- 4.7 Stars From 64 Google Reviews
- Open Saturdays 10–4
- File In Person or Fully Virtual
- Year-Round Help, Not Just Tax Season
- Nonprofit & Church Specialists
Starting a business in Cincinnati takes more than a name and a business card. Before the first sale, you need to pick a structure, get the right tax numbers, and register with Ohio and your city. Get one of those wrong and you can spend a year fixing it. We help new owners set things up in the right order, so the first tax season is a normal one.
When You Need Business Startup Help
The best time to see us is before you file anything, when you have an idea and a likely start date. You also need help if you already formed an LLC online and aren’t sure how it will be taxed, if you are about to hire your first worker, or if you plan to sell goods that carry Ohio sales tax.
Watch out for websites that charge for an EIN, the federal ID number for your business. The IRS EIN application page says you never have to pay a fee for one, and the IRS issues it for free.
Our Business Startup Process
We start with a conversation about what the business does, who owns it, and how much you expect to earn. Then we explain your choices, such as a sole proprietor, an LLC, a partnership or an S corporation, and how each one is taxed. No jargon.
From there we help with the startup paperwork. That can include the federal EIN, Ohio employer withholding, a vendor’s license if you sell taxable goods, and payroll registration with federal and state agencies. We also help you set up a separate bank account and a simple way to track income and spending from day one. For legal questions, like writing an operating agreement between partners, we will point you to a lawyer.
Where You Set Up Decides Which City You File With
Our office is in 45224, right beside North College Hill, Mount Healthy, Forest Park and Springdale. Each one is its own taxing city. Where your business does its work decides which city return it files, and that may not be the city you live in. A cleaning business run from a Mount Airy home but working jobs across Hamilton County may owe more than one city. We map that out at the start, so the first return goes to the right place.
Business Startup Cost in Cincinnati
The fee depends on the structure you choose, how many owners there are, and which registrations you need. A one-owner business with no employees needs less than a partnership hiring its first staff. We tell you the fee before we start, and the state’s own filing fees are separate.
Why Choose Us for Business Startup Help
We have prepared startup paperwork for years, including incorporation, EINs and payroll registration for new ministries and charities. Since 1993 we have prepared business returns in Cincinnati, so we set you up with the first tax return already in mind. The same office can then handle your books, payroll and yearly returns as you grow. We are open Monday through Saturday, year-round.
After setup, we stay with you through ongoing help for growing Cincinnati businesses.
Common Questions
Should my new business be an LLC or an S corporation?
They are not the same kind of choice. An LLC is a legal form set up under Ohio law. An S corporation is a tax choice that an LLC or corporation can make with the IRS. Many new one-owner businesses start as an LLC taxed like a sole proprietor and look at S corporation treatment once profit grows. We run the numbers with you before you decide.
Do I need a vendor's license in Ohio?
You do if you sell goods or services that Ohio charges sales tax on. Get it before you make your first taxable sale. We can tell you whether your business needs one and help you apply.