Searches yield information including various identification and registration numbers, previous business filings, and prior business names. Ohio is one of only a small number of states that provide the name availability search online. Many searches on the secretary of state Web-based databases provide links to images of applications or certificates pertaining to specific businesses on file with the secretary of state. The online searchable image database is among the first of its kind in the country. The images are copies of documents that have been submitted to or issued by the secretary of state.
Users can view, download, or print the images.
Timely delivery of services Reducing turnaround times for processing filings and incorporation documents has been a major initiative during the past two years. Doing so has involved a myriad of both large and small changes and improvements to the process. The old computer system was replaced. In previous years, expedited processing of filings has been suspended at the end of the year in an effort to maintain control of workflow. But in 2000, for the first time in many years, business services did not suspend expediting service.