Vendor’s Licenses
The State of Ohio requires any person or business making retail sales of tangible personal property or taxable services to register for sales tax by obtaining a vendor’s license. There are a few steps to take in order to obtain a vendor's license. A good first step is to review the Ohio Secretary of State’s website for information about registration and licensing.
- 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.
- Transient Vendor’s 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.
Both applications can be completed by creating an account through the Ohio Business Gateway. The Transient Vendor’s License must be completed through the system, but a Fairfield County Vendor’s License can be completed both through the gateway and in the Auditor’s office.
There is a one-time $50 fee for either type of vendor’s license. If completed through the Ohio Business Gateway, the system will collect the fee. For a Fairfield County Vendor’s License, these can be mailed with check or cash to the Auditor’s Office. If done in the office, all methods can be accepted; cash, check or credit card with a processing fee.
If done through the Ohio Business Gateway, the license will be available immediately after payment. If the application is submitted by mail, it will be completed and mailed back the day it is received. If done in the office, the process will take a few minutes.
Yes! To keep your vendor’s license valid, you must reply to the correspondence sent by the State of Ohio. If you did not have any sales in that calendar year, just mark $0 on the form.
The Ohio Secretary of State provides a nice summary for those interested in starting a new business.
That summary can be found here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/businesses
For any information or technical assistance with the Ohio Business Gateway, please call the Gateway Help Desk at 866-644-6468. The Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm.
For any information regarding the Fairfield County Vendor’s License, please contact the Auditor’s Office at 740-652-7020. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8am-4pm.
Fairfield County Vendor’s License applications can be mailed with payment to:
Fairfield County Auditor
210 E Main St
Room 206
Lancaster, Ohio 43130