How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Ohio?
Last updated: May 2026
Ohio Business Overview
LLC Filing Fee
$99
Sales Tax Rate
5.8%
Minimum Wage
$10.7/hr
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Workers Comp
Required
Annual Report Fee
$0
Starting a Business in Ohio
Ohio businesses register with the Secretary of State. The state requires a vendor's license for businesses selling taxable goods or services.
Ohio has a graduated income tax with rates from 0% to 3.99%. Ohio does not have a corporate income tax, but businesses pay a Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) based on gross receipts.
Ohio's manufacturing heritage is evolving toward technology and services. Multiple large cities provide diverse market opportunities with relatively affordable commercial real estate.
For official formation documents, visit the Ohio Secretary of State.
Startup Costs for 100 Business Types in Ohio
The table below shows estimated startup costs for every major business type, adjusted for Ohio’s cost of living index of 94.6. Click any column header to sort. Click a business name to see full cost breakdowns, calculator, and licensing requirements.
| Accounting Firm | Professional Services | $6,160 | $17,600 | $40,480 |
| Airbnb & Vacation Rental Business | Real Estate | $9,680 | $26,400 | $79,200 |
| Ambulance Service | Transportation & Logistics | $70,400 | $176,000 | $440,000 |
| App Development Company | Tech & Online | $8,800 | $26,400 | $70,400 |
| Architecture Firm | Professional Services | $17,600 | $48,400 | $114,400 |
| Auto Detailing Business | Automotive | $4,400 | $26,400 | $88,000 |
| Auto Repair Shop | Automotive | $66,000 | $176,000 | $440,000 |
| Bakery | Food & Beverage | $17,600 | $83,600 | $264,000 |
| Bar & Nightclub | Food & Beverage | $88,000 | $308,000 | $748,000 |
| Barbershop | Beauty & Personal Care | $13,200 | $57,200 | $154,000 |
| Beauty Supply Store | Beauty & Personal Care | $26,400 | $88,000 | $264,000 |
| Bookstore | Retail | $22,000 | $88,000 | $264,000 |
| Brewery / Microbrewery | Food & Beverage | $220,000 | $352,000 | $1,320,000 |
| Cannabis Dispensary | Specialty & Regulated | $109,560 | $292,160 | $1,095,600 |
| Car Wash | Automotive | $109,560 | $478,720 | $1,367,520 |
| Carpentry & Woodworking Shop | Construction & Trades | $9,240 | $24,640 | $61,600 |
| Catering Business | Food & Beverage | $10,560 | $46,640 | $114,400 |
| Chiropractic Office | Health & Wellness | $88,000 | $105,600 | $264,000 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $1,320 | $9,680 | $32,560 |
| Clothing Boutique | Retail | $26,400 | $88,000 | $264,000 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Beverage | $52,800 | $105,600 | $308,000 |
| Concrete Business | Construction & Trades | $22,000 | $57,200 | $132,000 |
| Consulting Business | Professional Services | $1,760 | $7,920 | $22,880 |
| Convenience Store | Retail | $44,000 | $246,400 | $660,000 |
| Courier & Delivery Service | Transportation & Logistics | $7,040 | $19,360 | $48,400 |
| Cybersecurity Firm | Tech & Online | $17,600 | $48,400 | $132,000 |
| Dance Studio | Childcare & Education | $17,600 | $70,400 | $220,000 |
| Daycare Center | Childcare & Education | $52,800 | $158,400 | $440,000 |
| Demolition Company | Construction & Trades | $26,400 | $70,400 | $176,000 |
| Dental Practice | Health & Wellness | $308,000 | $440,000 | $880,000 |
| Digital Marketing Agency | Tech & Online | $3,520 | $10,560 | $28,160 |
| E-Commerce Store | Tech & Online | $4,400 | $13,200 | $44,000 |
| Electrical Business | Home Services | $13,200 | $48,400 | $140,800 |
| Esthetics & Skincare Business | Beauty & Personal Care | $7,040 | $35,200 | $105,600 |
| Excavation Company | Construction & Trades | $44,000 | $114,400 | $308,000 |
