Effective April 9, 2025, in accordance with the passage of House Bill 366, the fee for new vendor’s license applications will increase from $25.00 to $50.00
The $25 increase in the fee will support the Organized Crime Commission Fund. Per ORC 177.011, “The organized crime investigations commission shall use the moneys in the fund to reimburse political subdivisions for the expenses the political subdivisions incur when their law enforcement officers participate in an organized crime task force.”
Vendor's License: This is the general license required for any business selling tangible goods or services in Ohio. It is issued by the county auditor in the county where the business is located. If you're selling at a physical location, you would generally need a vendor’s license in the county where your business is based. (You obtain this type of license by visiting your county auditor.)
Transient Vendor License: This license is specifically for businesses that sell goods or services temporarily in a county, usually at events like fairs, markets, or festivals. A transient vendor typically operates at a location for a short period and does not have a permanent place of business in that county. It’s designed for businesses that do not have a fixed location but still engage in selling goods within a particular area for a limited time. (You can obtain this type of license at the Ohio Business Gateway, a website maintained by the Ohio Department of Taxation.)
Vendor’s licenses are only transferable if you change the physical location of your business within the same county. If you move your business to another county, change your name, incorporate or add a partner, a new vendor’s license is required. If you change your trade name or d.b.a. name, a new license is not required.
A vendor’s license can be cancelled by completing the appropriate information on a final Ohio sales tax return indicating the last day of business.
When considering starting a business, there are helpful resources at the Ohio Business Gateway (https://gateway.ohio.gov/home) and at the Ohio Secretary of State’s Starting a Business page (https://www.ohiosos.gov/businesses/information-on-starting-and-maintaining-a-business/starting-a-business/).