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Keeping Your Business Up-To-Date

To ensure your business and trade names remain active, make sure your registered agent contact information is up to date, statements and renewals are filed on time, and, if your business is a charitable organization, that you file the required annual reports with the Ohio Attorney General. These requirements are described in more detail below.

Reminder Notices

Reminder notices for Secretary of State required filings are sent to the business registered agent by email and regular mail to the address on record with the Secretary of State’s office.

To receive these notices, the following contact information must be current for the registered agent:

  • Name

  • Mailing address

  • Email address

Please note, failure to file required renewals will result in cancellation.

Secretary of State Required Filings

  • Professional Association Biennial Statement - Pursuant to R.C. 1785.06, professional associations must submit a biennial statement to the Ohio Secretary of State by July 30 of each even-numbered year. The Secretary of State will begin accepting biennial statements on July 1 of even-numbered years.

  • Limited Liability Partnership Biennial Report - Pursuant to R.C. 1776.83, a partnership must submit a biennial report between April 1 – July 1 in odd-numbered years following the filing of the partnership's statement of qualifications or when a foreign partnership is authorized to conduct business in Ohio.

  • Nonprofit Statement of Continued Existence - Pursuant to R.C. 1702.59, nonprofit corporations must file a statement of continued existence within five years after the date of incorporation or of the last corporate filing.

  • The Ohio Secretary of State prefers to accept statements from nonprofit corporations six months prior to the five-year expiration.

  • Trade Name and Fictitious Name Renewals - Pursuant to R.C. 1329.04, trade name and fictitious name filings are effective for five years from the date of registration or report. The Ohio Secretary of State will notify registrants with registered trade or fictitious names six months prior to the five-year expiration.

  • Trademark and Service Mark Renewals - Pursuant to R.C. 1329.58, trademark and service mark registrations are effective for ten years from the date of registration. Registrants may renew a trademark or service mark within six months prior to its ten-year expiration.

Registered Agent Update

In addition to the required filings above, the following domestic (Ohio) and foreign business entities must maintain a current registered agent and address:

  • Corporations

  • Professional Associations

  • Nonprofit Corporations

  • Limited Liability Companies

  • Limited Partnerships

  • Partnerships

  • Business Trusts

  • Real Estate Investment

Updates to registered agents are due within 30 days of any change. Failure to update may result in the cancellation of the business.

Required Filings for Charities

Charities operating in Ohio are required to file a one-time registration and annual reports with the Ohio Attorney General’s office.

Reinstatement Limitations

Reinstatements must be filed within 2 years of cancellation. Failure to file a reinstatement within the 2-year timeframe will result in the business entity being canceled permanently.

The 2-year reinstatement limitation applies to the following domestic and foreign business entities:

  • Corporations

  • Professional Associations

  • Nonprofit Corporations

  • Limited Liability Companies

  • Cooperative Associations