On this guide
Follow the path in order.Facebook Marketplace channel guide • Ohio launch path
Start Facebook Marketplace in Ohio
Decide your setup, get the Ohio registration order straight, and finish the early Facebook Marketplace launch steps without losing the official detail behind the answer.
Last verified April 26, 2026 7 chapters
Best for launching on Facebook Marketplace in Ohio. Need the full appendix? Open the full reference guide.
On this journey
1 of 7 reviewed
Current chapter: Choose setup
On this journey
1 of 7 reviewed
Current chapter: Choose setup
01
Chapter 1 of 7
Choose the setup you want to launch with
Start with the setup decision first, then use the rest of the guide to build the state registrations and platform steps around it.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
Your setup choice, the short safe path, and the money realities that matter before spending deeply.How to move through it
Review sole proprietor.Use Part 1 to get oriented, then compare both setup paths before you spend more time or money.
3 parts to review • 29 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 3
Start here before you spend heavily
A short orientation for the guided journey before the detailed launch steps begin.
Part 1 of 3
Start here before you spend heavily
A short orientation for the guided journey before the detailed launch steps begin.
Short answer
Use this first part only to get oriented. The detailed state, platform, local, and packet steps will follow in order.- First decide whether you are launching as a sole proprietor or a single-member LLC.
- Then work through the Ohio registrations, Facebook Marketplace setup, local checks, and packet review in order.
Do next: Do not spend money yet.
Why this matters
Key detail
Do not spend money yet.
Keep in mind
- First decide whether you are launching as a sole proprietor or a single-member LLC.
- Then work through the Ohio registrations, Facebook Marketplace setup, local checks, and packet review in order.
Official links
Up next Compare setup
Part 2 of 3
Compare sole proprietor and LLC
The side-by-side setup comparison.
Part 2 of 3
Compare sole proprietor and LLC
The side-by-side setup comparison.
Short answer
Read both setup paths before you decide which one you want the rest of the launch flow to follow.- Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.
- Ohio Secretary of State public guidance says sole proprietorships are not required to register the business entity itself.
- Faster launch.
Do next: Review sole proprietor.
Save the path you want to optimize around
The unchosen setup stays visible for comparison, but the chosen one gets visual priority so the reading path feels more intentional.
Quick tradeoff view
Use one pass to compare the launch speed, separation, and upkeep tradeoffs.The detailed comparison stays below. This lens just makes the two setup shapes easier to scan before you read every bullet.
Best for
Sole proprietor
Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.
Speed to start Quicker start
Owner and business separation Very little separation
Ongoing admin load Lighter upkeep
Best for
single-member LLC
Best if you want a more durable setup for a real business.
Speed to start More front-loaded paperwork
Owner and business separation Cleaner separation
Ongoing admin load More upkeep
Compare details
Sole proprietor
Best for
Best for
Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.
What it means
- Ohio Secretary of State public guidance says sole proprietorships are not required to register the business entity itself.
- If you use a name other than your own legal name, Ohio does not call the filing a DBA. The public filing path is trade name or fictitious name.
- Business income generally runs through your personal tax return, but you still handle Ohio tax registration, local rules, and Facebook Marketplace requirements separately.
- You usually do not get a liability shield.
Why someone chooses it
- Faster launch.
- Lower up-front filing costs.
- Fewer entity maintenance steps.
Main downside
Personal liability
single-member LLC
Best for
Best for
Best if you want a more durable setup for a real business.
What it means
- Ohio LLC formation uses Articles of Organization (Form 610) and a statutory agent.
- Ohio public guidance says standard business entities do not file a general annual report.
- You keep the operating agreement internally rather than filing it with the state.
- Federal tax treatment is generally pass-through by default for a single-member LLC unless you elect otherwise.
Why someone chooses it
- Liability protection.
- Cleaner setup for banking, resale paperwork, bookkeeping, and scaling.
- Better fit for inventory, city-tax, and later hiring.
Main downside
Higher setup friction than a sole proprietorship
Official links
Formation ohiosos.gov
Compare business types
Formation ohiosos.gov
Sole proprietor baseline
Formation ohiosos.gov
Trade name or fictitious name registration
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Formation ohiosos.gov
Formation hub
Formation ohiosos.gov
Default entity formation filing
Formation ohiosos.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Formation ohiosos.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Entity tax treatment
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Commercial Activity Tax threshold and filing
Up next Money and risk
Part 3 of 3
See the money and risk realities before you spend
The upfront friction and risk notes that shape the launch decision.
Part 3 of 3
See the money and risk realities before you spend
The upfront friction and risk notes that shape the launch decision.
Short answer
These are the friction points most likely to catch a new Facebook Marketplace operator off guard in Ohio.- Ohio is cleaner than some states for a true marketplace-facilitated seller because the 2026 Small Business Tax Guide creates a marketplace-only vendor-license exception.
- Public Facebook help describes Marketplace as a consumer-oriented surface.
- No public Facebook Marketplace seller-liability-insurance threshold or universal insurance requirement was identified in the public help pages reviewed on April 26, 2026.
Do next: Review ohio-specific friction.
Why this matters
Ohio-specific friction
Main takeaway
Ohio is cleaner than some states for a true marketplace-facilitated seller because the 2026 Small Business Tax Guide creates a marketplace-only vendor-license exception.
Watch for
- That does not help if you are really doing local direct Facebook Marketplace deals. Those still sit in the direct-sale branch.
- STEC B and tax-free resale treatment are less clean than many founders expect because the public form says the vendor's-license number is required only if applicable, without squarely answering the pure-facilitator sourcing edge case.
- Columbus adds a real city-tax and home-occupation branch.
- Ohio uses trade name and fictitious name, not the county DBA framing many founders expect.
Facebook Marketplace-specific friction
Main takeaway
Public Facebook help describes Marketplace as a consumer-oriented surface.
Watch for
- Access depends on the main profile and can be limited by account history.
- Shipping/checkout is not available to all users.
- Public shipping help and public Meta merchant-policy material are partly framed around individual sellers, not a stable broad seller baseline.
- The public onsite-checkout fee posture for individual sellers is 5% per transaction with a minimum fee of $0.40.
