Ohio Foreign Qualification

Why You Need To Do It – If a corporation or LLC wishes to have any kind of physical presence in Ohio, it will have to foreign qualify. This includes opening a store, a warehouse, or office and even includes just having a single employee operating within the state on behalf of your company.

When Should You Do It? – As soon as you decide that you’ll be expanding your business operations into Ohio. Delaying the process could lead to delays in being able to operate there, and it’s important that you start as soon as possible. Generally, you will need to receive Ohio foreign qualification if your company falls under any of the following criteria:

• Has a physical presence in Ohio
• Buying a property there
• Have remote employees
• Accepts orders in Ohio
• Owns a bank account in Ohio

There are several steps that a business must take in order to receive Ohio foreign qualification. These include the following.

1. Obtain Certificates – Ohio requires that you file a Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company or a Foreign Corporation Application for License. You can find these forms and download them from the Secretary of State’s website. You will also have to complete the cover sheet included in the file. Corporations also have to secure a Certificate of Good Standing from the state where they formed the company.

2. Collect And Submit Information – The forms will request a variety of information from you.

LLC

• LLC name
• An alternate name if the original is unavailable
• Name of the home state
• The original date of LLC formation
• Name and address for contact person
• Name and address of the registered agent
• An authorized signature

Corporation

• Corporation name
• An alternate name if the original is unavailable
• Name of the home state
• The original date of formation of the corporation
• Location of principal office address
• Purpose of business to be conducted in Ohio
• Name and address of the registered agent
• Names and mailing addresses of officers and directors
• The principal or executive office address

3. Appoint Registered Agent – Your registered agent is responsible for managing most of the processes involved in foreign qualification and in staying compliant as well. The majority of businesses turn to a third party provider like DoMyLLC to handle this for them.

4. File The Application – Once you complete the forms, submit them to the state along with the $99 filing fee for both an LLC and Corporation.

5. Ongoing Maintenance – Unlike many other states, Ohio has no annual report requirements for corporations or LLCs. Other aspects like taxes must be managed throughout the year to maintain full compliance, however.

We understand how important it is to take your business into the future – and how difficult it can be. That’s why our team takes the hard work of foreign qualification off your shoulders. We do everything involved in the process so you can focus on managing other aspects of your company. We provide:

•     Dedicated account managers
•     Name availability checks
•     Full registration and filing for your business
•     Ongoing, unlimited customer support

If you’re considering branching out, let us handle the Ohio foreign qualification process for you. Contact us today to learn more.

Ohio Office of Secretary of State
Phone Number:
(614) 466-3910

Address:
Ohio Secretary of State
180 Broad Street, 16th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215