Ohio
On this page
Ohio at a glance
- Who runs it
- Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services Division
- Ohio Business Search
- Cost to search
- Free
- Account needed
- No
- Search without signing up
- Search by
- Business Name, Exact Business Name
- and 4 more
State fees
- Form an LLC$99Articles of Organization (Form 610)Official source
- Annual reportNoneNot required in OhioOfficial source
- Certificate of Good Standing$5Proof the business is currentOfficial source
- Change statutory agent$25Statutory Agent Update (Form 521).Every LLC must have oneOfficial source
Ohio LLC lookup: how to use the Ohio Business Search
An LLC lookup in Ohio is the same search as a business search. The Ohio Business Search, kept by the Ohio Secretary of State, lists LLCs alongside corporations and other registered businesses. You can search by business Name, exact Business Name, prior Business Name, agent/Registrant, organizer/Incorporator or number search. It's free, and you don't need an account.
- Open the Ohio Business Search. "Business Name" is the first search option. Type part of the name.
- Set the Status filter to All, Active, Cancelled, Dead, or Fraudulent.
- Open the business from the results. The details page shows the agent and the list of filings.
- Click "Download Image" next to a filing to open it as a PDF. Articles of Organization are signed by an authorized member, manager, or representative.
- To find every business a particular agent represents, search by "Agent/Registrant".
Good to know in Ohio: Ohio has no annual report for LLCs. What keeps an Ohio LLC on the books is its statutory agent: if it doesn't keep one and doesn't fix that within 30 days of the state's notice, its articles are canceled. Ohio calls the registered agent a "statutory agent", and you can search by agent name to find every business a person or company represents.
What the search shows you
- Business name and entity number
- Status (Active, Hold, Canceled, Dead)
- Filing type and original filing date
- Location (city and county, for domestic corporations)
- Expiration date (nonprofits, trade names, fictitious names, marks)
- Agent name, address, effective date, and agent status
- Filings with document ID and a PDF image link when one is available
What the status words mean
Ohio uses its own words for a company's status, and they don't always mean the same thing as in other states. Here's what you'll see on the Ohio Business Search, in the state's own wording.
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Active | On record as actively engaged in business. The name is protected if the business type has name protection. |
| Hold | Canceled by the Secretary of State for failing to meet a legal requirement. The name stays protected for one year after the cancellation. |
| Canceled | Canceled by the Secretary of State, and the name is no longer protected. For LLCs, a common cause is not keeping a statutory agent and not fixing it within 30 days of the state's notice. The search filter spells it "Cancelled". |
| Dead | On file as no longer in business after the business voluntarily dissolved. The name is no longer protected. |
| Fraudulent | A status you can filter on in the search. The search help doesn't define it, so read the record's filings for details. |
For how these compare across states, see what business entity status means.
Finding the registered agent, filing history and owners
Statutory Agent
Shown on the details page with the agent's address, the date the appointment took effect, and whether the agent is active or inactive for that business.
Filing history
The filings list shows each document with its document ID and a "Download Image" PDF link when an image is on file. For images that aren't online yet, contact the Secretary of State at 1-877-SOS-FILE.
Owners, managers and officers
The Secretary of State doesn't provide owner or officer information. It lists only the statutory agent. The Articles of Organization are signed by an authorized member, manager, or representative. If the state record doesn't name anyone, our guide on how to find the owner of an LLC covers where else to look.
Finding an Ohio Entity Number
Ohio gives every business on its register an Entity Number. It's the quickest way to pin down the right company when names are alike.
- What it looks like
- Ohio calls it a "Registration Number" for LLCs and a "Charter Number" for domestic corporations. It isn't the Document ID, which is a separate number assigned to each filing.
- Where to find yours
- On the business details page in Ohio Business Search.
- Search by it
- Yes. The Ohio Business Search accepts it.
Your federal EIN is a different number again. See which business number a form is asking for.
Checking whether a business name is available in Ohio
- Search by business name with the status filter set to All. Names of Active businesses are protected, Hold names stay protected for a year, and Canceled or Dead names are open to others.
- The search also covers trade names, fictitious names, and name reservations.
- If the name you want is taken, you need written consent from the holder (Form 590) or a different, distinguishable name.
