What it takes to legally operate in Ohio. Add your city for local permits.
1 item below — add your city to check local permits, and we're still verifying. We show what we've confirmed and flag what we haven't rather than guess.
Formation & federal100% verified
Form an LLC (or operate as a sole proprietor)Depends on your situation
Ohio LLC Articles of Organization filing fee is about $99; formation takes 3–7 business days online.
Sales / use tax registrationDepends on your situation
Ohio has a sales tax
From our reference data — confirm on the official siteOfficial source ↗
State income taxRequired
Ohio has a personal income tax
From our reference data — confirm on the official siteOfficial source ↗
Licenses100% verified
General Contracting occupational licenseRequired
A general contractor license is required in most states above a project threshold, typically involving an exam, proof of experience, a bond, and financial statements.
Verified against the official source · Sep 2026
Local permits0% verified
Local permitsNot yet verified
Local permits (zoning, home occupation, signage, health) are set by your city/county — tell us your city for specifics.
Not yet verified — check the official source
Insurance0% verified
General liability insuranceRecommended
General liability insurance and a surety bond are expected for general contracting work.
Not yet verified — check the official source
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