Lawrence County does business
with its own.
A free directory for the businesses, farms, and tradespeople of Lawrence County — and a board where neighbors find each other when they need a hire, a partner, a supplier, or just someone who still answers the phone.
Business Directory
See who’s actually operating here, what they sell, and how to find them.
Business Synergy
Looking for a partner, a hire, an investor, or a new venture? Post it here.
Register Free
Add your business or put out the word on what you’re looking for.
Why It Matters
Every listing here is a neighbor. Not a corporation with a call center three states away.
Money Stays Home
Dollars spent with a local business get spent again right here — on payroll, supplies, and the next shop down the road — instead of leaving the county for good.
You Know Who You’re Paying
No call centers. When something goes sideways, you can walk in the door and talk to the person whose name is on the truck.
Neighbors Hiring Neighbors
Every local business that grows is another local job, another kid’s ballgame sponsored, another family that gets to stay in Lawrence County.
Recently Listed
Open Synergy Needs
See all →A reliable plumber for remodel jobs. Wholesale eggs by the flat. A spare commercial oven to share. This is where local businesses find each other.
About Ignite Lawrence
Ignite Lawrence is a free, open directory for the businesses, farms, and tradespeople of Lawrence County — a place to be found, and a place to find each other. No membership fee. No gatekeeping. If you operate here, you belong here.
The Directory helps neighbors find local businesses instead of driving out of the county or hitting “buy now” somewhere else. The Synergy Board helps businesses find each other — a hire, a supplier, a partner, an investor, or just a good idea that needs a second set of hands.
Get Listed
Any business, farm, or tradesperson in Lawrence County can register for free. Listings are reviewed before going live.
Get Found
Neighbors search and filter by business type to find exactly who they need — plumber, farm stand, pharmacy, and more.
Get Connected
Post what your business is looking for on the Synergy Board, and let other local businesses reach out to you.
Mike Bias, BSN, RN, CEN
Lawrence County supporter and community volunteer. Ignite Lawrence was built as a free community resource — independent of any campaign, organization, or fundraising effort — so local businesses and farms can connect with the neighbors who actually want to support them.
Business Resources
A short list of real, current resources for starting, licensing, funding, and getting free advice on a Lawrence County business. These are independent state and nonprofit programs — not affiliated with Ignite Lawrence. Always confirm current details directly with the program before applying.
Start or Register a Business
Step-by-step guidance from the Ohio Secretary of State on registering your business, getting an EIN, and required filings.
Licensing & Vendor's License
Register for a vendor's license (sales tax) through the Ohio Business Gateway, and look up industry-specific licensing requirements.
Free One-on-One Business Advising
The Ohio SBDC at OSU South Centers provides no-cost, confidential business counseling and covers Lawrence County directly.
Lawrence County Community Foundation
Local grants (typically $500–$5,000) for projects benefiting Lawrence County. Requires nonprofit/public organization status, or a fiscal sponsor partnership.
Ohio Microbusiness Development Program
Funding and training for very small businesses (5 or fewer employees), delivered through local nonprofit partners statewide.
U.S. Small Business Administration
Federal loan programs, microloans, and general startup guidance for small businesses nationwide, including Ohio-specific district offices.
SCORE — Free Business Mentoring
One-on-one mentoring from experienced business volunteers, completely free and confidential. Remote mentoring is available statewide even without a nearby chapter.
USDA Rural Business Development Grants
Funds rural business support, training, and infrastructure. Note: only public bodies, tribes, and nonprofits can apply directly — individual businesses access this through a local partner.
For Farmers & Agricultural Producers
Lawrence County has real farm country, and USDA/state programs are built specifically for operations this size — not just large commercial farms.
Find Your Local USDA Office
Connects you to the Farm Service Agency, NRCS, and Rural Development office serving Lawrence County — for farm loans, disaster assistance, and conservation programs.
USDA Farm Service Agency — Ohio
Farm operating and ownership loans, emergency loans, disaster programs, and Conservation Reserve Program enrollment.
Ohio Department of Agriculture
State-level ag resources, including the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program and other grants and support for Ohio producers.
OSU Extension — Lawrence County Office
Located at the Lawrence County Courthouse (111 S 4th St, Ironton). Connects local producers with Ohio State's broader agriculture and natural resources programs.
lawrence.osu.edu → · 740-533-4322
USDA Rural Development
Value-Added Producer Grants, rural business development programs, and cooperative support for farm-based businesses looking to grow or diversify.
USDA REAP — Energy Grants & Loans
Grants and guaranteed loans for solar, HVAC, insulation, and other energy-efficiency upgrades — built for farms and rural small businesses with high utility bills. Application windows open periodically; confirm current status before applying.
NRCS — Conservation Cost-Share
Financial and technical assistance for conservation practices, often paired with FSA. Lawrence County is a named eligible county in NRCS's Southern Ohio Appalachian outreach project.
Know a resource that should be on this list? Email mike@mikebias.com and it'll get added.
First 90 Days Guides
Short, practical checklists for the moments that trip people up. General information, not legal advice — confirm specifics with the linked agency for your situation.
✅ Just Got Your Vendor's License — Next Steps
- Get a Federal EIN from the IRS if you don't already have one — needed for taxes and most business banking.
- Open a dedicated business bank account. Keeping business and personal money separate makes tax season far less painful.
- Know your sales tax filing frequency (monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual) — the Ohio Business Gateway will assign this when you register.
- Set a recurring reminder for filing deadlines. Missing one is the most common (and avoidable) new-business mistake.
- Check whether your city or township requires anything additional — a local business permit, signage permit, or zoning approval.
- If you're planning to hire, see the guide below before your first payday.
✅ First Hire in Ohio
- Register with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) — required before your new hire starts their first day. Ohio has a state-run fund, not private workers' comp insurance.
- Register for Ohio Unemployment Insurance through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).
- Have your new hire complete federal Form I-9 (work eligibility) and Ohio Form IT-4 (state tax withholding) — keep both in their personnel file.
- Report the new hire to the Ohio New Hire Reporting Center within 20 days of their start date (required by law, used for child support enforcement).
- Post required workplace posters (federal and Ohio labor law notices) somewhere visible.
- Check if the employee lives in a school district that levies a school district income tax — about 190 Ohio districts do, and it's easy to miss.
✅ Farm Stand Food-Safety Basics
- Fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables generally don't need a license to sell at a stand or market.
- "Cottage foods" (baked goods, jams, dried mixes — things that don't need refrigeration) don't require a state license either, but must be labeled "This product is home produced."
- Anything that needs refrigeration to stay safe (cheesecake, cream pies, custards) requires a Home Bakery License from the Ohio Department of Agriculture — about $10/year plus a kitchen inspection.
- Register your farm or farmers market for free with the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Division — this can exempt you from needing a separate local health department license.
- If you're selling anything outside the cottage-food list, or the market isn't ODA-registered, check with your local health district before you set up.
- Cottage food sales are Ohio-only — no shipping or selling across state lines under this exemption.
Business Directory
Business Synergy Board
Get Listed
List Your Business
For businesses, farms, and tradespeople across Lawrence County. Submissions are reviewed before they go live.
Get Your Shop Local Sticker
If your business is listed on Ignite Lawrence, print this out and put it on your door or window so folks know you're part of the network — and that you're keeping business local.
Tip: in the print dialog, choose "Save as PDF" if you'd rather email it to a print shop than print it directly.