- Reserve a name for 180 days for $39 through Ohio Business Central.
A clear result on the state search isn't a trademark clearance. If the name matters to you, also search the USPTO trademark database and check the domain. More in our business name search guide.
DBA and UCC search in Ohio
DBAs and assumed names
- What it's called
- Trade Name or Fictitious Name
- Where they're filed
- Both are registered with the Secretary of State and show up in Ohio Business Search. A trade name has to be distinguishable and gives exclusive use in Ohio. A fictitious name doesn't, and several businesses can use the same one.
- State fee
- $39. Name Registration (Form 534A).
- How long it lasts
- Five years. Renew in the six months before it expires ($25), or the name is canceled.
UCC liens
Lenders file UCC financing statements with the Ohio Secretary of State. The online search is free. Our Ohio UCC search guide has the steps and fees.
Ohio fees and deadlines
These are the state's own fees, before any service charges. Each row links to the official page we took it from.
Form an LLC
$99- Articles of Organization (Form 610).
- Regular service takes 3 to 7 business days.
- Faster options: 2 business days ($100), 1 business day ($200), or 4 hours ($300, in-person delivery only, received by 1 p.m.). Expedite fees are on top of the $99 filing fee.
Annual report
None- Ohio LLCs don't file an annual report with the Secretary of State.
- The Ohio Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) is separate. It's handled by the Department of Taxation, and for tax years 2025 and later the annual exclusion is $6 million in gross receipts.
Change your statutory agent
$25- Every Ohio LLC must have one.
- Statutory Agent Update (Form 521).
Certificate of Good Standing
$5- Proof the company exists and is current, from the Ohio Secretary of State.
142,973 new business applications were filed in Ohio from January to September 2026, up 16.7% on last year, according to the Census Bureau. See every state.
Starting a business in Ohio?
A lot of people search the Ohio Business Search to see if a name is taken before they file. If that's you, here's the order to do things in.
- 1Check the name is free in OhioTakes two minutes, steps on this page
- 2File your LLC with the stateArticles of Organization, $99 state fee
- 3Or let a service file it for youCompared on what you pay in year two
Step 3 goes to our comparison page, which has sponsored links. We earn a commission if you buy, and it doesn't change our rankings. How that works.
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up an LLC in Ohio?
Search the Ohio Business Search, the official database kept by the Ohio Secretary of State. You can search by business Name, exact Business Name, prior Business Name, agent/Registrant, organizer/Incorporator or number search. It's free, and you don't need an account. Open the matching record to see the LLC's status, registered agent and filing history.
Is the Ohio business search free?
Yes. Searching is free, and filed documents with an image on file can be downloaded as PDFs. A certificate of good standing is $5.
Does an Ohio LLC have to file an annual report?
No. The Secretary of State's regular reports apply to professional associations, LLPs, nonprofits, and name and mark renewals, not LLCs. Keep a statutory agent on file.
What does "Canceled" mean on the Ohio business search?
The Secretary of State canceled the entity, and its name is no longer protected. For LLCs, a common cause is failing to keep a statutory agent: the state sends a notice, and if the LLC doesn't fix it within 30 days, its articles are canceled. It can reinstate within two years by filing Form 525A (Reinstatement and Appointment of Agent, $25).
Can I find out who owns an Ohio LLC?
Not from the Secretary of State. It doesn't provide owner or officer information, only the statutory agent's name and address.
Sources
We take every fee, deadline and rule on this page from these pages and nowhere else. Rules change, so open the source before you pay anything.
- 1.Ohio Business SearchChecked November 8, 2026
- 2.Secretary of State: business filing forms and fee scheduleChecked November 8, 2026
- 3.Secretary of State: business FAQChecked November 8, 2026
- 4.Form 610, Articles of Organization (PDF, expedite levels and processing times)Checked November 8, 2026
- 5.Form 534B, Name Reservation (PDF)Checked November 8, 2026
- 6.Form 500, Copy/Certificate Request (PDF)Checked November 8, 2026
- 7.Ohio Revised Code 1706.09 (statutory agent and cancellation)Checked November 8, 2026
- 8.Ohio Department of Taxation: Commercial Activity TaxChecked November 8, 2026
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