| Financial Planning Practice | Professional Services | $17,600 | $48,400 | $114,400 |
| Flower Shop | Retail | $17,600 | $66,000 | $176,000 |
| Food Delivery Service | Food & Beverage | $8,800 | $45,760 | $114,400 |
| Food Processing Business | Food & Beverage | $176,000 | $220,000 | $660,000 |
| Food Truck | Food & Beverage | $39,600 | $105,600 | $176,000 |
| Freight Brokerage | Transportation & Logistics | $14,080 | $31,680 | $70,400 |
| Furniture Store | Retail | $44,000 | $176,000 | $528,000 |
| General Contracting Business | Construction & Trades | $17,600 | $48,400 | $114,400 |
| Ghost Kitchen | Food & Beverage | $17,600 | $52,800 | $132,000 |
| Gift Shop | Retail | $17,600 | $61,600 | $176,000 |
| Gym & Fitness Center | Health & Wellness | $44,000 | $220,000 | $880,000 |
| Hair Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $13,200 | $66,000 | $220,000 |
| Handyman Business | Home Services | $1,760 | $8,800 | $29,040 |
| Home Health Care Agency | Health & Wellness | $35,200 | $114,400 | $264,000 |
| HVAC Business | Home Services | $17,600 | $61,600 | $176,000 |
| Ice Cream Shop | Food & Beverage | $17,600 | $66,000 | $176,000 |
| Insurance Agency | Professional Services | $13,200 | $35,200 | $79,200 |
| IT Services Business | Tech & Online | $13,200 | $35,200 | $88,000 |
| Juice Bar & Smoothie Shop | Food & Beverage | $22,000 | $79,200 | $220,000 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $8,800 | $35,200 | $105,600 |
| Laundromat | Real Estate | $88,000 | $220,000 | $528,000 |
| Law Firm | Professional Services | $10,560 | $29,920 | $71,280 |
| Limousine & Car Service | Transportation & Logistics | $35,200 | $79,200 | $193,600 |
| Liquor Store | Retail | $44,000 | $158,400 | $440,000 |
| Marketing Agency | Professional Services | $4,400 | $15,840 | $44,000 |
| Martial Arts Studio | Childcare & Education | $17,600 | $61,600 | $176,000 |
| Meal Prep Business | Food & Beverage | $17,600 | $57,200 | $176,000 |
| Med Spa | Health & Wellness | $88,000 | $308,000 | $880,000 |
| Medical Practice | Health & Wellness | $132,000 | $352,000 | $880,000 |
| Mental Health Practice | Health & Wellness | $13,200 | $44,000 | $132,000 |
| Moving Company | Home Services | $26,400 | $88,000 | $264,000 |
| Music School | Childcare & Education | $8,800 | $44,000 | $132,000 |
| Nail Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $17,600 | $79,200 | $220,000 |
| Painting Business | Home Services | $4,400 | $22,000 | $70,400 |
| Personal Training Business | Health & Wellness | $4,400 | $22,000 | $88,000 |
| Pest Control Business | Home Services | $8,800 | $35,200 | $105,600 |
| Pet Store | Retail | $26,400 | $88,000 | $264,000 |
| Pharmacy | Health & Wellness | $220,000 | $352,000 | $880,000 |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | Health & Wellness | $52,800 | $158,400 | $396,000 |
| Pizza Shop | Food & Beverage | $66,000 | $154,000 | $352,000 |
| Plumbing Business | Home Services | $13,200 | $44,000 | $132,000 |
| Podcast Production Company | Tech & Online | $1,760 | $5,280 | $15,840 |
| Preschool | Childcare & Education | $44,000 | $132,000 | $352,000 |
| Property Management Company | Real Estate | $9,240 | $21,120 | $48,400 |
| Real Estate Agency | Professional Services | $8,800 | $24,640 | $61,600 |
| Real Estate Investing & Rental Business | Real Estate | $22,000 | $66,000 | $220,000 |
| Restaurant | Food & Beverage | $154,000 | $330,000 | $660,000 |
| Roofing Company | Home Services | $13,200 | $52,800 | $158,400 |
| SaaS Company | Tech & Online | $17,600 | $52,800 | $176,000 |
| Spa & Massage Therapy | Health & Wellness | $8,800 | $61,600 | $220,000 |
| Staffing Agency | Professional Services | $17,600 | $48,400 | $132,000 |
