HOW TO START A BUSINESS

What forms do you need?  

What forms do I have to file for my business?  
The most useful tool in determining what forms you will need to start your business is The Ohio Department of Development’s 1st Stop Business Connection. The web page has an interactive tool that will provide you with the necessary forms for registering your business with the state and federal government. Most businesses require an Employee Identification Number, a Trade Name, a Vendor’s License, and possibly some sort of business organization document (articles of incorporation, etc.). Depending on the type of business, more forms may be necessary than the average business (firearms, food service, health care, etc.). Below we discuss in greater detail some of the forms you may run across when starting your own business.  

Business Ownership Documents  
Businesses can take on different forms depending how they are organized. The most common forms of ownership are Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation (C and Subchapter-S), and Limited Liability Company (LLC). Ownership documents are filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. More information can be found on the Ohio Secretary of State website.  

The Ohio Secretary of State
Borden Building
180 East Broad Street
Columbus , OH 43215 (614)-466-3910
busserv@sos.state.oh.us  

Employee Identification Number  
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a federal tax identification number, and is used to identify a business entity. Generally, businesses need an EIN. You can apply for an EIN number through the IRS web site or call (800) 829-4933.  

Vendor’s License or Service Vendor’s License  
Any entity opening a retail business must apply for a vendor's license for the sole purpose of charging sales tax. A corporation or an LLC must have an Ohio Charter Number, Employee Identification Number, names, addresses, and Social Security Numbers of its officers. An officer must sign the application. Some wholesalers will require a copy of your Vendor’s License amongst other documents before providing wholesale discounts.   You may have already received an application form from the ODOD, but in case you didn’t, you can access the Vendor’s License Application through the Summit County Auditor.  

Ohio Building - The Summit County Auditors Office
175 S. Main Street
Akron , Ohio 44311
(330) 643-2883.

Business Name Registration  
While not a required document, it is a good idea for a business to protect its name by registering it with the state. There are three major types of business names, trade, fictitious, and corporate.  

Trade Name - A Trade Name is a "name used in business or trade to designate the business of the user and to which the user asserts a right to exclusive use." It is filed with the Secretary of State, and a small fee is attached. It is possible to check the Secretary of State's web site in advance to see if a particular name has been registered already.  

Fictitious Name – A Fictitious Name or Doing Business As (DBA) is a name that allows the state to identify the business. It does not provide ANY PROTECTION. There is no good reason to have a Fictitious Name over a Trade or Corporate Name. It may be free, however that is not a good enough reason to leave your business’s name unprotected.  

Corporate Name – A corporation may file for a Corporate Name that is protected from use by others in the same manner as a Trade Name, once approval is granted. The name of all corporations in Ohio must end with or include "Company," " Co. ," 'Corporation," "Corp.," Incorporated," or "Inc."   Answers to questions regarding business name registrations can be found at the Secretary of State’s web site. 

The Ohio Secretary of State
Borden Building
180 East Broad Street
Columbus , OH 43215
(614)-466-3910
busserv@sos.state.oh.us    

City Tax ID Number  
This is to establish a Tax ID # for your business for withholding purposes. This application will not be a part of the ODOD’s business startup kit. There is a $5 fee for a copy of the ordinance and the forms that you need to fill out. At the end of the year, the City of Akron will send you an income tax form for your business. The short form is for individuals (e.g. sole proprietors and partners) and the long form is for those who have income other than found on a W-2 form. An application can be found at City of Akron's web site.  

Income Tax Division City of Akron
1 Cascade Plaza - 11th Floor
Akron , OH   44308-1100
(330) 375-2290
(330) 375-2112 (FAX)  

Other Helpful Resources  

Internal Revenue Service Online Classroom  
The Small Business/Self-Employed online classroom has a series of self-directed workshops on a variety of topics for small business owners.  

New Business Legal Clinic (NBLC)  
The NBLC is the newest of the clinics within the Clinical Program. The NBLC provides low-cost legal and business assistance to small and emerging businesses in the local community. Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, second and third year law students provide non-litigation, transactional legal and business advice including business planning, employment, contract/lease, tax and entity formation information. The NBLC provides advice and counsel to new or emerging businesses that have been in operation less than five (5) years and with gross annual revenues less than $100,000, with a special emphasis on women and minorities.  

Counselors to America's Small Business 
SCORE offers several services to help start a small business or to make a small business more profitable including individual counseling, mentoring, workshops, and seminars. The counselors are all experienced and successful executives, managers, and business owners who at this time in their life want to give back to the community the benefit of their years of experience.   

Small Business Development Center at the Summit Medina Business Alliance
The SBDC seeks to provide high quality, customer-driven business consulting, education, and information to clients in order to help them achieve their growth plans. The counselors come from a diverse background ranging from engineering to law and specialize in helping entrepreneurs through the business planning process. They excel in providing counseling in strategic planning to facilitate future growth.

Ohio Small Business Development Center at the
Summit Medina Business Alliance
526 S. Main St., Ste. 813
Akron, OH 44311