How to Form an LLC in Ohio
$199 flat covers preparing and filing your Articles of Organization with the Ohio Secretary of State. Add the state's $99 filing fee, and budget $99/year on its own for the statutory agent every Ohio LLC has to maintain.
An Ohio LLC comes into existence through one document: the Articles of Organization, Form 610, delivered to the Ohio Secretary of State with a $99 fee. The statute behind it, ORC 1706.16, puts it plainly: "one or more persons shall execute articles of organization and deliver the articles to the secretary of state for filing." This page covers the statute, the fees, both filing routes, the ongoing obligations, and the part we take off your plate.
File Your Ohio LLC — $199
We do the paperwork and file it with the Ohio Secretary of State for $199, then hand you the state's approval when it comes back.
What an LLC Does for You in Ohio
LLCs give business owners a layer of protection: business debts and lawsuits generally stop at the business, not the owner. Statewide in Ohio, the LLC dominates among contractors, online sellers, real estate holders, and small partnerships for its mix of simplicity and protection.
The Ohio LLC Filing Fee: $99
The official Ohio filing fee is $99, fixed by ORC 111.16(F), which prices the filing and recording of articles of organization at "ninety-nine dollars." It is a flat fee, paid once at filing, and the Secretary of State's filing forms and fee schedule lists it. Expedited handling is available for an extra $100 if you need the approval sooner.
Just as important is the fee Ohio never charges: there is no annual report and no recurring Secretary of State fee after formation.
Ohio LLC Costs at a Glance
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee (Ohio Secretary of State) | $99 one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Ohio LLC) | $99/year |
| State annual report fee | None (not required) |
$199 for our work, the state fee straight to the Ohio Secretary of State, and the agent service at $99/year: those are the three line items.
Important Ohio-specific notes: No yearly report, no franchise tax, no recurring state fees. The one-time $99 Ohio filing fee is separate from our $199 formation service and the $99/year agent fee. Ohio's Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) can apply once gross receipts pass the statutory threshold; it is filed with the Department of Taxation, not the Secretary of State.
Articles of Organization: Form 610
Ohio's formation document is the Articles of Organization for a Domestic Limited Liability Company, Form 610 (the current revision replaced the older Form 533A). You can download the PDF and mail it in, or file online through Ohio Business Central, the Secretary of State's filing portal. Online submission is typically the quicker route; paper works if you prefer mail.
The form asks for the essentials: your LLC's name, your registered agent's name and Ohio address, and the organizer's signature.
How to Form an LLC in Ohio, Step by Step
- Pick an available name. Check it against existing registrations with the Secretary of State's business search and include a limited liability indicator such as LLC. Skip names that imply a bank, insurer, or government agency unless you hold the license to match.
- Appoint a registered agent. ORC 1706.09 requires every Ohio LLC to maintain an agent for service of process, called the statutory agent in the statute, with a real Ohio address; a PO box does not qualify. Our agent service is $99/year and keeps your own address out of the public record.
- File Form 610 with the $99 fee. Submit online at Ohio Business Central or mail the paper form. Expedited handling runs an extra $100 if you are in a hurry.
- Adopt an operating agreement. Ohio does not require one to be filed, but without one the statutory defaults decide ownership splits, votes, and exits, and those defaults were not written with your business in mind.
- Get an EIN from the IRS. Free at IRS.gov, issued on the spot online. Banks and payroll providers will ask for it. Never pay a middleman for one.
- Keep the LLC compliant. Ohio asks for no annual report, so ongoing compliance is mostly keeping your registered agent current (changes go on Form 521 with a $25 fee), keeping business and personal finances strictly separate, and meeting tax obligations, including the Commercial Activity Tax if receipts cross the statutory threshold.
If you'd rather outsource: $199 covers the whole filing through our service.
Registered Agents in Ohio
Every Ohio LLC must maintain a registered agent continuously; ORC 1706.09 makes it a standing requirement, not a one-time box to check. Ohio's paperwork calls the role the statutory agent. The agent must:
- Keep a real Ohio address (the statute rules out PO boxes explicitly)
- Be available during normal business hours to accept service of process
- Pass documents along fast enough to protect the LLC's response deadlines
Owners who self-appoint discover the catch afterward: the agent's address is public, visible to anyone in the Secretary of State's records.
For just $99 per year, our agent plan covers Ohio. We're the address shown to the public; yours stays out of sight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Ohio?
The official Ohio filing fee is $99 under ORC 111.16(F), and no annual report fee ever follows it. Our formation service adds a one-time $199, with agent service billed separately at $99/year.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Ohio?
Processing time depends on the state's queue. Filing online through Ohio Business Central generally moves faster than mailing paper, and the state offers expedited handling for an extra $100.
Does Ohio require an annual report?
No. Ohio LLCs file no annual report at all, and there is no recurring Secretary of State fee. The Commercial Activity Tax is the main recurring state obligation to watch, and it goes to the Department of Taxation, not the Secretary of State.
Do I need a registered agent for my Ohio LLC?
Yes. ORC 1706.09 requires every Ohio LLC to maintain a statutory agent, Ohio's term for a registered agent, with an Ohio address. It's a continuous obligation, not a one-time setup.
Can I form an LLC in Ohio if I live in another state?
Yes. Ohio does not require owners to be residents. The registered agent is the piece that must be Ohio-based, and we provide that as a $99/year service.
Start Your Ohio LLC the Right Way
Filing directly with the Ohio Secretary of State through Ohio Business Central is always an option; the $99 state fee and the agent requirement apply either way.
Our team serves as the registered agent you list on the Ohio formation filing. For $99 per year you get an in-state Ohio address on the public record, same-day scanning of state and legal notices, and deadline reminders ahead of each compliance date.
Only need the Ohio registered agent? Our agent plan on its own is $99 annually.
More to know about Ohio LLCs or our agent service? Our FAQ handles most questions; the contact form is open for the rest.
Ready to file your Ohio LLC?
$199 covers formation, filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. Ongoing compliance runs $99/year for the statutory agent fee — billed separately, after your LLC exists.