Businesses that want to use the Ohio Business Gateway to access services and submit transactions with OBG partner agencies must first establish an account on OBG.
OBG accounts are based upon the business's Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN, or a SSN in the case of a sole proprietor without a FEIN). One or more user accounts (usernames) may be created under a FEIN.
Creating an account on OBG for the purpose of electronic filing is not the same as registering the business with any federal, state, or local agency. For more information about starting a business and registering, please see our page containing information for new businesses.
If a person owns multiple businesses with different FEINs, multiple OBG company accounts will need to be created, one for each business.
OBG Company Accounts are created (when needed) as part of the process to create a new OBG username. Company accounts are only created if no one has ever previously created an OBG username to utilize OBG services on behalf of a given FEIN or SSN.
Only a small amount of data is required to create an OBG company account, such as the FEIN/SSN, company name, and contact information for a company representative (the representative may also be an OBG user).
The link to Create an OBG Username is available from the OBG Electronic Filing login page. The person will first be asked to provide the FEIN (or SSN) on whose behalf the person would like to access OBG services. Based on the FEIN/SSN provided, two scenarios may result.
If no OBG username has ever been created for the FEIN/SSN, then the person creating an OBG username will be asked to enter information to create both the OBG company account as well as their own OBG username. This person will also become the initial OBG Administrator (formerly known as a primary user) for the business as defined by the FEIN/SSN. The OBG Administrator has the ability to create additional users and assign those users' access to OBG services on behalf of the business. If additional user accounts are needed, they can be created after the OBG company account and administrator's Username is created.
If any username already exists to access OBG services on behalf of the business as defined by the FEIN/SSN, then the person attempting to create an OBG username will be asked to enter their personal information and the existing OBG administrator(s) for the business will be emailed. The email will instruct the business's OBG administrator on how to approve or reject the person's request for a username to access OBG services on behalf of the business. Full creation of the username will be on hold pending action by the business's OBG administrator. The person will be given a hint as to who is currently serving as the business's OBG adminstrator(s). Once an administrator has approved the person's request and assigned the person's level of access to use OBG services on behalf of the business, the username will be fully created and the person will receive their password via email at the email address they provided.
Also, please see Creating and Managing Users for additional information about individual user accounts (usernames).
Generally speaking, businesses can not independently change their FEIN on OBG. A business needing to change the FEIN associated with the Company's OBG account should contact the OBG Help Desk for assistance.
If the business has obtained a new FEIN because of acquisition or other corporate change, it is usually appropriate to create an additional OBG account for the new FEIN while leaving the existing OBG account for the old FEIN in place. Additional individual user accounts (if any) would need to be created under the new FEIN as well.
If a business has been operating under an SSN and has now obtained an FEIN, it is usually appropriate to create an additional OBG account for the new FEIN while leaving the existing OBG account for the SSN in place.