Filing guides

Forming any Ohio business, with the state fee listed plainly.

Every business entity registered in Ohio, from LLCs and corporations to nonprofits and partnerships, must keep a statutory agent at an Ohio street address. The filings below go to the Ohio Secretary of State, online through Ohio Business Central or by mail. State fees are paid to the state. We never mark them up, and we never file without you.

Enter this as your statutory agent on any form

Ohio Registered Statutory Agent LLC
3416 Erhart Road
Litchfield, OH 44253

The same entries work on every Ohio form. Sign up first so we can sign the agent acceptance and watch the state record for your filing. Your portal shows the appointment as Pending until the state accepts it.

Form 533A · $99 state fee · Online or by mail

Start an Ohio LLC

Check the name. Search Ohio Business Central. The name must include "LLC," "L.L.C.," or "Limited Liability Company" and be distinguishable from existing entities. Optional: reserve it for 180 days ($39).
Name your statutory agent. Use the entries above. We sign the acceptance.
File Articles of Organization (Form 533A). $99. Standard processing usually takes several business days; expedited processing is available for an added state fee.
After approval. Get an EIN from the IRS (free), register on the Ohio Business Gateway if you will collect sales tax or have employees, and adopt an operating agreement.

Ohio LLCs do not file annual reports. Keeping a statutory agent on record is the main ongoing state requirement.

Form 617 · $99 state fee · Online or by mail

Register an out-of-state LLC in Ohio

Check the name in Ohio. If it is already taken here, you will register under a different trade name for use in Ohio.
Name an Ohio statutory agent. Required for every foreign LLC; the address must be an Ohio street address. Use the entries above.
File Registration of a Foreign LLC (Form 617). $99, with a recent certificate of good standing from your home state.
After approval. Same tax registrations as a domestic LLC, if they apply to you. Your home-state filings continue as before.

Registering does not create a new company. It licenses your existing LLC to do business in Ohio.

Form 532A · $99 state fee · Online or by mail

Form an Ohio corporation

Check the name. It must include "Company," "Co.," "Corporation," "Corp.," "Incorporated," or "Inc." and be distinguishable from existing entities.
Name your statutory agent. Use the entries above. We sign the acceptance.
File Initial Articles of Incorporation (Form 532A). $99 covers up to 990 authorized shares; larger share counts raise the fee.
After approval. Hold the organizational meeting, adopt bylaws, issue shares, and get an EIN from the IRS.

Ohio for-profit corporations do not file annual reports with the Secretary of State either.

Form 521 · $25 state fee · Online or by mail

Change your statutory agent

Sign up and add the business. We verify the entity against the state record, sign the acceptance, and hand you the entries.
File the Statutory Agent Update (Form 521). $25. The same form is used if only your agent’s address changes.
We confirm. When the state record shows us as your agent, your portal flips to Active and we begin accepting service. Documents your previous agent already received stay with them.

More detail on what happens on each side of the filing is on the Switching agents page.

Same statutory agent entries · $99 state fee each

Other Ohio entities

Nonprofit corporationForm 532B

Out-of-state corporationForm 530A

Out-of-state nonprofitForm 530B

Limited partnershipForm 531A

Professional associations, limited liability partnerships, and business trusts also name a statutory agent on their Ohio filings. If you don't see your entity type, ask us and we'll point you to the right form.

Fees and form numbers are as published by the Ohio Secretary of State and can change. We are not a law firm and these guides are not legal advice; for questions about your specific situation, talk to an attorney or accountant.

Start for $49 a year