- Public seller protection is limited: it is U.S.-only, tied to eligible onsite orders, capped at covered items priced at $2,000 or less, and does not protect ordinary local or off-platform payment deals.
- Public payout help references more than one payout path, so do not build the beginner plan around one assumed payout method.
- Listing limits can block high-volume scaling.
- Local in-person sales are not protected the same way eligible checkout purchases are.
Insurance reality
Main takeaway
No public Facebook Marketplace seller-liability-insurance threshold or universal insurance requirement was identified in the public help pages reviewed on April 26, 2026.
Watch for
- That is not the same as having no insurance risk.
- If you hold inventory, meet buyers at your property, or ship physical products regularly, re-check your homeowners, renters, landlord, carrier, and commercial-liability coverage separately before scaling.
Official links
Formation ohiosos.gov
Compare business types
Formation ohiosos.gov
Formation hub
Formation ohiosos.gov
Default entity formation filing
Formation ohiosos.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Formation ohiosos.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Ohio marketplace-only exception or direct-sales registration
Official codes.ohio.gov
Vendor-license fee law
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Resale or exemption certificate
Tax thefinder.tax.ohio.gov
Recordkeeping and rate lookup
Platform facebook.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Local columbus.gov
City tax or withholding warning
Local columbus.gov
Home-occupation and zoning branch
Local columbus.gov
Activity-specific license screening
Platform franklincountyauditor.com
Direct-sales vendor-license example for Franklin County
02
Chapter 2 of 7
Handle the Ohio registration path in order
This is the state-side work before you rely on the platform to carry any part of the operating flow.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
The Ohio and federal registration sequence, tax setup, and state-maintenance checks.How to move through it
Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach.Use the order check first, then move from name and entity work into EIN, banking, and tax setup.
4 parts to review • 36 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Registration sequence
Keep the Ohio and federal setup in this order.This chapter works best when you keep the filings, EIN, banking, and tax work in one clean sequence instead of bouncing between tabs.
- 1 Use the checklist to keep the order straight
These checklist groups keep the pre-spend, pre-sale, and pre-launch work visible before you open the platform workflow.
- 2 Handle name, entity, and filing setup
Use the name-and-formation steps plus the state LLC order before you open banking or state tax registration.
- 3 Get the EIN and banking basics in place
Use the EIN and banking steps before you start platform onboarding, payouts, or supplier paperwork.
- 4 Close the Ohio tax and filing branch
Keep the Ohio tax and maintenance rules together before you assume the platform solved them.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 4
Use the checklist to keep the order straight
The quick-start checklist grouped by the main launch phases.
Part 1 of 4
Use the checklist to keep the order straight
The quick-start checklist grouped by the main launch phases.
Short answer
These checklist groups keep the pre-spend, pre-sale, and pre-launch work visible before you open the platform workflow.- Pick your business name.
- Form the business or file your Ohio trade name or fictitious name filing if needed.
- Get an EIN from the IRS if applicable.
Do next: Pick your entity.
See checklist
Do these before you spend money
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Pick your entity.
- Pick your business name.
- Decide whether you are using Facebook Marketplace only for direct local/message-based deals or whether you are relying on shipping/checkout if the feature is available.
- Stay in low-risk general merchandise.
- Avoid services, regulated goods, recalled products, medical or healthcare items, animals, counterfeit-heavy goods, and high-risk categories for the first launch.
- Make sure you can document sourcing and item condition.
- Do not assume every Facebook Marketplace account has the same shipping, checkout, payout, or business-use options.
Do these before your first sale
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Form the business or file your Ohio trade name or fictitious name filing if needed.
- Get an EIN from the IRS if applicable.
- Open a dedicated business bank account.
- Register for the correct Ohio tax branch for the way you will actually sell.
- Resolve the STEC B branch before buying inventory tax-free for resale.
- Check local permits, Columbus tax, and home-business or zoning rules.
- Confirm you can access Marketplace from your main Facebook profile and that the account is in good standing.
Do these before launch goes live
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Build the first listing accurately and keep the description, condition, and meetup or shipping method realistic.
- Keep direct local and shipping/checkout records separate if you use both.
- Start with one or two low-risk listings so a tax or policy mistake does not scale.
- Re-check any live Facebook Marketplace shipping, checkout, payout, protection, or tax-info screens you actually use that day.
Official links
Up next Name + filing
Part 2 of 4
Handle name, entity, and filing setup
The name, formation, and LLC-order work for the state launch path.
Part 2 of 4
Handle name, entity, and filing setup
The name, formation, and LLC-order work for the state launch path.
Short answer
Use the name-and-formation steps plus the state LLC order before you open banking or state tax registration.- Step 3: Form the business.
- If you sell under your legal name:.
- Ohio public guidance does not require a separate entity filing just to exist as a sole proprietor.
Do next: Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach.
Step details
Best practical order for a Ohio single-member LLC launch
- Choose the product lane and whether the business will rely on direct local sales or true shipping/checkout.
- Choose the legal name and public brand approach.
- File Articles of Organization (Form 610) and appoint the statutory agent.
- Get the EIN.
- Open the bank account.
- Decide whether the Facebook Marketplace sales branch is direct or facilitated.
- Register for the Ohio vendor-license or resale path that actually applies.
- Start the Ohio trade name or fictitious name branch if needed.
- Start any Columbus or other local city-tax and zoning branch.
- Build the Facebook Marketplace listing workflow.
- If hiring, open the Ohio withholding, The SOURCE, BWC, and CRISP branches.
- Track name renewals, tax, local, and platform follow-up deadlines on the compliance calendar.
Sole proprietor: Decide whether you need a state name filing
Main takeaway
If you sell under your legal name:
Watch for
- Ohio public guidance does not require a separate entity filing just to exist as a sole proprietor.
- Ohio public guidance says a DBA is not the filing name.
- The trade-name and fictitious-name routes are similar to a DBA concept, but they are not the same filing label.
Single-member LLC: Name search and naming standards
Main takeaway
Before filing:
Watch for
- and if you want a separate public brand name, you may still need the Form 534A branch.
Single-member LLC: File the formation document
Main takeaway
Core filing:
Watch for
- Form name: Articles of Organization.
- Form number: 610.
