Incorporation in Ohio

Find the right Business Incorporation attorney in Cincinnati, OH

For businesses seeking identification as separate legal entities, Ohio law allows them to undergo the process of incorporation. An incorporated business acts in its own name, whether buying and selling property, agreeing to contracts or exercising legal rights. In Ohio, the process of incorporation is begun by filing with the Secretary of State in accordance with specific guidelines.

Benefits of Incorporation in Ohio

There are distinct advantages to incorporating a business. Most importantly, liabilities the business accrues may be satisfied only by assets that the owners have specifically invested in it. With unincorporated businesses, personal property of owners can be liquidated in order to fulfill the liabilities of the business. Also, creditors in the Cincinnati area generally prefer to deal with corporations, since a loan is an investment more easily evaluated when the credit-worthiness of various owners is not an issue. Finally, the ownership stake in a corporation can be apportioned into uniform slices, known as "shares" of stock. This makes it possible to sell ownership investments in more manageable slices.

Costs of Incorporation

These benefits come at a price. First, incorporation in Ohio may require a filing fee. Second, a corporation pays taxes just like any other entity. The incomes of owners as individuals are also taxed of course, meaning that income to the corporation might be subject to double taxation. However, this disadvantage can be avoided with proper planning and help from a local Cincinnati lawyer.

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Life in Cincinnati

Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County, Ohio. It has a population of over 333,000 which makes it the third-largest city in Ohio (behind Columbus and Cleveland).

In the early 19th Century, when the U.S. was rapidly expanding westward, Cincinnati became the first "boomtown" (a community that experiences sudden and massive population and economic growth) in what was then the western frontier to rival the more-established cities of the East Coast in size and wealth.

Before railroads were common, steamboats which traveled along the country's larger rivers were the predominant method of mass transport. Cincinnati, being near the Ohio River, was a major transportation hub. However, when railroads became more predominant, Cincinnati's importance in the transport industry waned, and it was quickly surpassed in population by nearby cities, such as Chicago.

Modernly, Cincinnati, Ohio is no economic slouch, and hosts headquarters or major satellite offices of many large, multinational corporations, such as Macy's, Proctor and Gamble, and The Kroger Company (a large supermarket chain, and parent company of a few smaller, regional chains).

Being a relatively large city, there are plenty of lawyers in Cincinnati, Ohio who can handle just about any legal problem that can possibly come up. While no single lawyer can handle every type of case, there are enough specialized Cincinnati, Ohio lawyers that there's at least one who can handle yours.

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