Ohio statutory agent (registered agent) service. $49 a year, and we file it.
An Ohio statutory agent, called a registered agent in most states, is the person or company on the state record that accepts lawsuits and official notices for your LLC or corporation. We are that agent for $49 per business per year. You e-sign the consent and we file the appointment, or the Form 521 agent change, with the Ohio Secretary of State. Papers come to our Litchfield, Ohio office and are scanned to your client portal the same business day, with no per-document or forwarding fees.
No contract. Cancel any time; your appointment with the state stays in place until a replacement agent is filed.
Litchfield, OH 44253
What Ohio requires of a statutory agent
Ohio statutory agent requirements, in full →- ✓Statutory agent appointment at our Litchfield, Ohio address, filed by us
- ✓Form 521 agent change prepared and filed for you (state fee $25)
- ✓Same-day scanning, notifications, and phone escalation
- ✓Owner, employee, and attorney roles
- ✓Same price at renewal and for every entity you add
Statutory agent or registered agent: same job, two names.
Ohio law says statutory agent; most other states say registered agent. Pick the page that matches how you searched, or compare providers before you decide.
Ohio statutory agent service
What Ohio's statute asks of an agent, and how we meet it for your LLC, corporation, or nonprofit.
Ohio statutory agent →Ohio registered agent service
The same role under its national name, for owners and out-of-state companies searching that way.
Ohio registered agent →Best Ohio registered agent
Seven services compared on price, renewal, Ohio office, who files the agent change, and scans.
See the comparison →Best Ohio statutory agent
The same seven agents checked against ORC 1706.09: address, acceptance, Form 521, and speed.
See the Ohio-law checklist →Us vs. a typical national registered agent
| What you get | Ohio Registered Statutory Agent | Typical national service |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $49 per business | $99 to $159 for standard plans; enterprise plans higher |
| At renewal | $49, the same every year | Some renew higher than year one |
| Form 521 agent change | We prepare and file it after you e-sign | Varies: filed for you, sold as an add-on, or left to you |
| Document scans | Every document, same business day, no limit | Same-day for legal papers; routine mail may be capped |
| Ohio office | Our own office in Litchfield, Medina County | An Ohio office plus offices in other states |
Receiving the mail is the easy part.
The work is making sure the right person sees it, acknowledges it, and knows where the original is.
Receive
Process servers and state agencies deliver to our Litchfield office. Staff record the date, time, and method of delivery and photograph the envelope.
Scan and classify
Every page is scanned the same business day. Service of process is marked urgent, state notices for attention, and everything else routine.
Notify and escalate
Authorized contacts get email and text the moment a document is published. Urgent items escalate to a phone call if nobody acknowledges them.
Store or forward
Ask for the original and we ship it signature-required with no handling fee; you pay only the carrier's charge, at cost. Served originals are kept for seven years, state and tax mail for three years, routine mail for 30 days.
One Ohio office. One price. A portal that does the follow-up.
Plenty of agents will take $49 and email you a PDF. We built the part that comes after: knowing who saw it, who acknowledged it, where the original is, and who to call when nobody answers.
See what's included →$49 every year
Not an introductory rate. Same price at renewal, same price for your tenth entity.
No per-document fees
Unlimited scans, pages, and authorized contacts. No forwarding fee either: when you want a physical original shipped, you pay only the carrier's charge, at cost.
Acknowledgment, tracked
We record who opened a document and who acknowledged it, and we call when nobody does.
Roles, not a shared login
Owner, employee, and attorney access, scoped per entity and per document category.
We file the agent change
Sign the consent in the portal and we prepare and file the appointment with the Ohio Secretary of State. One office, in Litchfield; Ohio is all we do.
Filing guides included
How each Ohio form works, what the state charges, and the exact agent entries if you file your own formation. Read the guides →
Four kinds of client, one portal.
Your first business
LLC, corporation, or nonprofit: you're about to form the business and need an agent address that isn't your kitchen table. We can file the formation too.
Filing guides →Several entities
Holding companies, rental LLCs, a side business. One login, one price per entity, permissions set per entity.
Pricing →Attorneys and accountants
Manage clients' entities from one account. Attorney-role access is scoped to the entities you're assigned.
For professionals →Switching agents
Leaving a national agent or a friend's office address. Sign the consent in the portal and we file the agent change with the state.