| Storage Unit Facility | Real Estate | $176,000 | $528,000 | $1,760,000 |
| Tattoo Shop | Beauty & Personal Care | $17,600 | $51,920 | $176,000 |
| Tax Preparation Business | Professional Services | $3,080 | $8,800 | $23,760 |
| Thrift Store | Retail | $17,600 | $66,000 | $176,000 |
| Tire Shop | Automotive | $44,000 | $132,000 | $352,000 |
| Towing Company | Automotive | $44,000 | $132,000 | $352,000 |
| Trucking Company | Transportation & Logistics | $26,400 | $70,400 | $176,000 |
| Tutoring Business | Childcare & Education | $1,760 | $21,120 | $88,000 |
| Used Car Dealership | Automotive | $44,000 | $176,000 | $528,000 |
| Vape Shop | Retail | $22,000 | $66,000 | $176,000 |
| Web Development Agency | Tech & Online | $3,080 | $10,560 | $29,040 |
| Welding Business | Construction & Trades | $13,200 | $35,200 | $88,000 |
| Winery | Food & Beverage | $440,000 | $670,560 | $2,640,000 |
| Yoga Studio | Health & Wellness | $13,200 | $70,400 | $176,000 |
Most Popular Business Types in Ohio
Licenses & Permits in Ohio
General Business License
Ohio requires most businesses to register for a Vendor's License with the Ohio Department of Taxation if they sell taxable goods or services. Entity registration is handled through the Ohio Secretary of State. Many Ohio municipalities levy their own income taxes (RITA — Regional Income Tax Agency, or CCA — Central Collection Agency) in addition to state taxes, and cities like Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati have their own business licensing requirements. The Ohio Business Gateway portal helps streamline multi-agency registration.
Industry-Specific Licenses
- Food Service Operation License — Ohio Department of Agriculture or Local Health DepartmentCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- General Contractor Registration — Ohio Construction Industry Licensing BoardCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Cosmetology License and Salon Registration — State Cosmetology and Barber Board of OhioCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Real Estate Broker License — Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional LicensingCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Every 3 years
- Child Care Center License — Ohio Department of Job and Family ServicesCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- D1-D4 Liquor Permit — Ohio Division of Liquor ControlCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Medical Practice License — State Medical Board of OhioCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
- Motor Carrier Authority — Ohio Department of TransportationCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
Home-Based Business Rules
Ohio cities and townships regulate home-based businesses through local zoning ordinances. Columbus allows home occupations with restrictions on customer traffic, exterior commercial activity, and the proportion of home space used. Ohio's numerous suburbs have varying home occupation rules — some are very restrictive while others are permissive. Ohio's cottage food law explicitly authorizes home-based food production and direct consumer sales subject to a state-defined annual cap.
Ohio Business Resources
SBA District Office
Ohio SBA District Offices — Columbus, Cleveland
Secretary of State
https://www.ohiosos.gov/businessesZoning Information
Ohio municipalities manage zoning. Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati have detailed commercial zoning codes.
Health Department Notes
Food service businesses obtain licenses from the Ohio Department of Agriculture or the local health department depending on the type of facility.
Workers Compensation
Required for all employers. Ohio operates a state-run workers compensation system (Bureau of Workers' Compensation).