SINCE 1974
IncNow can help you get an Ohio Foreign Qualification done correctly without the hassle. We handle the entire filing process, from verifying your company name to submitting your Application for License to the Ohio Secretary of State.
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Registering your business in Ohio involves a few key steps. IncNow’s Incorporation Specialists can help you through the process and ensure your Foreign Qualification is done properly. Here’s a look at the process:
A Certificate of Good Standing, sometimes called a Certificate of Existence, is an official document from your business’s home state that proves your company is legally formed and compliant. Ohio requires this certificate to be submitted with your application.
Note: The Secretary of State of Ohio only requires foreign corporations to submit a Certificate of Good Standing with their Foreign Qualification filing. Foreign LLCs do not need to provide a Certificate.
To be accepted by the state, the Certificate of Good Standing must be dated within 90 days of the date on which you submit your Foreign Qualification.
Before you can register, your company’s legal name must be unique and available for use in Ohio. If another registered business is already using your name, you will need to operate under an “Assumed Name” (also known as a DBA).
IncNow’s team will conduct a name availability search with the Ohio Secretary of State. If your company’s name is taken, we will immediately notify you and assist with registering an Assumed Name.
To register in Ohio, you must appoint a Statutory Agent. A Statutory Agent is also called a Registered Agent in other states. Your Ohio Statutory Agent needs to have a physical street address in the state to receive official legal and tax documents in order to comply with the law in Ohio.
You can hire a commercial Registered Agent service to represent you if you do not have an Ohio address.
This is the official form that registers your out-of-state business in Ohio. It must be filed with the Secretary of State and requires precise details about your company and its appointed Registered Agent.
Note: The Application for License is the name of the document required to register a foreign corporation in Ohio. Foreign LLCs need to complete and submit a Foreign Registration form.
The form requires the following details:
You need to pay a filing fee in order to submit the Ohio Application for License. The filing fee in Ohio is $99 for foreign LLCs and corporations. State filing fees are included in the price of IncNow’s Foreign Qualification Service.
IncNow’s team prepares and files your company’s Application for License in Ohio. We ensure all of your information is accurate to prevent rejections.
After registering in Ohio, you will need to keep up with ongoing compliance requirements in the state. The Ohio Secretary of State will send official notices regarding these requirements to your Registered Agent in Ohio.
Please Note: IncNow’s service covers the successful initial filing of your foreign qualification. Ongoing compliance management is not included for Ohio.
If your LLC or corporation was formed in another state, like Delaware, but you are going to be doing business in Ohio, you will need to properly register your business there first. This process is called Foreign Qualification and it involves obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing, appointing a Registered Agent and filing an Application for License.
The definition of “doing business” is generally pretty broad. It can also be different in each state. But in general, you will likely need to register your company in Ohio if you do any of the following:
If you’re not sure whether your company is considered to be doing business in Ohio, the safest bet is to file a Foreign Qualification. States often charge large penalties and fines if businesses do not properly register themselves.
An Assumed Name is like a nickname for your business. It’s a name you use in Ohio that’s different from your company’s official legal name. This is also commonly known as a “DBA” (short for “Doing Business As”).
The main reason you would need an Assumed Name is if your company’s official name is already taken by another business registered in Ohio.
Because no two businesses can have the same name, Ohio would require you to choose a different, “assumed” name to use while operating in the state. Our filing process includes a name search to check if your name is available, and we can help you understand the next steps if it’s already in use.