Single-member LLC: Complete the immediate post-filing step
Main takeaway
Timing:
Watch for
- complete the internal operating and tax setup immediately after the filing is accepted.
- Adopt the operating agreement and keep it internally.
- This combo did not identify a separate Ohio LLC initial report, publication rule, or newspaper notice for a standard domestic LLC.
Single-member LLC: File the trade-name or fictitious-name form if needed
Main takeaway
If the public brand differs from the LLC legal name, use Form 534A.
Watch for
- If you want the stronger public-record protection route, use trade name.
Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach
Main guide step 2
What this step settles
You need to decide whether you are:
Why it matters: Important:
- operating under your own legal name,
- using an Ohio trade name or fictitious name,
- reselling existing brands,
- creating your own brand,
- or just using Facebook Marketplace as a lead channel for local sales
- Your listing name and profile do not replace the legal entity, tax, or bank records behind the business.
- Ohio's filing label is trade name or fictitious name, not a county DBA.
- If you resell branded goods, keep invoices and authenticity records from day one.
- Because Facebook Marketplace is still framed publicly as a consumer-oriented surface, treat the platform-facing identity branch cautiously and keep a backup channel plan.
Step 3: Form the business
Main guide step 3
What this step settles
If you choose sole proprietor: If you sell under your legal name, Ohio public guidance does not require a separate Ohio entity filing just to exist as a sole proprietor.
- If you choose sole proprietor: If you sell under your legal name, Ohio public guidance does not require a separate Ohio entity filing just to exist as a sole proprietor.
- If you choose sole proprietor: If you use another public-facing name, file Name Registration [Form 534A] with the Ohio Secretary of State.
- If you choose sole proprietor: Choose trade name if you want the distinguishable, exclusive-use route in the public record.
- If you choose sole proprietor: Choose fictitious name if you are only reporting use of a name and are not claiming trade-name protection.
- If you choose single-member LLC: Do this in order:
- If you choose single-member LLC: Check Ohio name availability before filing.
- If you choose single-member LLC: File Articles of Organization (Form 610) and include the statutory-agent acceptance. The public fee is $99.
- If you choose single-member LLC: Adopt an operating agreement for your records and get the EIN.
- If you choose single-member LLC: If your public brand differs from the LLC legal name, also use Form 534A for the name branch.
Official links
Formation ohiosos.gov
Compare business types
Formation ohiosos.gov
Formation hub
Formation ohiosos.gov
Default entity formation filing
Formation ohiosos.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Formation ohiosos.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Formation ohiosos.gov
Sole proprietor baseline
Formation ohiosos.gov
Trade name or fictitious name registration
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Entity tax treatment
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Commercial Activity Tax threshold and filing
Formation ohiosos.gov
State start-here page
Official ohiosos.gov
State business portal
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
State small-business tax guide
Up next EIN + banking
Part 3 of 4
Get the EIN and banking basics in place
The EIN, banking, and recordkeeping baseline before launch.
Part 3 of 4
Get the EIN and banking basics in place
The EIN, banking, and recordkeeping baseline before launch.
Short answer
Use the EIN and banking steps before you start platform onboarding, payouts, or supplier paperwork.- Step 5: Open banking and bookkeeping.
Do next: Step 4: Get your EIN.
Step details
Step 4: Get your EIN
Main guide step 4
What this step settles
Use the IRS EIN application after the business is formed if you picked an LLC.
Why it matters: For many sole proprietors, an EIN is optional if there are no employees, but it is still useful for banking, supplier paperwork, and keeping your Social Security number off some business documents.
Step 5: Open banking and bookkeeping
Main guide step 5
What this step settles
Do this right away:
- Open a business checking account.
- Keep business money separate from personal money.
- Save every invoice, receipt, message-based sale record, shipping record, refund record, and tax record.
- Keep a sourcing folder, a Facebook Marketplace folder, and a tax folder from day one.
Official links
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Ohio marketplace-only exception or direct-sales registration
Official codes.ohio.gov
Vendor-license fee law
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Resale or exemption certificate
Tax thefinder.tax.ohio.gov
Recordkeeping and rate lookup
Up next Tax + maintenance
Part 4 of 4
Close the Ohio tax and filing branch
The Ohio tax stack, registration timing, and maintenance follow-up.
Part 4 of 4
Close the Ohio tax and filing branch
The Ohio tax stack, registration timing, and maintenance follow-up.
Short answer
Keep the Ohio tax and maintenance rules together before you assume the platform solved them.- A single-member LLC generally needs an EIN.
- Ohio's 2026 Small Business Tax Guide says every Ohio retailer engaging in taxable retail sales and services must obtain a vendor's license.
- Facebook Marketplace needs a split analysis instead of one answer.
Do next: Step 6: Register for Ohio tax, vendor license, or resale setup.
Step details
1. EIN
Main takeaway
A single-member LLC generally needs an EIN.
Watch for
- A sole proprietor may not always need one federally, but it is often practical anyway.
- The key state choice is not EIN vs no EIN. The key Ohio choice is whether the actual sale is direct or marketplace-facilitated.
2. Ohio sales tax, vendor license, or equivalent registration
Main takeaway
Ohio's 2026 Small Business Tax Guide says every Ohio retailer engaging in taxable retail sales and services must obtain a vendor's license.
Watch for
- The same guide also says you do not need to register for a vendor's license if you sell exclusively through a marketplace facilitator.
- If registration is required, a seller with a fixed Ohio place of business uses a county vendor's license.
- Ohio Revised Code 5739.17 sets the county vendor's-license fee at $50 for each fixed place of business.
3. Marketplace or platform tax rule
Main takeaway
Facebook Marketplace needs a split analysis instead of one answer.
Watch for
- Direct-sale branch: If the buyer messages you and you arrange the sale directly, that is the cleaner Ohio direct-sale branch.
- Direct-sale branch: Public Facebook help says local buyers can message the seller to arrange a sale.
- Direct-sale branch: Public Facebook safety guidance for local pickup says transactions are between the buyer and seller only and no third-party guarantee should be involved.
- Direct-sale branch: Treat those sales as your direct sales for Ohio vendor-license analysis.
- Marketplace-facilitator branch: Ohio's 2026 Small Business Tax Guide creates a clean statewide exception for marketplace-only sellers: no vendor's license is required if sales are exclusively through a marketplace facilitator.
