Elevate your business standing in Ohio with a Certificate of Good Standing. Discover the essential steps and advantages by delving into our guide below, helping ensure your company's continued success.
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Starts at $0 + state fees and only takes 5-10 minutes
An Ohio Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) is an important document if you’re looking to build business relationships. You’ll also likely need one for things like expanding your business to another state. We’ll walk you through the process plus highlight a few important considerations when requesting an Ohio CGS.
An Ohio Certificate of Good Standing is a document that confirms that a business exists and has met the legal obligations to do business in Ohio. These legal obligations can include keeping up to date with required fees and franchise taxes.
The Ohio Secretary of State (SOS) issues Certificates of Good Standing when all the requirements have been met. Compliance plays a big part in the issuing of a CGS, so you need to keep track of the state’s compliance requirements.
A CGS confirms that the business is up to date with certain regulatory requirements. It also confirms that the business has the authority to conduct business in that state. While there’s no expiration date on a CGS, it’s important to note that the status can change. The requester, therefore, has to determine the validity period.
In Ohio, a CGS includes a declaration by the Secretary of State of Ohio, their signature, and seal. It confirms the business entity’s name and type, registration date, license number, and the words “Good Standing.” The certificate also includes a validation number that can be confirmed online.
A CGS isn’t always a requirement for business. Some businesses will go years without ever having to provide one; however, that doesn’t absolve them of the responsibility of keeping up with compliance matters.
This changes when a business needs to formalize its business activities and enter into certain agreements. While not all entities may request a CGS, there are some institutions that list one as part of their standard documents. These are just a few of the instances that may require a CGS.
In Ohio, only state-registered entities can request a Certificate of Good Standing. Entities that fall within this category include for-profit corporations, Ohio limited liability companies (LLCs), and Ohio nonprofit organizations. These are businesses that have gone through the formalizing process of submitting their formation documents and obtaining a company number.
Some businesses that aren’t required to register to conduct business don’t need to obtain a CGS. Sole proprietors and general partnerships fall within this category. While this might make it difficult to conduct business with certain entities or financial institutions, some businesses can overcome this with alternate documentation. A tax clearance or letter of good standing from the IRS might be a good place to start.
One of the standout reasons an organization requests a Certificate of Good Standing is to ensure and prove that the business they legally formed is compliant with Ohio state laws. When there are compliance issues, the Secretary of State may deny the request for a CGS. This is why it’s so important to make sure your required business taxes and fees are paid.
In Ohio, a quick search of the entity will reveal whether it’s active, which is a good place to start. There are three statuses on their database: active, canceled, or dead. A CGS should only be requested on an active business.
The Ohio SOS may deny a request for a CGS for the following reasons:
The actual request for a CGS is fairly simple and now must be completed online only at the Ohio SOS site – Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing (ohiosos.gov). Before submitting the request, it’s important to ensure that all the requirements have been met to ensure a smooth process. If not, your request may be unnecessarily delayed or even denied for failure to comply with Ohio state laws.
Professional corporations and large businesses often appoint a compliance officer to ensure the business remains compliant. In smaller businesses, however, this can fall to the owner or an office administrator.
To stay in compliance, businesses need to ensure:
The request is simple enough. Visit the Ohio SOS website at https://cogs.ohiosos.gov/ and select the option that says Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing (ohiosos.gov). This page reveals a legal notification, and once accepted, the applicant can continue the request. Candidates can receive a standard CGS for $5 and a long-form CGS for $25.
By registering a profile, the requester can complete the entire transaction online, including the payment by credit or debit card. Once done, the certificate will be processed. The requester will be notified by email that the certificate is ready for printing. Also, the profile can be accessed again in the future, and the certificate will be available for download anytime.
It’s important to note that the date of the certificate is fixed, and if a new, more recent certificate is required, it will need to be requested again.
Currently, due to COVID-19 restrictions, all requests must be filed online. The information below can be used once these restrictions are lifted in the future.
The manual request form can be found on the SOS Business Portal and, once completed, can be emailed to business@OhioSoS.gov or mailed to:Secretary of State22 North Fourth St.Columbus, OH 43215The form also needs to include a completed credit card authorization form to facilitate payment. Once processed, the CGS is sent via email, which can then be forwarded to the requesting party.
Compliance may not be simple to keep up with, especially when considering all the other aspects that make a business go round. At ZenBusiness, we understand that your business needs don’t stop after the business has been registered. ZenBusiness can help keep you in good standing with our Worry-Free Compliance service, which helps businesses stay compliant with state regulations by sending reminders and filing annual reports and amendments on behalf of the customer. And, if you need a CGS, our Certificate of Good Standing service can help.
It costs $5 for a standard request and $25 for a long-form CGS.
The amount of time it takes to get a Certificate of Good Standing in Ohio can vary. The state doesn’t offer any definitive timetables.
The state doesn’t allow you to expedite CGS requests.
No. However, a business is required to be compliant to obtain a CGS.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 800,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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