name for your LLC and appoint a statutory agent. Next, you’ll want to craft an operating agreement to guide your company, even though it’s not a requirement of the state of Ohio. After that, you’ll register your business with the IRS to set yourself up to pay taxes and create business financial accounts.

While some steps are more complex and costlier than others, following this step-by-step guide will simplify the process of forming an LLC in Ohio. As you complete each of the five steps below, your LLC will be closer to running.

Step 1: Name your Ohio LLC

While brainstorming your business, you’ve likely thought of a company name. But an LLC name is more than just a creative way to market your services; it also has to comply with state regulations. In this case, you’ll need to register your business name with the state of Ohio. Start by creating a list of possible names, and then do an Ohio business name search to find one that is not in use. It might be helpful to check a more detailed explanation of the requirements for naming your business in Ohio so that you don’t run into any trouble while applying. These requirements include avoiding any words you cannot by law use in your business name. 

Keep in mind that slight changes in spelling, punctuation, and choice of suffix will not be enough to distinguish your business name from another, which is why a thorough name search is crucial. Once you’ve decided on your name, you can move on to the next step: choosing an LLC designator. To be in good standing with Ohio’s state law, your company’s name must end with the proper suffix. You can choose your specific LLC designator from the below list:

• Limited Liability Company
• Limited
• L.L.C.
• LLC
• Ltd.
• Ltd

After conducting your Ohio business search and finding a name that satisfies your business goals and Ohio’s requirements, you have the option to lock it in. If you don’t plan on filing your Articles of Organization immediately, it’s a smart move to reserve your business name. To reserve your business name before someone else gets it, you can apply through the Ohio Secretary of State or, if you’d rather not deal with this process yourself, we have a business name reservation service that can handle it for you. As part of the service, we also check to see if your desired LLC name is available. If the name you’ve chosen is approved, it will be put on hold for 180 days. This will allow plenty of time for you to finish establishing your LLC. 

Before reserving your business name, though, you may want to confirm that you can secure a similar domain name. A website is a must for nearly all businesses, and you don’t want to reserve or register a business name only to discover that you can’t find a related domain name.  You’ll want to perform a quick domain name search until you find an available name that you like. From there, a partner like us can register this domain for you. 

To make sure you’re entirely in the clear with your business name, visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office website to see whether your business name or logo is federally trademarked. Trademarks can also happen at the state level. To find out more and/or apply for a state trademark, go to the Ohio Secretary of State website page for trademarks.

Finally, you can register a DBA (“doing business as” name) in Ohio if you plan to market your LLC with a name other than your registered name. In Ohio, there are two classifications of this: a “trade name” and a “fictitious name,” though both use the same form. Trade names are required to be distinguishable from other Ohio business names (meaning you’ll need to use the business name search page again), while fictitious names don’t. Thus, trade names provide greater protection. You can file for a DBA (either a trade name or fictitious name) online or via mail using the Name Registration form, or you can let our DBA service handle it for you.

Step 2: Appoint a statutory agent in Ohio

To continue with the registration process, the law requires that every LLC appoint a statutory agent in Ohio, known in most states as a registered agent (we will use the two terms interchangeably, but they mean the same thing). Your statutory agent will act on your behalf, working as a third party between your LLC and the Ohio Secretary of State. The person or entity appointed will be the point of contact for legal matters — if your company is subpoenaed or sued, papers will be delivered to your statutory agent. 

The company owner can be the statutory agent, but this is not always the best option. After all, being served in front of customers is a sure way to deter business, and with so many alternatives, it could be in your best interest to hire an outside registered agent service. 

As long as your outside registered agent is a resident of Ohio or a business entity authorized to do business in Ohio, and has a physical street address in the state, hiring an outside registered agent service is an affordable way to save you possible troubles later on.

Here are a few more reasons why you might want to partner with an outside registered agent service like ours:

• There’s no need to pay to refile forms if your business address moves. If you act as your own Ohio statutory agent, you’ll need to update your statutory agent’s address (your address) every time your primary office location changes.
• There’s no need to be tied to your desk during “normal” working hours. With an outside registered agent service, you’re free to work your own hours, from wherever you choose. You’ll know your paperwork is safely delivered to your registered agent’s address as needed. 

Step 3: File Ohio Articles of Organization

Once you’ve settled on a company name, you’re ready to register your LLC with the state of Ohio officially. Filing government documents can be intimidating and complicated for many people, which is why we’re here. With our business formation plans, our professionals handle the filing for you to make sure it’s done quickly and correctly the first time. But, although we can handle this for you, we’ll show you how the process works below.

To register your LLC, you’ll file a form called the Articles of Organization. You can submit the Articles of Organization online using the Secretary of State’s website. Select “Submit a Business Filing” to begin. If you are mailing your Articles of Organization, send it to Ohio Secretary of State, P.O. Box 670, Columbus, OH 43216.

Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need to fill out during this process:

• Your LLC name: To register your company, you’ll need to register the LLC name you selected in step one.
• Office mailing address: You’ll need an office address on hand. This can be your company’s office location or your home address if you work remotely.
• Statutory agent name and address: Your statutory agent receives communications from the Secretary of State. They’ll receive legal paperwork on your behalf and will need to be available during normal business hours.
• Name and address of the submitter: Here, you’ll fill out your name and personal address. If you have other members in your LLC, they’ll need to provide their full names and addresses, as well.
• Effective date: Your effective date is the day your company will begin operating. If you want your LLC to be effective immediately, put the date of your filing here.
• Signatures: Your Articles of Organization must be signed by a member, manager, another representative of your company. 