- Marketplace-facilitator branch: If Facebook Marketplace is actually running shipping/checkout and payment processing for a sale, that sale can fit the marketplace-facilitator branch more closely than an ordinary local message-based deal.
- Marketplace-facilitator branch: That makes Ohio more workable than some states for a pure shipping/checkout launch, but only if the seller really stays inside that facilitator flow.
- Marketplace-facilitator branch: Important caution:.
- Marketplace-facilitator branch: The public Facebook shipping pages reviewed on April 26, 2026 are feature-limited and not available to all users.
- Marketplace-facilitator branch: The public Meta checkout-policy pages reviewed on April 26, 2026 also tie most of the usable onsite-checkout details to individual sellers, not to a broad, settled seller program.
- Marketplace-facilitator branch: Do not treat every Facebook Marketplace listing as a marketplace-facilitated sale.
4. Resale purchases or exempt purchasing
Main takeaway
Use STEC B, the Sales and Use Tax Blanket Exemption Certificate, when you qualify to buy for resale.
Watch for
- The current public certificate says the vendor's-license number is required only if applicable.
- Ohio administrative guidance says vendors must retain the fully completed exemption certificate in their files.
- If you want to buy inventory tax-free for resale while staying purely Facebook-facilitated, resolve that vendor-license overlap first instead of assuming the platform closes it.
5. Entity tax treatment
Main takeaway
A standard single-member LLC is generally disregarded for federal income-tax purposes unless it elects a different classification.
Watch for
- Ohio public official research for this combo did not identify a separate Ohio LLC entity-level income-tax filing unique to a standard single-member LLC just because it is an LLC.
- Local income tax, including Columbus city tax, can still apply.
6. Entity filing-fee or franchise-tax rule
Main takeaway
As of April 26, 2026, this combo did not identify an Ohio LLC franchise tax or annual LLC report fee in the official public record reviewed.
Watch for
- Ohio's recurring statewide scale-up tax branch is the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT).
- Ohio's public 2026 Small Business Tax Guide says businesses with taxable gross receipts of $6 million or less per calendar year are not subject to the CAT as of January 1, 2025.
- If the business later exceeds that threshold, Ohio says register for CAT within 30 days of becoming subject and file quarterly.
7. If the founder changes entity type later
Main takeaway
A change from sole proprietor to LLC can trigger fresh registration work wherever a new FEIN, owner record, or tax account is required.
Watch for
- For Ohio direct sellers, Revised Code 5739.17 and the state tax guide together make clear that the direct-sales vendor-license branch follows the real seller and place-of-business facts, not just the old paperwork.
- Re-check local accounts and Facebook Marketplace legal, tax, and payout details when the business structure changes.
Sole proprietor: Register for Ohio tax, vendor license, or reseller setup
Main takeaway
Ohio's 2026 Small Business Tax Guide says you do not need to register for a vendor's license if you sell exclusively through a marketplace facilitator.
Watch for
- If you make direct taxable retail sales through local meetup, direct payment, or any other non-checkout flow, handle the Ohio vendor-license branch before those sales begin.
- If you buy items for resale, use STEC B when applicable. The current public Ohio form says the vendor's-license number is required only if applicable.
Sole proprietor: Understand the tax reality
Main takeaway
Federal business income generally flows through to Schedule C for a standard sole proprietor.
Watch for
- If you operate in Columbus, the city says residents conducting a business and nonresidents conducting a business within the city must file the city return.
Single-member LLC: File ongoing entity maintenance
Main takeaway
Key points:
Watch for
- due: no Ohio LLC annual report identified.
- Ohio's public LLC guide says failure to maintain a statutory agent can lead to cancellation after notice if the company does not appoint a new agent within 30 days.
- recurring annual report fee identified: none identified in the official public record reviewed on April 26, 2026.
- filing method: use Ohio Secretary of State forms as needed, especially Form 521 for statutory-agent updates.
- Ohio trade-name and fictitious-name filings renew every 5 years.
Step 6: Register for Ohio tax, vendor license, or resale setup
Main guide step 6
What this step settles
Ohio is the part that changes most depending on how you actually use Facebook Marketplace.
- Branch A: direct local or other clearly direct sales: Use this branch if:
- Branch A: direct local or other clearly direct sales: the buyer messages you on Marketplace,
- Branch A: direct local or other clearly direct sales: you arrange pickup, door drop-off, public meetup, or off-platform shipping directly with the buyer,
- Branch A: direct local or other clearly direct sales: and Facebook is not actually processing checkout for that sale
- Branch A: direct local or other clearly direct sales: Why this is the direct-sale branch:
- Branch A: direct local or other clearly direct sales: Facebook's public buying help says buyers can message the seller to arrange a sale.
- Branch A: direct local or other clearly direct sales: Facebook's local pickup and drop-off tips say transactions are between the buyer and seller only and no third-party guarantee should be involved.
- Branch A: direct local or other clearly direct sales: Ohio result:
- Branch A: direct local or other clearly direct sales: Ohio's 2026 Small Business Tax Guide says every Ohio retailer engaging in taxable retail sales and services must obtain a vendor's license unless the marketplace-only exception applies.
- Branch A: direct local or other clearly direct sales: If you are operating this direct branch, handle the Ohio vendor-license path before taxable retail sales begin.
- Branch A: direct local or other clearly direct sales: If you later add direct delivery or a fixed-location sales branch in Franklin County, the public county example still points to the vendor's license path for direct retail activity.
- Branch B: shipping/checkout if the feature is available and Facebook is actually facilitating payment: Use this branch only if:
- Branch B: shipping/checkout if the feature is available and Facebook is actually facilitating payment: the seller can actually offer shipping and checkout,
- Branch B: shipping/checkout if the feature is available and Facebook is actually facilitating payment: Facebook is processing or facilitating payment for the sale,
- Branch B: shipping/checkout if the feature is available and Facebook is actually facilitating payment: and the item is sold through that facilitator flow
- Branch B: shipping/checkout if the feature is available and Facebook is actually facilitating payment: What the public Facebook help pages support:
- Branch B: shipping/checkout if the feature is available and Facebook is actually facilitating payment: Selling with shipping and buying or creating prepaid labels is not available to all users.
