Ohio Secretary of State UCC Forms - Which One Do I Need for Equipment Financing?

The equipment will be bolted to concrete pads but it's not really integrated into the building systems. It's more like heavy machinery that just needs to be secured for safety. Does that still count as a fixture?

That's a gray area. The fact that it's bolted down could make it a fixture under Ohio law, but if it's easily removable and serves your business rather than the building itself, it might remain personal property. I'd lean toward a fixture filing to be safe.

That's reassuring. What did you put in the collateral description section? I'm worried about being too vague or too specific.

We kept it pretty general - 'all machinery and equipment used in manufacturing operations' plus we listed the specific high-value pieces by serial number. Ohio SOS seemed fine with that approach.

Be careful with overly broad descriptions. Ohio has rejected filings for being too vague. Better to be specific about the type of equipment and include serial numbers where possible.

Never heard of that but it sounds useful. Did it help with figuring out which form to use or just checking the details?

Mainly checking details but it does give you feedback on whether your collateral description is appropriate for the type of filing. Really helpful for avoiding those stupid mistakes that cause rejections.

This is exactly right. I've filed dozens of these in Ohio and the regular UCC-1 covers most equipment financing situations. Don't overthink it.

Ok so it sounds like I should go with the standard UCC-1. What about the debtor name - do I use our exact legal name from the articles of incorporation?

Yes, use the exact legal name from your articles of incorporation. Ohio is strict about debtor name accuracy. Even small variations can cause problems later.

Tell me about it. Their search function is useless and half the links are broken. At least the forms are free to download once you find them.

true but then you spend hours making sure you filled it out right only to have it rejected for some tiny mistake

Unfortunately we're trying to keep costs down and our attorney is already charging enough for the loan documentation. Hoping I can handle the UCC filing myself.

Understandable, but consider that a rejected filing could delay your loan closing and cost more in the long run. At minimum, triple-check the debtor name matches your corporate records exactly.

I've seen deals fall apart over UCC filing mistakes. The attorney fee is usually worth it for peace of mind.

Several people have mentioned this tool now. Is it free to use?

There's a cost but it's pretty reasonable compared to dealing with rejected filings and delays. The verification happens instantly which is nice when you're up against deadlines.

That helps clarify things. Our machinery is definitely removable even though it's heavy and bolted down for stability.

Then you're good with the standard UCC-1. Just make sure your collateral description is specific enough to identify the equipment but not so detailed that it becomes unwieldy.

Good advice. I usually include manufacturer, model, and serial number for expensive equipment, then a general description for smaller items.

I think I found what you're talking about but it's not super helpful for specific situations like this. More general guidance about what UCC filings are for.

Yeah, it's pretty basic. Still better than nothing though. At least it confirms which form numbers to use for different situations.

Good point. I need to double-check that with our loan officer. I assumed it would be the bank but you're right that it could be different.

Definitely confirm before filing. It's one of those details that's easy to get wrong and can cause headaches later.

This is why I always get a draft UCC-1 from the lender rather than trying to prepare it myself. Let them tell you exactly how they want it filled out.

Glad it worked out! Always nerve-wracking when you're dealing with important filings like that.

Nice! Certana.ai really does catch those little details that are easy to miss. Saved me from similar problems.

Good to hear a success story. How long did it take for Ohio SOS to process your filing?

It was processed within 24 hours. Pretty quick turnaround for Ohio.