After all of the relevant information is filled in, you’ll want to review your form for any errors before submitting it. You’ll also need to pay a filing fee to finalize your registration. You can pay online or send in a check if applying via mail. Ohio also has options for expediting your filing for an additional fee. If you’re in a hurry to form your LLC and don’t want to deal with the state’s expedited filing processes, we can handle it for you with our faster filing speeds service.

Once you’ve paid, this process is complete. Your Articles of Organization will be processed within three to seven business days if you choose regular service. However, processing can vary depending on the number of filings that the office receives.

If you have us handle filing your Articles of Organization, once the state approves your LLC, your paperwork will be available from your ZenBusiness dashboard, where you can keep it and other important paperwork digitally organized. 

Once you get your physical paperwork back from the state approving your new LLC, you’ll want to keep it in a safe location along with your other important documents, such as your operating agreement, member certificates, contracts, compliance checklists, transfer ledger, etc. We offer a customized business kit to help you keep these important documents organized and looking professional.

By now you’re realizing how often you’ll need to supply an address for your new business. That can be unsettling for some business owners, especially those running their business from home. In instances where you’re not required to give the registered agent address or official principal address for your business, a virtual business address can come in handy. 

With our virtual business address service, we supply you with a physical street address where you can have your mail sent without divulging your real address to more people than necessary.

Step 4: Create an operating agreement

Once your LLC is registered, it’s time to decide whether you want to create an Ohio operating agreement for your new company. Although Ohio state law does not require LLCs to have an operating agreement, it can be very beneficial for your company. 

Your LLC operating agreement will detail how your company is to be managed, how voting structures work (specifically for partners), how finances are handled, and much more. This agreement can offer clarity for partners, managers, and employees and be used to help resolve conflicts if they arise. It can even cover HR-related topics. 

Your operating agreement can be as expansive and detailed as you like, depending on the structure of your company. Since this agreement is not required by Ohio law, you can really make this document unique to your LLC. If your LLC has employees or other members (owners), an operating agreement makes good administrative sense.

If you’re the sole owner and member of your company, you may think there’s no need to create an operating agreement for one person. However, you might want to reconsider. Your operating agreement can be used to outline what to do with your business if you become incapacitated or pass away. 

Make sure all members in your LLC understand, review, agree to, and sign your operating agreement. It’s a good idea to have this document notarized, as well. Once signed, this document is legally binding in the eyes of Ohio.

You don’t have to submit this agreement to the Ohio Secretary of State, but you should keep it with your other business filings, so you can reference it easily.

If you don’t know how to start creating an operating agreement for your Ohio LLC, we offer a customizable template to help get you started.

Step 5: Apply for an EIN

The last step you’ll take to launch your LLC officially is registering your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You’ll do this by applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, to register your company with the IRS. Your EIN is essentially a Social Security number for your business — you’ll use this to file tax returns and hire new employees. 

You can register for an EIN even if you’re the only member of your LLC. Having an EIN can make it simpler to separate your business and personal finances and can make handling your taxes much easier at the end of the year. It also helps protect your privacy, as you won’t have to use your Social Security number on business documents.

You can apply for an EIN by visiting the IRS EIN application page online, but if you don’t feel like dealing with that particular government agency, we can get it for you. Our Federal Tax Identification Number service eliminates the hassle.

Once you receive your EIN, you can begin hiring employees, setting up bank accounts for your business, and applying for any small business grants or loans your LLC is eligible for.

Having separate accounts for your business and your personal banking is particularly important for sorting out your finances at tax time and helps you avoid commingling funds. Commingling funds can not only make your taxes more difficult, but it could also be used against you if someone takes you to court to challenge whether you and your LLC are truly separate entities (i.e., they want to sue you for not just your business assets, but also your personal assets).

We have partnered with LendingClub to offer a discounted bank account for your new business. This allows for unlimited transactions, online banking, a debit card, and more. When you want to authorize others in your business to use the account, we offer an easy-to-use banking resolution template to simplify the process.

For further help managing your new business’s finances, try out the ZenBusiness Money App. It can help you create invoices, receive payments, transfer money, and manage clients all in one place. 

Secure insurance for Your Ohio LLC

Ensuring insurance compliance is another important step to take after your Ohio LLC has been registered. You’ll need to make sure you have the proper insurance coverage required to operate in order to protect your company and employees. Some of the most common types of business insurance are:

• General liability insurance: This type of insurance offers general protection to your company in case of a lawsuit. Some states require this insurance, but Ohio does not.
• Professional liability insurance: This type of insurance offers coverage for professional providers, including consultants, lawyers, and accountants. It offers extra protection in addition to general liability to protect your LLC from malpractice and other lawsuits. 
• Workers’ compensation insurance: This type of insurance offers coverage for your company’s employees in the event that they become injured, ill, or pass away at work. Workers’ compensation insurance is required for companies in Ohio with more than one employee.

More specific types of insurance might be required depending on your LLC’s industry. Other common types of insurance to consider include commercial, property, auto, life, and umbrella insurance.

Additional Setup Costs for Your LLC

Registering your business, securing licenses and insurance, and getting set up to launch all have their own costs, but there are additional setup costs to consider.

Some of these costs include hiring new employees, securing record-keeping and financial software, and partnering with consultants or accountants to help manage and run your LLC.

You’ll also want to consider any other costs your LLC might require, such as securing office space (and furniture and supplies to go in that space), buying business materials (computers, marketing essentials, printers, etc.), or purchasing company vehicles, if required.

While you may have secured a domain name, you’ll also need to consider the cost of creating a website, whether hiring an employee to handle this or outsourcing the role. We can help you get set up with a business email account and can help you create a custom business website.