- Branch B: shipping/checkout if the feature is available and Facebook is actually facilitating payment: When you sell something with shipping and checkout, buyers can pay securely and you ship the item directly to the buyer.
- Branch B: shipping/checkout if the feature is available and Facebook is actually facilitating payment: Related help pages say identity verification and tax information may be required for shipping sales.
- Branch B: shipping/checkout if the feature is available and Facebook is actually facilitating payment: Ohio result:
- Branch B: shipping/checkout if the feature is available and Facebook is actually facilitating payment: Ohio's 2026 Small Business Tax Guide says you do not need to register for a vendor's license if you sell exclusively through a marketplace facilitator.
- Branch B: shipping/checkout if the feature is available and Facebook is actually facilitating payment: That means a pure shipping/checkout launch can fit Ohio's marketplace-only branch more cleanly than it would in some other states.
- Branch B: shipping/checkout if the feature is available and Facebook is actually facilitating payment: The catch is that public Facebook Marketplace checkout pages reviewed on April 26, 2026 are feature-gated and largely framed around individual sellers, so do not assume every Ohio founder or account can actually use that branch.
- STEC B resale branch: Ohio resale purchases use STEC B.
- STEC B resale branch: The current public Ohio certificate says the vendor's-license number is required only if applicable.
- STEC B resale branch: Main unresolved point:
- STEC B resale branch: The public Ohio sources reviewed on April 26, 2026 do not squarely answer whether a seller trying to stay purely shipping/checkout and purely marketplace-facilitated on Facebook Marketplace still needs its own Ohio vendor's license solely to support STEC B.
- STEC B resale branch: If you want tax-free inventory sourcing, treat that as a retained follow-up and do not guess.
Official links
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Ohio marketplace-only exception or direct-sales registration
Official codes.ohio.gov
Vendor-license fee law
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Resale or exemption certificate
Tax thefinder.tax.ohio.gov
Recordkeeping and rate lookup
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Entity tax treatment
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Commercial Activity Tax threshold and filing
Federal fincen.gov
BOI or other federal reporting status
Formation ohiosos.gov
State start-here page
Official ohiosos.gov
State business portal
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
State small-business tax guide
03
Chapter 3 of 7
Finish the Facebook Marketplace account and operations branch
Use these steps for the platform-side account, plan, operations, and eligibility work after the state basics line up.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
Facebook Marketplace account setup, operations, and pre-launch readiness.How to move through it
Step 10: Understand the channel economics before you scale.Open the Facebook Marketplace branch only after the Ohio basics line up, then finish plan and operations choices.
3 parts to review • 30 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 3
Open the Facebook Marketplace account
The first account and verification work for the platform path.
Part 1 of 3
Open the Facebook Marketplace account
The first account and verification work for the platform path.
Short answer
Start the platform onboarding only after the legal name, EIN, and payout details line up cleanly.Do next: Step 9: Create your Facebook Marketplace account and listing workflow.
Step details
Step 9: Create your Facebook Marketplace account and listing workflow
Platform step 1
What this step settles
Have these ready:
Why it matters: Platform access rules supported by the public help pages reviewed on April 26, 2026: Seller-verification branch:
- government-issued ID
- main Facebook profile in good standing
- phone number
- email address
- bank or payment details you will actually use
- tax information if you use shipping/checkout
- business registration details if a feature asks for them
- clear item photos, condition details, and pickup or shipping plan
- Public Facebook help says acceptable identity documents for seller verification include a passport, driver's license, or state or government ID.
- Public help also says Facebook collects tax information to comply with applicable laws and regulations when selling with shipping.
- The guarded baseline facts reused here were re-checked on April 26, 2026, but this branch is still anchored to individual sellers on a personal main profile, not to a broad, settled business-seller program.
- Marketplace is available to adults with active Facebook accounts.
- Marketplace access can be restricted if the account is new or inactive, uses an additional profile instead of the main profile, or has gone against terms or policies.
- Marketplace listings must follow Commerce Policies and Community Standards.
- Buyers can use Message or Is this available? to arrange a local sale.
- Shipping and checkout are separate features and are not available to all users.
Official links
Up next Plan + pricing
Part 2 of 3
Review the plan, pricing, and optional programs
Plan, pricing, and optional program decisions before launch.
Part 2 of 3
Review the plan, pricing, and optional programs
Plan, pricing, and optional program decisions before launch.
Short answer
Use this part for the platform plan, pricing, or optional brand and program choices that come before operations.- Step 11: Decide whether brand or IP programs belong in the initial launch.
Do next: Step 10: Understand the channel economics before you scale.
Step details
Step 10: Understand the channel economics before you scale
Platform step 2
What this step settles
What this means in practice:
- The public sources reviewed on April 26, 2026 did not identify a public subscription-plan decision for Facebook Marketplace.
- The real operating split is not basic plan vs paid plan.
- The real split is:
- direct local or direct seller-managed sale
- shipping/checkout if available
- Do not assume there is no cost just because there is no obvious seller-plan page.
- For ordinary local direct deals, there is no public onsite-checkout selling-fee rule because Facebook is not processing the local transaction.
- For individual sellers using onsite shipping/checkout, public Meta merchant policies say the selling fee is 5% per transaction, with a minimum fee of $0.40.
- Re-check live shipping, payout, chargeback, and feature-availability screens if you use shipping/checkout.
- For local direct deals, price in your own time, meeting risk, refunds, and tax handling rather than expecting platform-managed order economics.
Step 11: Decide whether brand or IP programs belong in the initial launch
Platform step 3
What this step settles
This research pass did not identify a public Facebook Marketplace brand-enrollment or registry program that acts like a default beginner step.
- This research pass did not identify a public Facebook Marketplace brand-enrollment or registry program that acts like a default beginner step.
- What matters first is clean sourcing, accurate condition descriptions, and avoiding counterfeit or rights-holder risk.
- If you build your own brand, start the trademark and documentation path early.
- If you resell branded goods, keep invoices and supplier records from the start.