Switching →Formation, filings, and documents. Flat fees, from the same office.
Start the entity, register it from out of state, register a trade name, amend or dissolve it, get the EIN, elect S-corp, order a certificate of good standing, the record book and seal, or an apostille. State fees are listed beside ours, never folded in.
Business Formation
We prepare and file your Ohio Articles of Organization or Incorporation with the Secretary of State, appoint ourselves as your statutory agent, and hand back a filed entity ready to open a bank account.
$100 plus the $99 Ohio state filing fee →Foreign Business Registration
Already formed in another state? We register your LLC or corporation to do business in Ohio, appoint ourselves as your Ohio statutory agent, and file with the Secretary of State.
$100 plus the $99 Ohio state fee; corporations also need a home-state certificate of good standing →Trade Name (DBA) Registration
Operate under a name other than your legal name? We check availability and file the trade name or fictitious name registration with the Ohio Secretary of State.
$50 plus the $39 Ohio state filing fee →Name Reservation
Not ready to file yet? We reserve your LLC or corporation name with the Ohio Secretary of State so nobody else can register it in the meantime.
$50 plus the $39 Ohio state filing fee →Amendment to Articles
Changing your entity's name, purpose, or share count? We prepare and file the amendment to your Ohio articles with the Secretary of State.
$75 plus the $50 Ohio state filing fee →Dissolution and Cancellation
Closing the business? We prepare and file the certificate of dissolution with the Ohio Secretary of State, or surrender an out-of-state entity's Ohio registration.
$75 plus the $50 Ohio state filing fee →Tax ID (EIN)
We obtain your federal Employer Identification Number from the IRS so you can open a bank account, hire, and apply for licenses. $50 online; $200 when the IRS requires a paper filing.
$50 $200 when the IRS requires a paper Form SS-4 →S-Corp Election
We prepare and file IRS Form 2553 so your LLC or corporation is taxed as an S corporation, which can reduce self-employment tax for owners who pay themselves a salary.
$100 →Certificate of Good Standing
Banks, lenders, and other states ask for proof that your Ohio entity is active. We order the certificate of good standing from the Secretary of State and deliver it to your portal.
$25 plus the $5 Ohio state certificate fee →Corporate Book
A binder built for your entity: filed articles, operating agreement or bylaws, membership or stock certificates, ledger, and minutes, organized so a bank or buyer can read it.
$60 →Corporate Seal
A hand-held embosser that presses your entity name, state, and year of formation into paper. Used on certificates, resolutions, and documents some banks and foreign authorities still ask to see sealed.
$40 →Apostille
We obtain a certified copy of your Ohio filing and have the Ohio Secretary of State attach an apostille, so the document is accepted in any country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention.
$300 state certification and apostille fees included →A Business Tools workspace for the work an agent doesn't do.
A business phone line, website hosting with an AI website builder, a CRM, invoicing and estimates, texting, and online booking. Add it to any order; cancel any time. Statutory-agent records stay in the portal; nothing is written into your workspace.
About Business Tools →What is an Ohio statutory agent?
An Ohio statutory agent is the person or company named on the Ohio Secretary of State's record to receive lawsuits and official notices for a business. Most states call the role a registered agent; Ohio's statutes say "statutory agent." It is one job under two names. Our Ohio statutory agent service page and our Ohio registered agent service page each cover it from that angle.
The requirement is in the Ohio Revised Code: section 1706.09 for LLCs, 1701.07 for for-profit corporations, and 1702.06 for nonprofit corporations. Each says the entity must keep an agent in Ohio. Out-of-state LLCs registered here need one under 1706.09, and out-of-state corporations licensed here keep a "designated agent" under 1703.041.
Who can be an Ohio statutory agent?
Two kinds of agent qualify under ORC 1706.09(A) and 1701.07(A): a natural person who lives in Ohio, or a business entity with an Ohio business address. An owner who lives in Ohio can serve as their own agent. An owner who lives elsewhere cannot, and needs an Ohio resident or a commercial agent.
Whoever serves must agree in writing. The agent signs an acceptance of the appointment, and the Secretary of State will not file original articles without it. Our guide to Ohio statutory agent requirements goes through each rule.
Does an Ohio statutory agent need a physical address?
