Ohio DBA (Doing Business As) Guide (2026)
In Ohio, a trade name (DBA) is registered with the Ohio Secretary of State, not at the county. ORC § 1329.01(B) has you register with the secretary of state "on a form prescribed by the secretary of state", and § 1329.01(C) sets the filing fee at $39.00 statewide.
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The one thing to knowDBA (trade name) registrations are filed with the Ohio Secretary of State — not the County Recorder and not the Clerk of Courts.
The process
- Use the Secretary of State's form
ORC § 1329.01(B) requires the registration to be made "on a form prescribed by the secretary of state".
- File with the Ohio Secretary of State
Ohio trade name (DBA) registrations are filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not at the county.
- Pay the fee
$39.00 statewide, payable to the secretary of state (ORC § 1329.01(C)).
DBA filing by county — all 88 Ohio counties
| County | Where to file |
|---|---|
| Adams County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Allen County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Ashland County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Ashtabula County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Athens County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Auglaize County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Belmont County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Brown County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Butler County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Carroll County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Champaign County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Clark County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Clermont County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Clinton County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Columbiana County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Coshocton County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Crawford County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Cuyahoga County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Darke County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Defiance County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Delaware County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Erie County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Fairfield County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Fayette County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Franklin County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Fulton County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Gallia County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Geauga County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Greene County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Guernsey County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Hamilton County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Hancock County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Hardin County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Harrison County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Henry County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Highland County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Hocking County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Holmes County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Huron County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Jackson County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Jefferson County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Knox County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Lake County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Lawrence County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Licking County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Logan County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Lorain County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Lucas County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Madison County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Mahoning County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Marion County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Medina County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Meigs County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Mercer County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Miami County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Monroe County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Montgomery County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Morgan County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Morrow County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Muskingum County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Noble County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Ottawa County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Paulding County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Perry County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Pickaway County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Pike County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Portage County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Preble County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Putnam County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Richland County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Ross County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Sandusky County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Scioto County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Seneca County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Shelby County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Stark County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Summit County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Trumbull County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Tuscarawas County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Union County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Van Wert County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Vinton County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Warren County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Washington County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Wayne County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Williams County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Wood County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
| Wyandot County | Filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county |
Ohio-specific details
Which office files the DBA
In Ohio, trade name (DBA) registrations are filed with the Ohio Secretary of State under ORC § 1329.01. The County Recorder does not take them, and neither does the Clerk of Courts, whose fees are set by ORC 2303.20. A business that does not register its name as a trade name reports it to the secretary of state as a fictitious name instead (§ 1329.01(D)).
What to bring
- Your proposed trade name
- The Secretary of State's trade name registration form, with the details § 1329.01(B) asks for
- The $39.00 filing fee
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a DBA in Ohio?
With the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county (ORC § 1329.01).
What is a DBA called in Ohio?
A trade name registration. A business that does not register its name as a trade name reports it as a fictitious name instead (ORC § 1329.01(D)).
How much does it cost?
$39.00 statewide, payable to the secretary of state (ORC § 1329.01(C)).
Is there a statewide form?
Yes. ORC § 1329.01(B) requires the registration to be made "on a form prescribed by the secretary of state".