No fluff, no $2,000 formation package. Here is the order most Ohio founders actually do it in, and where the free help is.
Here is the sequence that works for most Ohio founders. You do not need a lawyer for every step, but you do want to get the order right so you are not paying twice.
Before you file anything, spend a week talking to ten real customers. A Parma plumber who knows his first 30 customers by name has a better business plan than a 40-page deck. A one-page plan is enough: who pays you, for what, and what it costs you to deliver. If you want a second set of eyes, a free SBDC advisor will do this with you.
Most solo and small-team founders choose between a sole proprietorship (nothing to file, no liability protection) and an LLC (separates your personal assets from the business). If you plan to raise venture capital, investors usually expect a Delaware C-corp, so talk to a startup attorney before you take outside money. Ohio does not require an annual report for LLCs, but check your own situation.
For an LLC you file Articles of Organization (Form 610) online and appoint a statutory agent with an Ohio address. The filing fee is commonly cited as $99, one time. Search the name first to make sure it is available. If you operate under a name different from your legal name, register a trade name too.
Confirm before you rely on it: The $99 LLC fee and the trade-name fee. Fees, rules and deadlines change. Check the official site before you file or pay.
An Employer Identification Number is free from the IRS and takes minutes online. Never pay a third party for one. You need it to open a business bank account and hire.
Keep business and personal money apart from day one. It protects your LLC and makes tax season survivable. Many Ohio credit unions and community banks offer low-fee small business accounts.
Selling goods at retail usually means a vendor's license and collecting sales tax. Hiring means withholding and unemployment registration. Ohio's Commercial Activity Tax has a gross-receipts exclusion, so many small businesses owe nothing, but you should check the current threshold with the Ohio Department of Taxation. Then check your city and county: zoning, health permits and local business registration vary a lot between Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and small towns.
Confirm before you rely on it: Vendor's license cost, CAT thresholds and any local permits for your industry. Fees, rules and deadlines change. Check the official site before you file or pay.
General liability insurance, and workers' compensation if you have employees (Ohio is one of the states with a state-run system). Ask your advisor what your industry actually needs.
The Ohio founders who move fastest are the ones who know who to call. Browse Ohio mentors and advisors, state and public programs and funding sources, then register with OSN to get introduced.