Official links
Official facebook.com
Marketplace access and account eligibility
Formation facebook.com
Listing creation
Local facebook.com
Direct local sale flow
Tax facebook.com
Shipping and checkout branch
Official facebook.com
Listing-volume limit
Official facebook.com
Policy and restricted-item baseline
Local facebook.com
Local meetup and privacy workflow
Official facebook.com
Shipping performance
Official facebook.com
Shipping-label and seller-protection branch
Tax facebook.com
Payout and tax-form branch
Official facebook.com
Chargebacks, disputes, and purchase-protection limits
Platform facebook.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Up next Ops + eligibility
Part 3 of 3
Finish operations and eligibility before scaling
Operations and eligibility checks before the business scales.
Part 3 of 3
Finish operations and eligibility before scaling
Operations and eligibility checks before the business scales.
Short answer
Close the operating branch only after the listing, trip, hosting, or operational eligibility checks are ready.- Step 13: Confirm product, service, or category eligibility before scaling.
Do next: Step 12: Complete the fulfillment and operations branch.
Step details
Step 12: Complete the fulfillment and operations branch
Platform step 4
What this step settles
Use the platform-specific version of this step.
- Beginner-safe direct local path: start with one or two low-risk listings,
- Beginner-safe direct local path: use clear photos and accurate condition notes,
- Beginner-safe direct local path: choose public meetup, door pickup, or door drop-off carefully,
- Beginner-safe direct local path: confirm timing and address details in Messenger,
- Beginner-safe direct local path: and inspect or let the buyer inspect the item before finalizing payment when practical
- Beginner-safe direct local path: Public safety and handling rules:
- Beginner-safe direct local path: Facebook says local transaction listings can show meetup preferences such as public meetup, door pickup, or door drop-off.
- Beginner-safe direct local path: Facebook warns that transactions are between the buyer and seller only and that no third-party guarantee should be involved.
- Beginner-safe direct local path: Facebook also says eligible purchases made with checkout on Facebook may be covered by Purchase Protection, but items exchanged in person using cash or other person-to-person payment methods are not eligible.
- Beginner-safe direct local path: That means an Ohio founder should not treat local pickup, cash, Zelle, Venmo, or other off-platform payment methods as protected the same way eligible onsite-checkout orders are.
- Shipping/checkout path if available: only use this branch if the feature is actually enabled for your account and item,
- Shipping/checkout path if available: keep identity and tax information ready,
- Shipping/checkout path if available: keep payout setup flexible because public help references both bank-account and PayPal payout articles,
- Shipping/checkout path if available: monitor shipping performance,
- Shipping/checkout path if available: and keep evidence for any dispute or chargeback
- Shipping/checkout path if available: Public shipping and dispute rules reviewed on April 26, 2026:
- Shipping/checkout path if available: Facebook says shipping and buying or creating prepaid labels are not available to all users.
- Shipping/checkout path if available: Public help shows both bank account and PayPal payout articles, so do not assume one universal payout rail.
- Shipping/checkout path if available: Public Meta merchant policies say individual sellers using onsite checkout are charged 5% per transaction with a minimum fee of $0.40.
- Shipping/checkout path if available: Public Meta merchant policies also say seller protection for onsite transactions is currently U.S.-only and limited to covered items priced at $2,000 or less.
- Shipping/checkout path if available: For individual sellers, the same public Meta policy page ties shipping-protection eligibility to using a Meta-generated shipping label and shipping within the published shipping or handling window.
- Shipping/checkout path if available: Facebook says shipping performance includes Cancellation Rate and Missed Handling Rate, and that the Cancellation Rate should stay below 10%.
- Shipping/checkout path if available: Public Meta merchant policies say buyers are expected to contact the seller first and that sellers should respond to refund requests quickly, while Facebook's public chargeback help says a card issuer decides the chargeback dispute, pending payouts may be reduced, and a customer-favorable result can include a USD 20 chargeback fee.
Step 13: Confirm product, service, or category eligibility before scaling
Platform step 5
What this step settles
Scaling friction:
- Marketplace listings must comply with Meta's Commerce Policies and Facebook Community Standards.
- Public Marketplace help says anything that isn't a physical product for sale should not be listed.
- Services are not allowed on Marketplace.
- Animals or animal products are not allowed.
- Healthcare products are not allowed.
- Recalled products should not be sold.
- Public Facebook help says there is a monthly limit of 20 total listings, with narrower limits in categories such as Vehicles, Auto Parts and Accessories, and Homes for Sale or Rent.
- That makes Facebook Marketplace a weak fit for high-volume catalog scaling even if the first few listings go well.
Official links
Official facebook.com
Marketplace access and account eligibility
Formation facebook.com
Listing creation
Local facebook.com
Direct local sale flow
Tax facebook.com
Shipping and checkout branch
Official facebook.com
Listing-volume limit
Official facebook.com
Policy and restricted-item baseline
Local facebook.com
Local meetup and privacy workflow
Official facebook.com
Shipping performance
Official facebook.com
Shipping-label and seller-protection branch
Tax facebook.com
Payout and tax-form branch
Official facebook.com
Chargebacks, disputes, and purchase-protection limits
Platform facebook.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
04
Chapter 4 of 7
Handle the local and city-specific branches
These local facts can still change the answer even after the state and platform path looks clear.
Optional branch
What this chapter does
Local permits, local taxes, city appendices, and location-specific operating rules.How to move through it
Review columbus appendix.Only turn this chapter on if your location, city, or operating model changes the answer.
2 parts to review • 11 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Only turn this branch on if it matches your plan
These branch questions keep the main reading path clean. If one matches your situation, the relevant detail blocks below get emphasized.
Matching branch content is now highlighted below.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 2
Local permits and location checks
Ohio pushes many practical operating questions down to cities and counties.
Part 1 of 2
Local permits and location checks
Ohio pushes many practical operating questions down to cities and counties.
Short answer
Ohio pushes many practical operating questions down to cities and counties.Do next: Review local permits and location checks.
Why this matters
Local permits and location checks
Main takeaway
Ohio pushes many practical operating questions down to cities and counties.
Watch for
- For any place where the business will operate:.
- check zoning or planning,.
- check city tax,.
- ask whether inventory storage changes the use,.
- ask whether buyer or carrier traffic changes the home-business answer,.
- and ask whether a specific license applies to the actual activity.