Yes. An individual agent lists the street address of their primary residence in Ohio. A business agent lists its usual place of business in Ohio, which ORC 1706.09(C) defines as a place customarily open during normal business hours where someone authorized to accept service is generally present. A post office box never qualifies, even one with a street-style address.
Our agent address is 3416 Erhart Road, Litchfield, Ohio 44253, staffed Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET. That address goes on your record instead of your home.
How is a statutory agent appointed in Ohio?
A new business names its agent in its formation filing. For an Ohio LLC that is the Articles of Organization, Form 610, which has an appointment section and an acceptance section for the agent to sign; the state fee is $99. No separate agent fee applies when the agent is named in the articles.
An existing business that changes agents files a Statutory Agent Update, Form 521, with a $25 state fee. When you sign up with us, you e-sign the consent in the portal and we prepare and file the appointment or Form 521. See how switching agents works for the timeline.
How much does an Ohio statutory agent cost?
Serving as your own agent is free. Standard plans from commercial agents we checked in October 2026 list $49 to $159 a year, enterprise providers charge more, and some renew higher than the first-year price. Our service is $49 per business per year, the same at renewal, with no per-document or forwarding fees.
The Ohio statutory agent pricing page lists every state fee next to ours. To see how other providers compare, read our best Ohio registered agent comparison or the best Ohio statutory agent checklist, which judges the same providers against Ohio law.
What happens when service of process arrives at our Ohio office?
A process server, sheriff, or certified-mail carrier delivers to our office at 3416 Erhart Road in Litchfield. Here is what follows:
- We log the delivery and match the papers to the business named on them.
- Every page is scanned and published to your portal the same business day it arrives.
- A summons, complaint, subpoena, or garnishment is marked urgent. Every authorized contact is notified, and if nobody acknowledges it we pick up the phone.
- The portal keeps a timestamped trail of who was notified and who acknowledged the document.
- We keep the served original for seven years, or ship it to you on request at the carrier's actual charge.
We tell you what arrived and when. What to do about it, and by when, is a question for your attorney. We do not give legal advice or track the deadlines printed in court papers.
What does an Ohio statutory agent receive?
Lawsuits get the attention, but most of what reaches an agent is official mail. We sort everything into three groups, each handled and kept differently:
- Service of process: summonses, complaints, subpoenas, and garnishments. Marked urgent, with phone escalation. Originals kept seven years.
- State and tax correspondence: letters from the Ohio Secretary of State, the Department of Taxation, and other agencies. Flagged for attention. Originals kept three years.
- Routine mail: everything else addressed to the business. Scanned and published like the rest. Originals kept 30 days.
An agent is a receiving address with people behind it. It is not your lawyer or your accountant. We make sure you know, the same business day, that something arrived and who has seen it.
Can a statutory agent keep my home address off the public record?
Yes, for the agent entry. Ohio's business records are public, and the agent's name and address are part of them. If you name yourself, the law requires the street address of your primary residence, which then shows up in the Secretary of State's search results and is where a process server will knock.
With a commercial agent, the agent's address goes on the record instead. Other filings may still ask for names or addresses, so read each form before you file it. Our registered agent privacy guide covers what stays public.
Should I be my own Ohio statutory agent or hire a service?
You can be your own agent if you live in Ohio. Before you decide, ask yourself a few plain questions:
- Are you home, or is someone authorized to sign for papers, during normal business hours?
- Are you comfortable with your home address on the public record?
- If you move, will you remember to file the change? The state charges $25 to record a new agent or a new agent address.
- Will a lawsuit sitting in your mailbox while you are on vacation hurt the business?
If any answer worries you, a service makes sense. If no agent can be found at the address on record, a plaintiff can serve the Secretary of State instead, and service is complete once the state mails the papers to the last address it has (ORC 1706.09(H)). Our guide on being your own registered agent in Ohio covers the trade-offs.
A local registered agent for your Ohio LLC or corporation
We are an Ohio company with one office, in Medina County, and Ohio is the only state we serve. Our service is $49 per business per year, paid by card at signup and renewed at the same price, with an email before each renewal. Scans are free, and you can add as many authorized contacts as you need.
Signing up takes four steps: create a portal account, add your business, e-sign the appointment consent, and pay. We file the appointment or Form 521 with the Secretary of State. Your appointment shows Pending until the state record lists us, then Active. Hire us as your Ohio registered agent, or call (877) 908-6122, Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET.
