Ohio Code § 1703.04

Ohio Code § 1703.04. Reproduced from the official Ohio Revised Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 1703.04.

(A) To procure a license to transact business in this state, a foreign corporation for

profit shall file with the secretary of state a certificate of good standing or subsistence,

dated not earlier than ninety days prior to the filing of the application, under the

seal of the secretary of state, or other proper official, of the state under the laws

of which said corporation was incorporated, setting forth the exact corporate title

and the fact that the corporation is in good standing or is a subsisting corporation. (B) To procure such a license, such corporation also shall file with the secretary of

state an application in such form as the secretary of state prescribes, verified by

the oath of any authorized officer of such corporation, setting forth, but not limited

to: (1) The name of the corporation and, if its corporate name is not available, the trade

name under which it will do business in this state; (2) The name of the state under the laws of which it was incorporated; (3) The location and complete address of its principal office; (4) The name of the county and the municipal corporation or township in which its principal

office within this state, if any, is to be located; (5) The appointment of a designated agent and the complete address of such agent; (6) The irrevocable consent of such corporation to service of process on such agent so

long as the authority of such agent continues and to service of process upon the secretary

of state in the events provided for in section 1703.19 of the Revised Code ; (7) A brief summary of the corporate purposes to be exercised within this state. (C)(1) No such application for a license shall be accepted for filing if it appears that

the name of the foreign corporation is prohibited by law or is not distinguishable

upon the records in the office of the secretary of state from the name of any other

corporation, whether nonprofit or for profit and whether that of a domestic corporation

or of a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state, the name

of a limited liability company registered in the office of the secretary of state

pursuant to Chapter 1705. or 1706. of the Revised Code, whether domestic or foreign,

the name of any limited liability partnership registered in the office of the secretary

of state pursuant to Chapter 1775. or 1776. of the Revised Code, whether domestic

or foreign, the name of any limited partnership registered in the office of the secretary

of state pursuant to Chapter 1782. of the Revised Code, whether domestic or foreign,

or a trade name to which the exclusive right at the time in question is registered

in the manner provided in Chapter 1329. of the Revised Code, unless there also is

filed with the secretary of state, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state,

the consent of the other entity or person to the use of the name, evidenced in a writing

signed by any authorized officer of the other entity or authorized representative

of the other person owning the exclusive right to the registered trade name. (2) Notwithstanding division (C)(1) of this section, if an application for a license

is not acceptable for filing solely because the name of the foreign corporation is

not distinguishable from the name of another entity or registered trade name, the

foreign corporation may be authorized to transact business in this state by filing

with the secretary of state, in addition to those items otherwise prescribed by this

section, a statement signed by an authorized officer directing the foreign corporation

to make application for a license to transact business in this state under an assumed

business name or names that comply with the requirements of this division and stating

that the foreign corporation will transact business in this state only under the assumed

name or names.  The application for a license shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of

state.

Source: official Ohio text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

  • Citation: Ohio Revised Code § 1703.04
  • Jurisdiction: Ohio
  • Code: Ohio Revised Code
  • Text: transcribed from the official source (verify below)

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Statute text is transcribed from the official Ohio Revised Code. Confirm it against the primary source before relying on it:

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed Ohio attorney.

Common questions

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