50-State Employment Services Industry Licensing Guide
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Ohio Employment Agency

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Licensing requirements for Ohio employment, staffing and talent agencies.

This page provides an overview of employment services licensing in Ohio for individuals and agencies. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

Companies that provide employment services in Ohio must apply for a license prior to doing business. Depending on the services offered, businesses may need to apply for more than one license type, and in some cases, an individual license will be required as well.

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Company Licenses

Ohio Employment and Business Support Services Company Licenses

Ohio Employment Agency License

Not required



Employment Agency licensure is not required on the State level in Ohio.

Ohio Nurse Staffing Agency License

Not required



Nurse Staffing Agency licensure is not required on the State level in Ohio.

Ohio does not currently license nurse staffing agencies.

Ohio Professional Employer Organization Limited Registration

Agency:Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation - PEO Unit
Law:

O.R.C § 4125.05

Eligible Entity Types:

  • Corporation
  • Sole Proprietorship
  • Partnership
Notes:

PEOs may be eligible for a limited registration if they:

  • Are not domiciled in Ohio;
  • Do not maintain an office in Ohio;
  • Are licensed to do business as a PEO in another state;
  • Do not have more than 50 work-site employees in Ohio; and
  • Do not engage in direct solicitation of business in Ohio
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Form UA-1 L: Professional Employer Organization Limited Registration Application

Agency Fee:

$100

Required Attachments:
  • List of officers
  • States in which the PEO is licensed or registered as a PEO, its licenses or registration number and state agency
    that issues it (attach a copy of most recent certification)
  • PEO client listing

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form UA-1 L: Professional Employer Organization Limited Registration Application (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Required Attachments:
  • List of officers
  • States in which the PEO is licensed or registered as a PEO, its licenses or registration number and state agency
    that issues it (attach a copy of most recent certification)
  • PEO client listing

Ohio Professional Employer Organization Registration

Agency:Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation - PEO Unit
Law:

O.R.C § 4125.05

Financial Requirements:

PEOs must maintain positive working capital.

Bond Requirements:

PEOs that do not meet the working capital requirement must instead submit a bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or securities with a minimum market value in an amount sufficient to cover the deficit in working capital.

Initial Registration

Agency Fee:

$1,000

Notes:

Contact BWC's PEO unit at 614-466-6773 for a copy of the application form.

Required Attachments:
  • A list of each of the PEO's client employers current as of the date of registration
  • The address of the PEO's principal place of business and the address of each office it maintains in Ohio
  • A list of each state in which the PEO has operated in the preceding five years, and the name, corresponding with each state, under which the PEO operated in each state, including any alternative names, names of predecessors, and if known, successor business entities
  • A list of all corporate officers of the PEO
  • A list of all related corporate entities
  • The most recent financial statement prepared and audited by an independent certified public accountant authorized to practice in the jurisdiction in which that accountant is located. Such financial statement must be no older than 13 months at the time it is submitted to the bureau.

Registration Renewal

Agency Fee:

$250 for each PEO policy.

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Notes:

Renewal forms are sent in the mail.

Required Attachments:
  • A list of each of the PEO's client employers current as of the date of registration
  • The address of the PEO's principal place of business and the address of each office it maintains in Ohio
  • A list of each state in which the PEO has operated in the preceding five years, and the name, corresponding with each state, under which the PEO operated in each state, including any alternative names, names of predecessors, and if known, successor business entities
  • A list of all corporate officers of the PEO
  • A list of all related corporate entities

Financial Reporting
Annual Financial Statement

Filing Method:

Email financial statements to: BWCPEOFinancials@ohio.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Annually within 180 days of the close of the PEO’s fiscal year.

Notes:

PEOs must submit GAAP-audited (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial statements every year.

Amendment

Form:

Form UA-3: Professional Employer Organization Client Relationship Notification

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 30 days of any new PEO agreements, a change in reporting, or the termination of a PEO agreement.

Supplemental Reporting
Semi-Annual Report

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Biannually by June 30 and December 31.

Notes:

PEOs must semi-annually submit a report of its client employers and total workforce to the bureau.

Supplemental Reporting
Monthly Payroll Report

Filing Method:

Online

Due:

By the 15th day of each month.

Notes:

PEOs must pay premiums and report actual payroll each month.

Ohio Talent Agency License

Not required



Talent Agency licensure is not required on the State level in Ohio.

Employee Leasing Company - Enter into leasing contracts with other businesses that require labor. The leasing company loans its workers to the lessee while still providing specified responsibilities, such as workers compensation insurance, to the employees. This includes long term (6 months or more) temporary arrangements but often excludes temporary help arrangements. Unlike professional employer organizations, employee leasing companies are contracted when an employer needs to hire staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.

Employment Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment for a person.

Professional Employer Organization - PEOs take on the human resources role for businesses and act as a co-employer in the sense that the client company's workers are administratively employees of the PEO but functionally these employees are controlled by the client company. Unlike employee leasing companies, PEOs are contracted when an employer already has staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.

Staffing Agency - An entity that procures temporary or part-time employment for a person who then works under the supervision of a worksite employer.

Talent Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment or placement for an artist. (Certain art forms are excluded)

American Staffing Association
Staffing, recruiting, and workforce solution industry advocacy group.

National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS)
Education and training oriented association for personnel services providers.

National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO)
Provides advocacy efforts, information, and other services to members of the employment industry.

Revised July 02, 2024. Complete data last reviewed March 12, 2018.
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