Ohio Business Entity Search

An Ohio business entity search is done with the Ohio Secretary of State's free Business Search. It covers corporations, LLCs, partnerships, nonprofits, trade names and fictitious names registered in the state. If you have been searching for the "Ohio SOS business search", this is the official tool, and it is also the starting point for ordering a certificate of good standing.

How to use the Ohio Business Search

1. Open the Ohio Secretary of State Business Search.
2. Search by business name for most lookups. Leave off the entity ending and try one or two key words.
3. If you know it, search by the entity number. It brings up one exact record.
4. To see every business a statutory agent serves, search by agent or registrant name.
5. Open the record to see the status, filing date, statutory agent and the list of filed documents, which you can view as images.

The Secretary of State's business FAQ notes that the office does not keep lists of owners or officers. The record shows the statutory agent's name and address, and the filed documents may name the person who signed them, but there is no owner directory.

What the status words mean

• Active: the entity or name is registered and in use. Nobody else can use the same name without consent.
• Held: the name is under a temporary hold, such as a reservation, and is protected until the hold ends.
• Canceled or Dissolved: the entity is no longer active. Its name becomes available to the next person who files.

An LLC can be canceled if it fails to keep a statutory agent. The office's start an LLC guide says reinstatement in that case uses Form 525A with a $25 fee.

Want lists of new filings? The Secretary of State also publishes free Ohio business reports.

Certificates of good standing and copies

Ohio sells certificates of good standing online at the Certificate of Good Standing portal. You look up the business, confirm it by entity number, enter your details and pay. For the current price, see the official fee schedule on the certificates page. The same site lets anyone validate a certificate they have been given. Copies of filed documents are requested with Form 500, and the official fee schedule lists $5.

Checking and reserving a name

Search the name in Business Search. Your LLC name must include an ending such as "limited liability company", "LLC" or "ltd", and it must be distinguishable from names already on file, including trade names. If an active name conflicts, you need written consent from its owner.

To hold a name, file a Name Reservation on Form 534B. The fee is $39, and the reservation lasts 180 days. Ideas first? Try our business name generator.

Trade names and fictitious names

Ohio has two kinds of "doing business as" names, both filed with the Secretary of State on Form 534A for $39. A trade name must be distinguishable and gives the owner exclusive use of that name in Ohio. A fictitious name does not have to be unique and gives no exclusive rights; it simply puts the public on notice of who is behind the name. Both must be renewed from time to time, or they lapse. Because they are filed with the state, both show up in Business Search.

Forming an LLC in Ohio

1. Check the name and reserve it if you need time.
2. Appoint a statutory agent. The agent must be an Ohio resident or a business with an Ohio address, and must accept the appointment. The acceptance is built into the formation form.
3. File Articles of Organization on Form 610. The fee is $99. You can choose an effective date up to 90 days later.
4. Pay extra for speed if needed: $100 for two business days, $200 for one business day, or $300 for four hours.
5. Complete tax registration with the Ohio Department of Taxation and get an EIN as needed.

Here is the welcome part: Ohio does not require LLCs to file annual or biennial reports with the Secretary of State. You do need to keep the statutory agent current; a change is filed on Form 521 for $25. Add your yearly tax and license costs to your business plan template, and see our guide on how to start a business for the remaining steps.

Common problems

• Name not found: Search fewer words or by agent. The business may also be a sole proprietor using a fictitious name.
• Need the owners: Ohio does not list them. Read the filed documents or ask the company.
• Status Canceled: Check whether the company lost its statutory agent and whether it has filed to reinstate.
• Two businesses with the same DBA: Fictitious names do not need to be unique, so duplicates are legal.

Checking nearby states? See the Pennsylvania business entity search and the Michigan business entity search, or use the all-states business entity search hub.