Ohio makes LLC formation simple and cheap to maintain. You file Articles of Organization (Form 610) with the Ohio Secretary of State for $99 as of October 2026, set by ORC 111.16, and that is the only state filing fee most Ohio LLCs ever pay: Ohio does not require LLCs to file annual reports.
You will still need a statutory agent (Ohio’s name for a registered agent), an operating agreement, an EIN and the right tax registrations. Since 2025, the Commercial Activity Tax no longer applies to businesses with $6 million or less in taxable gross receipts, so most new LLCs will not owe it.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Ohio (2026)
If you’d rather not handle forming an LLC in Ohio yourself, these are the services we recommend, in order. The table compares price and what’s included.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | OH Registered Agent.org | Ohio registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Ohio. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. OH Registered Agent.org
OH Registered Agent.org is a Ohio registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Ohio LLC at a glance (October 2026)
| Item | Ohio |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services |
| Formation document | Articles of Organization, Form 610 |
| Filing fee | $99 (SOS fee schedule) |
| How to file | Online through Ohio Business Central, or by mail |
| Annual report | None required for LLCs |
| Statutory agent | Required; Ohio resident or entity with an Ohio business address |
| Change of statutory agent | $25 (Form 521) |
| Commercial Activity Tax | Not owed at $6 million or less in taxable gross receipts (since 2025) |
Step 1: Choose a name for your Ohio LLC
Your LLC name needs a designator identifying it as a limited liability company, such as “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company,” and it must be distinguishable from names already on file. Check it with the Ohio business search before you file.
Our Ohio business name search guide explains how to read the results. A name that is open in Ohio may still be taken online, so check domains and social handles with Namechk, look for alternatives with the business name generator, and search the USPTO trademark database.
Step 2: Appoint an Ohio statutory agent
Under ORC 1706.09, every Ohio LLC must continuously maintain an agent for service of process in the state. Ohio calls this person the statutory agent. The agent can be:
- A natural person who lives in Ohio, such as an owner, or
- A corporation, LLC, partnership or other listed business entity with a business address in Ohio (foreign entities must be authorized to do business in Ohio)
The agent’s address must be an Ohio street address. The statute says a “usual place of business” does not include a post office box, even one with an associated street address, and commercial mail receiving agencies are not accepted either. The agent also has to sign an acceptance of the appointment.
Mainstay Filing includes an Ohio statutory agent for the first year as part of its formation service. If you only need an agent, OH Registered Agent.org provides one for a flat $99 per year. Changing agents later costs $25 using Form 521.
Step 3: File Articles of Organization (Form 610)
File online through Ohio Business Central, the Secretary of State’s online filing system linked from its business services page, or mail the paper Form 610. The fee is $99 either way, under ORC 1706.16 and ORC 111.16.
Form 610 asks for the LLC name, an optional effective date and purpose, the statutory agent and the agent’s Ohio street address with the agent’s signed acceptance, and the name and signature of the organizer.
For a cost breakdown that includes service fees, see the Ohio LLC cost guide from Mainstay Filing.
Step 4: Draft an operating agreement
Ohio does not require you to file an operating agreement with the Secretary of State. You should still write one. It records each member’s ownership share, how the company is managed, how profits are split, and how members join or leave.
Without one, Ohio’s default LLC rules apply. Banks commonly ask for a copy when you open the company’s account.
Step 5: Get an EIN and register for Ohio taxes
Apply for a free EIN with the IRS. Then register with the Ohio Department of Taxation for the taxes that apply to you, such as a vendor’s license for sales tax if you sell taxable goods or services, and employer withholding if you hire.
The Commercial Activity Tax is Ohio’s gross receipts tax. According to the Department of Taxation’s 2026 Small Business Tax Guide, as of January 1, 2025, businesses with $6 million or less in taxable gross receipts are no longer subject to the CAT. Many Ohio cities also levy a municipal income tax, so check with the city where the LLC operates.
Step 6: Keep the LLC in good standing (no annual report)
Ohio does not require LLCs to file an annual report, biennial report or statement of continued existence. Once your Articles of Organization are accepted, the LLC continues without a recurring Secretary of State filing or fee.
Without an annual report, nothing from the state will prompt you to review your records, so set your own yearly check of the agent, your business address and your operating agreement.
The one thing you must keep up is the statutory agent. If your agent moves, resigns or changes, file the update promptly, because continued failure to maintain a statutory agent can lead to the LLC’s cancellation.
Step 7: Licenses, permits and trade names
Ohio has no general statewide business license, but many professions and trades are licensed by state boards, and cities and counties may require their own permits or zoning approval.
If you will operate under a name other than the LLC’s legal name, register a trade name with the Secretary of State. For a full setup checklist, see our guide to starting a business in Ohio.
Ohio LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Ohio?
The Ohio Secretary of State charges $99 to file Articles of Organization (Form 610) as of October 2026. Ohio LLCs do not file annual reports, so there is no recurring Secretary of State fee. Optional costs include a commercial statutory agent, a trade name registration and any local licenses.
Does an Ohio LLC have to file an annual report?
No. Ohio does not require LLCs to file an annual report, biennial report or statement of continued existence with the Secretary of State. The main ongoing requirement is keeping a statutory agent on file. Tax filings with the Ohio Department of Taxation and your city are separate.
What is a statutory agent in Ohio?
A statutory agent is Ohio’s term for a registered agent: the person or company that receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC. Under ORC 1706.09 it must be an Ohio resident or a business entity with an Ohio business address, at a street address rather than a post office box.
Do Ohio LLCs pay the Commercial Activity Tax?
Only larger ones. According to the Ohio Department of Taxation, as of January 1, 2025, businesses with $6 million or less in taxable gross receipts are no longer subject to the Commercial Activity Tax. LLCs above that level register and file CAT returns quarterly.
Can I be my own statutory agent in Ohio?
Yes, if you are an Ohio resident with a usual place of business or residence at an Ohio street address. Your address becomes part of the public record, and you must be available to accept legal papers. Owners outside Ohio, or who want privacy, usually appoint a commercial agent.
How do I change my Ohio statutory agent?
File a statutory agent update (Form 521) with the Ohio Secretary of State. The fee is $25 under ORC 111.16, and the new agent must have an Ohio street address. Keeping this information current matters more in Ohio than in most states, because there is no annual report to prompt an update.
Does Ohio require an operating agreement?
Ohio does not require LLCs to file an operating agreement with the Secretary of State. Writing one is still recommended, because it sets ownership, management and profit-sharing terms that would otherwise follow Ohio’s default LLC rules, and banks commonly ask for it.
How do I file an Ohio LLC online?
Use Ohio Business Central, the Ohio Secretary of State’s online filing system. Complete the Articles of Organization (Form 610), include your statutory agent’s information and acceptance, and pay the $99 fee. You can also mail the paper Form 610 to the Secretary of State.
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