How much does an LLC cost in Ohio?

What is the minimum cost to start an LLC in Ohio?

The minimum is $99. That is the Ohio Secretary of State's fee for filing Articles of Organization, set by ORC 111.16(F). It covers creating the LLC and recording your first statutory agent appointment, and it is the same whether you file online at OhioBusinessCentral.gov or by mail.

To spend only $99, you search the name yourself, serve as your own statutory agent at your Ohio home, and get your EIN from the IRS at no charge. Everything else on this page is either optional or depends on what your business does.

After the first year, the state charges nothing to keep an Ohio LLC on the record. There is no annual report, no franchise tax, and no renewal fee. That makes Ohio one of the cheaper states to keep an LLC in, even though the $99 formation fee is mid-range.

Ohio LLC fees, itemized

Every Ohio Secretary of State fee below comes from ORC 111.16, the statute that sets them. Expedite fees come from the service options printed on Form 610.

Two fees surprise people. First, expedite fees stack on top of the $99; they do not replace it, so a 4-hour filing costs $399 in state fees. Second, the preclearance fee does not count toward the filing fee. It buys a review, and you still pay $99 when you file.

Ohio LLC cost in year one and year two: three ways to start

The biggest choice is who files the articles and who serves as statutory agent. Here are the totals for the three common setups, using only required state fees plus the services named. Our prices come from our pricing page.

Scenario A: all do-it-yourself

You pay $99 once. This works if you live in Ohio, are at your listed address during business hours, and are comfortable with your home address on the public record. The hidden cost is risk: a missed summons still starts the 28-day answer clock under Ohio Civil Rule 12(A).

Scenario B: you file, a commercial agent serves

You file Form 610 yourself and name us as agent. Year one is $148; after that it is $49 a year. Our address goes on the record instead of yours, and anything served is scanned to your portal the same business day. See our Ohio statutory agent service.

Scenario C: full service

We check the name, prepare and file the articles, and serve as agent from day one. Year one is $248; after that it is $49 a year. Expedited state processing, if you want it, is added at the state's price. Start with form your Ohio LLC.

What optional services cost, and when they are worth it

None of these are required by Ohio. Each is priced as our fee plus the state fee, where one applies.

The national registered agent services we checked in October 2026 listed $99 to $249 a year for one entity, and some raise the price after a discounted first year. Our comparison page lists what each includes.

How much does an Ohio LLC cost each year?

The state charges $0 a year. Ohio LLCs do not file an annual or biennial report with the Secretary of State, and there is no yearly fee to stay active. Our Ohio LLC ongoing requirements guide lists what you still have to do.

Recurring costs come from other places:

• A commercial statutory agent, if you use one: $49 a year with us.
• Ohio municipal income tax on net profits, filed with each city where you do business or through the state by election under ORC 718.80.
• The Commercial Activity Tax, but only above $6 million in Ohio taxable gross receipts. The CAT's annual minimum tax ended starting in 2024.
• A trade name renewal of $25 every five years, if you have one.
• Professional fees for an accountant, if you hire one.

Watch for mailers styled as an "annual report" or "compliance" bill. Ohio LLCs have no annual report, so a mailer asking you to pay for one is a private company selling a service.

What do common changes cost after the LLC is formed?

Changing members or managers usually costs nothing at the state level, because Ohio's articles do not list them. You update the operating agreement and your bank instead. Our switching agents page explains the Form 521 process.

Is an LLC worth the cost compared with a sole proprietorship?

A sole proprietorship costs $0 to start in Ohio, because there is nothing to file with the state unless you register a trade name for $39. An LLC costs $99 more, plus an agent fee if you do not serve yourself.

What the $99 buys is a separate legal entity. Business debts and lawsuits generally stay with the LLC, not with you, as long as you keep finances separate. Our LLC vs. sole proprietorship guide compares the two over five years. For the full filing walkthrough, see how to start an LLC in Ohio.