Ohio business entity search and name check

Ohio is one of the few states where an LLC files no annual report with the Secretary of State: you pay $99 to form, and the state filing side is largely done. Business records are kept by the Ohio Secretary of State and searched on Ohio Business Search. We don't run that search ourselves; we send you to it, because the site checks every automated request for bots.

Registry: Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services Division
Official search: Ohio Business Search
How we search Ohio: Official site only (we hand you off). Ohio's official search, like the rest of the Secretary of State's website, puts automated requests through a bot-protection check, so we don't search it on your behalf. Use the link to search Ohio's site directly.
What a result can tell you: Searching the official site shows names on record. Ohio decides acceptance when you file.
State fee to form an LLC: $99 (Articles of Organization)
Ongoing LLC filing: No annual report required

What the Ohio search covers

Ohio Business Search covers businesses registered with the Ohio Secretary of State. Ohio also registers trade names and fictitious names with the Secretary of State rather than with counties.

Each record has a Charter / Entity Number. Search by number on the Ohio Business Search.

How to read Ohio results

Ohio does not publish definitions for its status labels in one place. We show the official wording exactly as the registry gives it.

A status describes the registry filing only. It isn’t evidence of a license, tax compliance or reputation, and a record with the same name as a company you know may be a different business. More on statuses.

Ohio business name rules

An LLC name must include one of: limited liability company, L.L.C., LLC, limited, ltd., ltd. A corporation uses one of: company, co., corporation, corp., incorporated, inc..

Your LLC name must be distinguishable, on the Secretary of State's records, from other LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships and LLPs (Ohio or registered out-of-state), and from registered trade names that hold an exclusive right. (ORC 1706.07(B); ORC 1701.05(A)(3)) Source: codes.ohio.gov

Ohio doesn’t publish a list of the differences it ignores, so our check treats only capitalization and punctuation as insignificant and flags other close names as similar for you to judge.

Words that need approval or are restricted

Words	Requirement
benefit, b-	Only a benefit corporation may put "benefit" or "b-" in front of its corporate ending (for example "Benefit Corp." or "b-Corp"). Source: codes.ohio.gov

Using a similar name with consent

Yes. You can use a name that isn't distinguishable from an existing one if the other business, or the owner of the registered trade name, gives written consent filed on the Secretary of State's form.

Reserving a name in Ohio

Ohio lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $39, held for 180 days, counting the filing date as day one.

File the Secretary of State's name reservation form. A reservation can be transferred to someone else by filing a written transfer.

Ohio name reservation Source: codes.ohio.gov

Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only Ohio Secretary of State can.

Forming an LLC in Ohio

Document: Articles of Organization
State filing fee: $99
$99 is the fee set by Ohio law for Articles of Organization, and it includes naming your statutory agent. Any online or rush charges weren't confirmed.
File online: Ohio Secretary of State filing
Out-of-state LLC registering here: $99 (Application to become a registered foreign limited liability company)

Fees change. Confirm them on the official Ohio fee schedule before you file.

File it yourself or use a service

File directly with Ohio

$99 state fee

You fill in the Articles of Organization yourself and pay only the state. You’ll need a registered agent with a Ohio street address; that can be you if you have one.

File with Ohio Secretary of State

Use a formation service

A service prepares and files the paperwork, and most can act as your registered agent and send compliance reminders. You still pay the state fee on top of their price, and the state still decides whether to accept your name.

Bizee: $0 plus the state fee (Basic); Standard $199, Premium $299, plus state fee
LegalZoom: $0 plus state fees (Basic); Managed Service $249 plus state fees
Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee
ZenBusiness: $0 plus the state fee (Starter); Pro $199 plus state fee, renews $199/yr

We don’t currently earn commissions from these providers. Prices from each provider’s site on Oct 30, 2026. We never send them your proposed name. Compare what each includes · Disclosure

An EIN (federal tax ID) is free from the IRS; you don’t need to pay anyone for one.

Keeping a Ohio LLC in good standing

No annual report required. Source: codes.ohio.gov

Ohio's Commercial Activity Tax applies only to businesses with more than $6 million in Ohio taxable gross receipts, starting with tax year 2025. The rate is 0.26%.

Ohio's fee law lists a $25 biennial report only for certain partnership filings and a $25 statement of continued existence for nonprofits. It sets no annual report fee for LLCs or for-profit corporations.

Proof of status: Certificate of Good Standing ($5). Source: codes.ohio.gov

Assumed names (DBAs)

Trade names and fictitious names are registered with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county. Registration costs $39 and renewal costs $25. Source: codes.ohio.gov

Good to know about Ohio

Ohio LLCs don't file an annual report with the Secretary of State; Ohio's fee law sets no LLC report fee. Source: codes.ohio.gov
An LLC name can end in "Limited" or "Ltd." instead of LLC. Source: codes.ohio.gov
A name reservation lasts 180 days, longer than the 120 days many states give, and can be transferred to another person. Source: codes.ohio.gov
Registered trade names with an exclusive right can block a new LLC name, but the holder's written consent lets you use a name that would otherwise be too close. Source: codes.ohio.gov
The Commercial Activity Tax applies only above $6 million in Ohio taxable gross receipts, from tax year 2025 on. Source: tax.ohio.gov

Sources and accuracy

We checked this page against official Ohio sources on October 30, 2026. Our monitor rechecks the official search, filing portal and fee pages daily and flags changes for review.

Items we couldn’t confirm on an official page (5)

We couldn't confirm the official search's ID format, status labels or which record types it includes.
We couldn't read the Secretary of State's own fee page; the fees here come from Ohio's fee law (Ohio Revised Code 111.16). Online or rush surcharges are unknown.
We couldn't confirm whether an LLC name reservation can be renewed.
We couldn't confirm the Ohio Business Central filing site on an official page.
We haven't covered Ohio's statutory agent rules or restricted words other than "benefit".

See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only Ohio Secretary of State can change an official record.