Why do you need to do a business entity search?

Ohio doesn’t allow two or more business entities to operate using the same registered name like all other states. Therefore you need to do a comprehensive business entity search in all states you want to form an LLC.

To ensure the Ohio secretary of state approves your LLC Articles of Organization, you must confirm no other business is already using your desired name.  

Ohio state naming guidelines

Most US states have naming guidelines you must follow when registering a business name.

In Ohio, those naming guidelines include:

• Unique: Ohio law requires your business name to be distinguishable from any registered with the state.
• Unacceptable Words: Your LLC name cannot contain profanities or words that slur religion, ethnic groups, heredity, or gender.
• Required terminologies: Your Ohio LC name must have an approved designator, such as a limited liability company, liability company, LLC, or L.L.C.
• Government Affiliation: You cannot include words that improperly imply your business is affiliated with a government department, like I.R.S. or F.B.I.
• Entity-Specific Rules: Certain business entities must follow state agency regulations when choosing a business name.
• Banks and Trusts: Your name can only include words that insinuate your business is a financial or insurance institution with prior permission.

Pro tip:

For further information on Ohio state naming regulations, visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s “Guide to naming availability” web page.

Next, we’ll break down how you use the Ohio business entity search database.

Conducting a business name search in Ohio:
step-by-step guide with tips

The Ohio business entity search database is very user-friendly. 

However, for the best results, follow these guidelines:

• Do not include punctuation marks.
• Use the wildcards for broader search results.
• Search isn’t case-sensitive, so it ignores capitalization.
• Start searching using a single-word search then add more words with each following search.Don’t use LLC designators in your search term.
• Don’t use LLC designators in your search term.

To narrow your search, use the following words:

• And: Use this so the results show all the keywords you have entered.
• Or: Use this so the search results contain at least one entered keyword.
• Not: Use this so the search results include the first keyword you enter, not the second.

Visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s website

Visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s Business Search page, which maintains a public record of all registered businesses.

The Ohio Business entity search has the following category options: 

• Business Name
• Exact Business Name
• Prior Business Name
• Agent/Registered Agent
• Incorporator
• Number Search

Select your business name search options

The Ohio Business search results status page has three search status types:

• All: Provides results on all LLCs, active, canceled, and dead.
• Active: An active result shows the entity is in good standing with the Ohio Secretary of State and the name is in use.
• Canceled/Dead: These show that the business is no longer trading, and the name is probably available.

The easiest way to search for Ohio businesses is by using your desired LLC name. Select the Search by Business Name option, enter your future LLC name into the search box, select All, and press Search.

Reviewing results

The results page will display any names that match or are similar to your search query.

If no matching names show, the following message will appear: “No data is available in the table,” and your name is available.

Matching names will appear in the “Search Results” table, where you can click on them for further information.

Review detailed business information

The Business Details and Filing page displays your selected search result information, including the entity type and number, status, county, location, filing, and expiration date.

Fictitious name (DBA)

A DBA in Ohio allows you to trade using a catchy brand name if the business name you want is unavailable.

All entities can use a fictitious (Doing Business As) instead of their registered business name by filing an Ohio Trade Name Registration Form.

But before you apply for a DBA, you must ensure it’s available by searching the Ohio Secretary of State’s business name on the search website.

You can also apply for a DBA in Ohio by completing the registration form (pdf) and mailing it to:

Mailing address:

Secretary of State

P.O. Box 670

Columbus, OH 43216

The Ohio State DBA filing fee is $39.

What can you do once you have an available business name?

After you confirm your new LLC name availability, there are 3 more ways to secure it to ensure no one else uses it. 

Consider name reservation

If you need more time to form your Ohio LLC, you can reserve it for one year by registering a name reservation request with the Ohio Secretary of State.

The fee to reserve a business name in Ohio is $28. 

Consider trademarking your name

You can also apply to register a trademark of your new LLC name to stop other businesses from using it by visiting the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and using their Trademark Electronic Search System.

You should also search the USPTO trademark website to ensure another company has not marked your desired name. If it is registered and you use it, you could be liable for trademark infringement. 

Consider domain registration

Your last step (but not least) is to perform a domain name search to confirm if your new LLC name is available as a domain. 

You can use websites like GoDaddy to confirm your name’s availability. If it isn’t available as you spell it, there are options and strategies you can use to choose a domain name that suits your business, niche, and target audience. 

Conclusion

Those are the steps for doing a business entity search in Ohio.

Remember to follow Ohio’s naming guidelines, consider registering a trademark, and get your domain.

If you need any further help with forming an LLC in Ohio, check out our article on creating an LLC in Ohio. 

FAQ