Small Business Development Guide
Name Registration
If you wish to do business in the State of Ohio under any name other than your legal name, then you must register this business name with the Ohio Secretary of State's office. First, you must contact the Secretary of State's office to make sure the name you wish to use is not already being used by someone else.
There are three types of business name registrations: trade name, fictitious name, and corporate name. A trade name offers protection from anyone else who also wants to register under that same business name. The cost is $50. A fictitious name registers your business name but does not offer any protection. If you are not concerned about someone else using the same name for their business, then you may want to register as a fictitious name. The cost is $50. The registration for a trade or fictitious name is effective for five years and can be renewed for $25. A corporate name is protected much like the trade name and only can be used upon incorporation. The name must include "Company," "Co.," "Corporation," "Corp.," "Incorporated," or "Inc." The corporate name is effective as long as the corporation remains in good standing. To register any of these three types of names call the Ohio Secretary of State's office at 1-877-767-3453 (website: www.state.oh.us), Ohio Secretary of State, 30 East Broad Street, 14th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43266-0418.