Photography Business Permit Requirements in Columbus, OH

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online)

   Free

   Immediate (online)

1. Ohio Secretary of State Business Registration

   Required if operating as an LLC, corporation, or partnership in Ohio. Ohio does not require a state photography license, but proper business entity registration provides liability protection and is required for business banking.

   Official government source

   $99 (flat fee for LLC Articles of Organization or Corporation Articles of Incorporation, ORC 111.16)·Varies — check the Ohio Secretary of State's currently posted processing times before filing

   $99 (flat fee for LLC Articles of Organization or Corporation Articles of Incorporation, ORC 111.16)

   Varies — check the Ohio Secretary of State's currently posted processing times before filing

2. Ohio Vendor's License (if selling prints or products)

   Required if you sell physical prints, albums, or other taxable products to clients. Issued by the Ohio Department of Taxation. Selling tangible personal property (prints, photo books, etc.) triggers the sales tax collection obligation.

   Official government source

   $50 per fixed place of business (ORC 5739.17)·Immediate to 1 week (online registration)

   $50 per fixed place of business (ORC 5739.17)

   Immediate to 1 week (online registration)

1. No general Columbus business license exists

   Columbus does not have a general city business license issued by the Division of Income Tax — no such blanket license exists for photography businesses. No separate business license is required to book clients; only city income-tax registration applies if you have Columbus-source income.

   Official government source

   N/A — no general business license required·N/A

   N/A — no general business license required

   N/A

2. City of Columbus Film/Special Event Permit (for public location shoots)

   Required for commercial photography or filming on Columbus public property (parks, streets, government-owned locations). Apply through the City of Columbus's online Special Event/Film Permit application. Private-property shoots do not require this permit; production support/incentive coordination (not permitting) is available separately from Film Columbus, a nonprofit under the Greater Columbus Arts Council.

   Official government source

   $50 (non-commercial) / $100 (commercial), plus a $40 processing fee·1-2 weeks

   $50 (non-commercial) / $100 (commercial), plus a $40 processing fee

   1-2 weeks

Official Sources

• City of Columbus - Division of Taxation
• Columbus Film Commission
• Ohio Secretary of State - Business Filings
• Ohio Department of Taxation - Sales and Use Tax

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