- Typical local risk areas:.
- home occupation restrictions.
- zoning for inventory storage.
- city net-profits tax.
- buyer or carrier activity at a residence.
- fire-code limits.
Official links
Formation ohiosos.gov
State start-here page
Official ohiosos.gov
State business portal
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
State small-business tax guide
Local columbus.gov
City tax or withholding warning
Local columbus.gov
Home-occupation and zoning branch
Local columbus.gov
Activity-specific license screening
Platform franklincountyauditor.com
Direct-sales vendor-license example for Franklin County
Up next Columbus appendix
Part 2 of 2
Columbus Appendix
If the business operates in Columbus, add one more review layer.
Part 2 of 2
Columbus Appendix
If the business operates in Columbus, add one more review layer.
Short answer
If the business operates in Columbus, add one more review layer.Do next: Review columbus appendix.
Why this matters
Columbus Appendix
Main takeaway
If the business operates in Columbus, add one more review layer.
Watch for
- The City of Columbus says residents conducting a business and nonresidents conducting a business within the city must file the city return.
- The city's published startup guidance says a new business normally needs net profits tax registration and, if it has employees, employee withholding tax.
- CRISP is the city portal for tax setup and filing.
- Columbus's home-occupation handout limits the activity to 20% of the livable floor area, bars outside storage and unreasonable traffic, and says wholesale or retail business may not be conducted in the dwelling unit.
- The city's public business-license page is activity-specific. This pass did not identify a universal general-ecommerce city license on that page.
- Practical Columbus takeaway:.
- If you want to store Facebook Marketplace inventory at home, package orders there, let buyers come to the address, or run repeated pickup or shipping activity from a Columbus location, do not assume the city-tax account alone clears the use.
- Check the zoning and home-occupation branch before launch.
- register Ohio withholding with OH|TAX eServices within 15 days after liability begins,.
- and do not assume Columbus rules apply unless the address is actually inside Columbus.
05
Chapter 5 of 7
Use the hiring and insurance branch only if it matches your plan
This branch matters when you expect to hire, scale, or need the insurance follow-up tied to the business model.
Optional branch
What this chapter does
Hiring, payroll, insurance, and scale-up risk reminders.How to move through it
Review insurance reality.Only turn this branch on when hiring, payroll, or coverage questions are close enough to matter.
2 parts to review • 6 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Only turn this branch on if it matches your plan
These branch questions keep the main reading path clean. If one matches your situation, the relevant detail blocks below get emphasized.
Matching branch content is now highlighted below.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 2
If you hire, close the employment branch first
The employee registration, payroll, and employment-program branch.
Part 1 of 2
If you hire, close the employment branch first
The employee registration, payroll, and employment-program branch.
Short answer
Use these cards if the business will hire employees or carry payroll responsibilities soon.- Register Ohio withholding with OH|TAX eServices.
- Ohio's public tax guide says businesses with employees must have an active workers' compensation policy.
- This combo did not identify a general Ohio statewide private-employer disability-insurance or paid-family-leave registration for a standard marketplace-seller employer as of April 26, 2026.
Do next: Review 1. employer registration.
Why this matters
1. Employer registration
Main takeaway
Register Ohio withholding with OH|TAX eServices.
Watch for
- Ohio's 2026 Small Business Tax Guide says employers who become liable for Ohio withholding must register within 15 days after liability begins.
- Register the Ohio unemployment-insurance employer account through The SOURCE.
- If employees work in Columbus, open the city withholding account through CRISP.
2. Workers' compensation
Main takeaway
Ohio's public tax guide says businesses with employees must have an active workers' compensation policy.
Watch for
- Obtain coverage through BWC before or at hiring.
- get workers' compensation coverage through BWC,.
3. Disability, paid leave, or similar coverage
Main takeaway
This combo did not identify a general Ohio statewide private-employer disability-insurance or paid-family-leave registration for a standard marketplace-seller employer as of April 26, 2026.
Watch for
- Mark this branch unverified if your fact pattern depends on a special industry, union, or public-employer rule.
4. Exemption certificate if applicable
Main takeaway
The reviewed public sources did not identify a general Ohio statewide contractor-style exemption certificate for this fact pattern.
Watch for
- If your workforce model depends on an unusual statutory exemption, treat that as separate follow-up instead of assuming a standard ecommerce shortcut exists.
Official links
Up next Insurance branch
Part 2 of 2
Keep the insurance branch visible as you scale
The insurance, liability, and scale-trigger branch.
Part 2 of 2
Keep the insurance branch visible as you scale
The insurance, liability, and scale-trigger branch.
Short answer
This is the insurance and liability follow-up tied to hiring, products, services, or growth.- No public Facebook Marketplace seller-liability-insurance threshold or universal insurance requirement was identified in the public help pages reviewed on April 26, 2026.
Do next: Review insurance reality.
Why this matters
Insurance reality
Main takeaway
No public Facebook Marketplace seller-liability-insurance threshold or universal insurance requirement was identified in the public help pages reviewed on April 26, 2026.
Watch for
- That is not the same as having no insurance risk.
- If you hold inventory, meet buyers at your property, or ship physical products regularly, re-check your homeowners, renters, landlord, carrier, and commercial-liability coverage separately before scaling.
06
Chapter 6 of 7
Keep the operating calendar and mistake list close after launch
Once you are live, use the ongoing calendar and the mistake list to keep the business on a safer path.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
The recurring compliance calendar, live-operating routine, and beginner mistakes to avoid.How to move through it
Treating every Facebook Marketplace sale like a marketplace-facilitated tax sale when many local transactions are actually direct sales.Use the recurring calendar first, then keep the repeated-mistake notes close after launch.
2 parts to review • 24 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 2
Use the ongoing compliance calendar
The recurring compliance calendar grouped by timing.
Part 1 of 2
Use the ongoing compliance calendar
The recurring compliance calendar grouped by timing.
Short answer
This groups the recurring checks by when they matter after launch.- Get EIN if applicable.
- Build the first listing carefully.
- Choose the meetup or shipping path.
Do next: Finish entity or state name registration setup.
See checklist
Before first sale
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Finish entity or state name registration setup.
- Get EIN if applicable.
- Open bank account.
