A trade name is an Ohio DBA (doing business as). A trade name registration in Ohio permits a company to operate under a name other than its legal name.
Your personal assets will not be protected if you register an Ohio DBA. Forming a formal company structure, such as an LLC or corporation, can provide you with liability protection as well as a business name.
In Ohio, you may register a trade name.
It is simple to register an Ohio trade name, often known as a DBA.
A DBA is solely used for branding purposes. A DBA does not safeguard your personal assets in the event that your company is sued. As a result, we highly advise that a DBA be utilised exclusively by a formal company structure such as an LLC or corporation to add new brands to an existing firm.
If you operate an informal company (sole proprietorship or partnership), we highly advise you to create an LLC to keep your business and personal assets distinct. The name of the LLC might be chosen to serve as the business’s brand name.
Learn How to File a DBA in Ohio in Two Easy Steps:
Begin by doing an Ohio Trade Name Search.
Create an Ohio DBA.
A DBA is solely used for branding purposes. To keep your company and personal assets distinct, we propose incorporating an LLC.
In Ohio, there is a distinction between a “trade name” and a “fictitious” business name (although both use the same registration form).
Contrary to fictional names, trade names must be recognisable from other business names. As a result, trade names provide greater protection than fictional names. This article will concentrate on Trade Name Registration in Ohio.
Step 1: Conduct an Ohio Trade Name Search.
Ohio trade names must be distinct and comply with Ohio’s company name criteria.
To begin, go to the Ohio Secretary of State’s Business Name Search website and check to see whether your new DBA name is already in use.
Review the Ohio naming criteria next. Trade names in Ohio should NOT include:
Unless the company is genuinely an LLC, corporation, etc., any business entity suffix, such as LLC, Incorporated, Corp, etc.
Profanity or words or phrases that are often seen as a slur against an ethnic group, religion, gender, or ancestry.
Without prior clearance from the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, any of the following terms may be used: bank, banker, banking, trust, or words of comparable meaning in any other language.
Words implying that the company is associated with a government agency in Ohio, another state, or the United States.
Step 2: Create an Ohio DBA.
Your Ohio trade name may be registered with the Secretary of State either online or by mail. You may either file online via the Secretary of State’s website or fill out the Name Registration form.
The application will request your new DBA name as well as legal details about your company, such as:
Whether you are submitting an application for a trade name or a fake business name,
The applicant’s company structure (partnership, LLC, etc.)
The nature of the business in general
Names and addresses of business owners
A DBA does not provide legal protection for your personal assets if your company is sued. For more information on forming a limited liability corporation, go here.
Control Your Ohio Trade Name
General Concerns
Call the Ohio Secretary of State’s office at (614) 466-3910.
Renewal of Your Business Name with the State
Every five years, your Ohio trade name must be renewed. The charge for renewal is $25. You may finish the procedure online or by mailing the completed Renewal of Trade Name or Fictitious Name Registration form to the following address:
State Department
P.O. Box 670
43216 Columbus, OH
Change Your Company Name
Fill out the Change of Registrant Name form to make changes to your trade name. Submit the form online or send it to the following address:
State Department
P.O. Box 670
43216 Columbus, OH
Remove Your Trade Name
Complete the Name Reservation/Transfer/Cancellation form to cancel your trade name. The cost is $25. Fill out the form online or send it to the following address:
State Department
P.O. Box 670
43216 Columbus, OH