LLC in Ohio

[alpha3m]

Hello everyone! This is my first post here and by the looks of the information present, I will be spending alot more time here. I'm glad I found it.

Today, I filed a Articles of Organization for a Limited Liability Company (form 533) with the SOS in the state of Ohio along with a $125 filing fee. Soon after, I applied for and received a Federal EIN.

After I did this, I called my bank and asked them what exactly I needed to open a Business Checking Account. They told me that I had to provide them with "Articles of Incorporation" that were submitted by a lawyer. This caught me off guard. I thought I had done all the needed paperwork and avoided a lawyer period. I then spent the next 2 hours researching on the Internet and discovered that the "Articles of Incorporation" is for a corporation (which I do not have) and that "Articles of Organization" is what I filled out already for my LLC and mailed to the state. The lady I talked to at the SOS said that they would be sending me a certificate. Is this my Articles of Organization or just to hang on the wall and look pretty?

I am wondering if anyone knows if there is anything else I need to do. I have a call pending with my local county auditor to determine if anything is needed at the local level. It seems that my bank is a little clueless on this subject matter. You would think that they would know the difference between a corp. and an LLC.

Do I actually need a lawyer to file any paperwork? Based on what I read, I do not believe that I do. Any information on forming a LLC in Ohio would be helpfull.

Thanks in Advance.

[shugotenshi]

You bank is confused. Since you are an LLC and not a corporation, you have articles of organization, not articles of incorporation. Your articles of organization and your EIN should be enough to open a business bank account. If your bank requires more, I recommend checking into a different bank. My business bank and my personal bank are different banks because my personal bank has better rates for personal accounts. Tell your bank (or anyone you do business with) "Give me fair, quality service or loose my business!"

[jpmcauley]

Good evening,
I am glad to hear someone has questions like myself. I have been on this puter for weeks (though it seems like years) searching for information regarding an LLC or Corp.. trying to decide which would be best. I have gotten so much contradicting info.. telling me i need a lawyer, telling me i dont. No one seems to be clear on what i need to get started in Ohio.. Please let me know how you got on your feet. Thanks a million
ROnda

[LeonoraJ]

Hello from Ohio.
OhioDave is right, your bank is confused. I opened a business checking account without showing the bank any articles of organization. They had several applications for business accounts, one was for LLC. I completed and mailed that in then a business banking counselor called me to set up an appointment. I went in and signed a couple of things and voila, I had my account set up. They even gave me my first 250 checks, deposit slips and rubber stamp free.

[! Hulio !]

Some banks are stricter than others, esp. since the feds have imposed stricter regulations on them post-9/11. Often they will require documentation proving that the business is authorized to do business in the state in which the account is being set up.

In this case, they would be looking for the FILED Certificate or Articles of Organization of an LLC--that's the one the state will send you once they have approved your filing (and Ohio's current turnaround time for processing/approving LLC filings is approx. 2 weeks). Some banks may even require a certificate of good standing in addition to the articles of organization.