- Decide whether the sale path is direct or facilitated.
- Register with Ohio if the path is direct or if resale sourcing requires it.
- Check Columbus tax, zoning, and home-business rules if applicable.
Before first live launch
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Build the first listing carefully.
- Choose the meetup or shipping path.
- Re-check live Facebook Marketplace help pages if you use shipping, checkout, or payout features.
- Keep the first launch small.
Monthly
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Reconcile sales, taxes, refunds, and chargebacks.
- Review listing status, messages, and policy warnings.
- Review sourcing records.
Quarterly
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- File Ohio sales-tax returns on the cadence assigned by the state if you are acting as the seller responsible for collection.
- If you are an employer, handle withholding, unemployment, and workers' compensation on the required schedule.
- Review whether your operating facts changed enough to reopen the STEC B, direct-sale, or Columbus zoning branch.
Annual or periodic
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Keep the statutory-agent record current if you formed an LLC.
- Renew the Ohio trade name or fictitious name filing every 5 years if applicable.
- Track CAT only if Ohio taxable gross receipts later exceed $6 million.
- If in Columbus, track the city return and annual local deadlines carefully.
- Re-check Facebook Marketplace shipping, payout, listing-limit, and policy pages before scaling volume.
Official links
Platform facebook.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Ohio marketplace-only exception or direct-sales registration
Formation ohiosos.gov
Compare business types
Official facebook.com
Marketplace access and account eligibility
Local facebook.com
Local meetup and privacy workflow
Formation ohiosos.gov
State start-here page
Up next Common mistakes
Part 2 of 2
Common Mistakes New Operators Make
The most common mistakes from the research pack plus the first-launch recommendation.
Part 2 of 2
Common Mistakes New Operators Make
The most common mistakes from the research pack plus the first-launch recommendation.
Short answer
These are the repeated errors called out in the research pack.- Assuming shipping/checkout is available just because public help articles exist.
- Assuming shipping/checkout uses one universal payout rail or one universal seller-protection rule.
- Ignoring the STEC B and vendor-license overlap before buying inventory tax-free.
Do next: Treating every Facebook Marketplace sale like a marketplace-facilitated tax sale when many local transactions are actually direct sales.
Why this matters
Practical first-launch recommendation
- If you are testing casually with minimal risk, sole proprietor can work.
- If you intend to build a real inventory business, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.
Key detail
Treating every Facebook Marketplace sale like a marketplace-facilitated tax sale when many local transactions are actually direct sales
Keep in mind
- Assuming shipping/checkout is available just because public help articles exist
- Assuming shipping/checkout uses one universal payout rail or one universal seller-protection rule
- Ignoring the STEC B and vendor-license overlap before buying inventory tax-free
- Using a public business name without the right Ohio trade name or fictitious name filing
- Storing inventory or running repeated meetups from a Columbus home without checking zoning first
- Moving buyer conversations off-platform too early
- Forgetting that in-person deals and checkout deals have different support and protection rules
- Building around high listing volume even though public listing limits are low
Official links
Formation ohiosos.gov
Compare business types
Formation ohiosos.gov
Formation hub
Formation ohiosos.gov
Default entity formation filing
Formation ohiosos.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Formation ohiosos.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Ohio marketplace-only exception or direct-sales registration
Official codes.ohio.gov
Vendor-license fee law
Tax dam.assets.ohio.gov
Resale or exemption certificate
Tax thefinder.tax.ohio.gov
Recordkeeping and rate lookup
Platform facebook.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Local columbus.gov
City tax or withholding warning
Local columbus.gov
Home-occupation and zoning branch
Local columbus.gov
Activity-specific license screening
Platform franklincountyauditor.com
Direct-sales vendor-license example for Franklin County
07
Chapter 7 of 7
Review your selected steps and open the packet PDF
Use the review screen to decide what belongs in the packet, then open a real PDF preview in a new tab.
Finish
Review and print
Review the chapters you kept and make sure the right reminders stay visible.
Use this step to keep only the chapters that match the launch plan now, then keep the local and city reminders close before you treat the packet as final.
Saved setup choice
single-member LLCThat choice stays visible while the rest of the journey gets lighter.
Packet count
4 chapters selectedOptional branches can stay out of the packet until they match the real launch plan.
Still verify locally
6 remindersLocal tax, zoning, insurance, and platform policy changes still need the official check.
Open the working launch packet with fillable tracker rows, then print or download it from the PDF tab.
Choose what stays in the packet
Selected chapters
- Choose setup
Your setup choice, the short safe path, and the money realities that matter before spending deeply. - Ohio registrations
The Ohio and federal registration sequence, tax setup, and state-maintenance checks. - Facebook Marketplace setup
Facebook Marketplace account setup, operations, and pre-launch readiness. - Local and city checks
Local permits, local taxes, city appendices, and location-specific operating rules. - Hiring and insurance
Hiring, payroll, insurance, and scale-up risk reminders. - Ongoing calendar and mistakes
The recurring compliance calendar, live-operating routine, and beginner mistakes to avoid.
See local verification reminders
- Public FAQ covers sole proprietors, names, agents, annual-report questions, and filing boundaries.
- Secretary of State business pages point founders to Ohio Business Central for online filing.
- Public current tax guide used here for the marketplace-only vendor-license exception, withholding timing, CAT threshold, and tax overview.
- Public guidance says residents conducting a business and nonresidents conducting a business within the city must file, and says a starting business normally has net profits tax and, if it has employees, employee withholding tax.
- Public handout limits home-occupation space to 20% of livable area, bars outside storage and unreasonable traffic, and says wholesale or retail business may not be conducted in the dwelling unit.
- Public page publishes activity-specific city licenses and zoning links. This pass did not identify a universal general-ecommerce city license on that page.
Change your path
Need a different route into this answer?
Use one of these links if you landed in the wrong platform, wrong state, or want the state-only baseline before you keep reading.
Choose another platform Switch away from Facebook Marketplace without losing the state-first flow. Choose another state for Facebook Marketplace Stay on Facebook Marketplace and reopen the state picker for Ohio alternatives. Open the Ohio state guide Compare the platform-specific path with the state-only baseline. Open official sources Jump straight to the official source directory if you want agency links first.