The Ohio Articles of Organization are the LLC forms that must be completed and filed with the state in order to create an LLC.
It is simple to file the Ohio Articles of Organization!
We’ll walk you through the Ohio LLC Articles of Organization filing process in three simple stages.
Get Forms for Your Articles of Organization
Complete the Articles of Organization.
Keep the Articles of Organization on file.
Step 1: Obtain your Articles of Organization.
You may either download and mail your Ohio Articles of Organization or establish an account and submit them online.
Step two: Complete the Articles of Organization
We will assist you with completing the Ohio Articles of Organization form in this phase.
To complete the form, you will need the following information:
Name of the Entity
Name of Statutory Agent and Registered Office Address
Date of Inception and Duration of Existence
Business Objective
Name of the Entity
A unique and clever company name is crucial, but it is not as necessary as a legally valid name.
When selecting a name for your company, you must ensure that the name:
fulfils Ohio naming standards
is not currently in use by another Ohio firm
Stick to the Ohio Naming Guidelines:
Your business name must include the word “limited liability company” or one of the following abbreviations: LLC, L.L.C., limited, ltd., or ltd.
Your name cannot include profanity or terms or phrases that are often regarded slurs towards an ethnic group, religion, gender, or heredity.
Your company’s name cannot mistakenly or unfairly indicate that it is associated with a government entity.
Without prior consent from the superintendent of financial institutions, your name cannot contain the terms bank, banker, banking, trust, or words of comparable meaning in any other language.
Unless the LLC is registered as a cooperative, your name cannot include the words cooperative, coop, co-operative, or co-op.
Your name must be distinct from any other current company in the state. This lists reserved names in Ohio.
Examine Name Availability:
Is your name accessible in the state of Ohio? Do a name search on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website to ensure that the name you choose isn’t already used.
Obtain a Domain Name:
We suggest that you check to see whether your company’s name is accessible as a web domain. Even if you don’t intend to create a company website right away, you may wish to purchase the URL to prevent others from doing so.
Statutory Representative
In most jurisdictions, a statutory agent, also known as a registered agent, receives and transmits legal papers on behalf of your LLC. Your statutory agent must be included when you form your Ohio LLC.
Your statutory agent may be anybody over the age of 18 who resides in Ohio. During normal business hours, your statutory agent must always be accessible at the registered office.
A P.O. box cannot be used as your registered office address.
Date of Inception and Duration of Existence (optional)
You may specify when you want the Articles of Organization to take effect as well as a scheduled dissolution date if your LLC has one.
The goal (optional)
In Ohio, a limited liability corporation may be formed for any lawful or non-prohibited business. If you choose, you may include your company’s mission stateent here.
Remember that a business goal including licencing, tax-exemption, or tax-deductible status needs explicit wording from the IRS or a professional licence.
Step 3: Submit the Articles of Incorporation.
You must submit the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State to register your LLC.
You may submit your Articles of Organization in two ways:
Fill out the form online.
Send a hard copy through mail.
Following the Official Formation of Your Ohio LLC
After filing your Articles of Organization, you should do the following:
Make a Business Agreement
Obtain an EIN
Establish a Business Bank Account
Purchase Licenses and Permits
Make a Business Agreement
An Ohio LLC operating agreement is a legal document that details your LLC’s ownership structure and member functions.
Although an Operating Agreement is not necessary in Ohio to incorporate an LLC, it is a good idea to have one. You may begin working on your operating agreement before, during, or after filing your Articles of Organization.
Your operating agreement will be held in the private business records of your LLC; you will not submit it with the state.
Obtain an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your LLC’s equivalent of a social security number. If you want to recruit staff or create company bank accounts, you’ll need an EIN.
You may get your EIN for free by using the IRS website, fax, or mail. Read our What is an EIN article to discover more about EINs and how they might benefit your LLC.
Establish a Business Bank Account
It is critical to use specific business banking and credit accounts to safeguard your company’s corporate veil. When you combine your personal and company accounts, your personal assets (house, vehicle, and other possessions) are at danger if your LLC is sued.
Purchase Licenses and Permits
When forming an LLC, you should consider if your company requires any licences or permissions to operate legally. There are a few commercial operations that need licences or permissions on the federal level.
Learn how to secure the licences and permissions required for your company, or hire an expert to handle it for you:
Federal: For federal business licences and permits, see the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
State: Visit Ohio’s Business Gateway Licenses & Permits website to apply for or learn more about licences, permits, and registration.
Local: Inquire with your county clerk regarding local licences and permissions.