How to Incorporate a Business in Ohio

Corporations are business entities that limit the liability of their owners and stockholders, but their select status requires a much greater level of documentation both during start-up and administration. Follow these steps if you plan to incorporate in Ohio.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Visit the Ohio Business Portal (see Resources, below), and download Form 532 for domestic profit corporations. You can also contact the Secretary of State's office by calling [phone].
2. Find out whether the name you wish to use is available for your corporation. Use the online search system to look for the name that you are considering using. There is no cost to use this service.
3. Reserve your corporation's name before completing the Initial Articles of Incorporation. This can be done online or by using the Name Reservation form available for download. A fee is required to reserve your business name.
4. Complete and remit the Initial Articles of Incorporation. The Initial Articles of Incorporation require the name of the business and several other details about the business. There is a fee for processing the Initial Articles of Incorporation.
5. Expect to wait between 4 and 6 weeks for the paperwork to be processed with the Ohio State Department. Once it has been processed, you'll receive a copy of your Articles of Incorporation and your Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Tips & Warnings

• While you are not required to hire legal counsel to help incorporate your business, it is wise to do so, particularly if you are not experienced with the documentation procedures associated with running a corporation.
• Beware of the possibility of double taxation on a corporation when profits are given to shareholders as dividends. This can be avoided through tax credits, both state and federal.
• Use an online service to incorporate your business in Ohio if you don't have the time to do so on your own, but be aware that such services can be expensive.