Ohio registered agent and statutory agent questions
What is a registered agent in Ohio?
It is the person or company named on the state record to receive lawsuits and official notices for your business. Ohio's statutes call this role a statutory agent. The agent must be an Ohio resident or an authorized business with an Ohio address, and the agent's name and address are public. When papers arrive, the agent's job is to get them to you quickly.
Is a registered agent required in Ohio?
Yes, every Ohio LLC, for-profit corporation, and nonprofit corporation must keep a statutory agent under ORC 1706.09, 1701.07, and 1702.06. Out-of-state LLCs and corporations registered in Ohio need one too. The Secretary of State will not accept original articles without an agent appointment, and it can cancel an entity that goes without an agent after notice.
Is a statutory agent the same as a registered agent?
Yes, "statutory agent" is simply the term Ohio law and the Ohio Secretary of State use for what most other states call a registered agent. The duties are the same: accept service of process and official mail at an in-state address and pass it to the business. Ohio's LLC statute even describes the agent's work as "the services of a registered agent."
Who can be a statutory agent in Ohio?
An individual who lives in Ohio, or a business entity with an Ohio business address that is authorized to act as agent. An individual lists the street address of their primary residence. A business lists its usual place of business, which must be open during normal business hours, staffed by someone who can accept papers, and cannot be a P.O. box.
What address can I use for my Ohio statutory agent?
It must be a real Ohio street address, not a P.O. box. An individual agent lists the street address of their primary residence in Ohio. A business acting as agent lists its usual place of business, a place open during normal business hours where someone authorized to accept papers is generally present. When we are your agent, the address on record is ours.
Does an Ohio statutory agent have to be available during business hours?
Yes, for a business acting as agent. ORC 1706.09(C) requires its Ohio address to be customarily open during normal business hours, with someone authorized to accept service generally present. An individual agent must be reachable at their Ohio home. Our Litchfield office is staffed Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET.
How is a statutory agent appointed for a new Ohio LLC?
In the Articles of Organization, Form 610. The form has an appointment section naming the agent and an acceptance section the agent signs. The Secretary of State will not file the articles without both (ORC 1706.09(B)). The state fee for the articles is $99, with no separate charge for naming the agent.
Which Ohio form changes a statutory agent, and what does it cost?
The Statutory Agent Update, Form 521, filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. The state fee is $25 under ORC 111.16(R)(1), and the same form records a new address for the current agent. When you switch to us, we prepare and file Form 521 after you e-sign the consent.
What do commercial statutory agents in Ohio charge?
The commercial agents we checked in October 2026 listed $49 to $159 a year for one entity on standard plans. Three Ohio-only agents, including us, list $49; national providers list $99 to $159, and some renew higher than the first year. An enterprise provider lists $436 for new customers. State fees are always separate.
What services do Ohio registered agents usually include?
Most Ohio commercial agent plans include same-day scans of served papers, lawsuit alerts, an online document portal, and help filing the agent appointment or Form 521. Some national providers add a compliance calendar, and one caps free scans of routine mail. Our $49 plan scans every document the same business day and alerts every authorized contact by email and text. If a lawsuit goes unacknowledged, we call. We file the appointment or Form 521 and forward originals at the carrier's actual charge. We do not send compliance reminders or give legal advice.
What happens if my Ohio LLC doesn't have a statutory agent?
The Secretary of State can cancel it. Under ORC 1706.09, the state sends notice, and if the missing agent isn't fixed within 30 days, the articles or registration are canceled. Reinstatement is possible within two years. Meanwhile, anyone suing the LLC can serve the Secretary of State, and service is complete once the state mails the papers to the last address it has.
Does an out-of-state company need an Ohio statutory agent?
Yes, if it is registered or licensed to do business in Ohio. Foreign LLCs must keep an agent under ORC 1706.09, and foreign corporations must keep a "designated agent" under ORC 1703.041. The agent must be an Ohio resident or a business with an Ohio address. Whether your activity requires registering in Ohio at all is a question for your attorney.
Is it worth having a registered agent?
For most owners, yes, because a missed lawsuit costs far more than the yearly fee. A service keeps your home address off the agent record, is staffed during business hours, and gives you a scan and a notice the day papers arrive. If you live in Ohio, are home during the day, and don't mind the public listing, serving as your own agent can work.