Ohio LLC cost
Last verified
An Ohio LLC costs $99 to file Form 610, and standard Ohio LLCs pay nothing to the Secretary of State after that. There's no annual report and no publication requirement. If you serve as your own statutory agent, $99 is your whole required state cost. The cost Ohio founders miss is local: city income taxes can apply where you live, where you work, and where the business operates.
- To form
- $99
- Cheapest way to file
- Year one total
- $99
- Form 610 filing, serving as your own statutory agent
- Every year after
- $0
- No annual report; city income tax may still apply
Our recommendation
Budget $99 for year one and $0 for year two
File Form 610 online through Ohio Business Central for $99 and skip the expedite; standard processing is 3 to 7 business days, and $100 more only buys 2-day service. Be your own statutory agent if you're an Ohio resident with a street address you don't mind on the public filing. Pay for a statutory agent, usually $49 to $250 a year, if you work from home and want that address private. There's no state renewal date to calendar, so spend that attention on your city's income tax rules right after you form.
Every Ohio LLC fee, line by line
What's required, what's optional, and where the total climbs past the filing fee.
| Item | Cost | Required? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $99 | Yes | One-time fee |
| Name reservation | $39 | Optional | 180-day hold |
| Trade name / DBA | $39 | Optional | Different operating name; $25 renewal every 5 years |
| Statutory agent service | $49-$250/yr | Optional | Self-file for $0 if eligible |
| Expedite Level 1 | $100 | Optional | 2 business days |
| Expedite Level 2 | $200 | Optional | 1 business day |
| Expedite Level 3 | $300 | Optional | In-person delivery only, 4 hours |
| EIN | Free | Recommended | IRS direct |
| Operating agreement | Free if you draft it yourself | Recommended | Internal document |
| Certified copy of Articles | $5 | Optional | Sometimes requested |
| Certificate of Good Standing | $5 | Optional | Situation-specific |
| Vendor's License | $50 if your business needs one | Conditional | If selling taxable goods/services; one per fixed location |
| Ohio CAT | 0.26% above $6M | Conditional | Only once Ohio gross receipts pass $6 million |
| Total (bare minimum DIY) | $99 | — | State filing only |
| Total (typical with service) | $148-$349 before optional extras | — | Paid agent, no expediting |
What you pay Ohio, and when
The recurring dates are the ones people miss. Put each one on your calendar the day the LLC is approved.
- Articles of Organization (Form 610)
- $99
- When you form. Online or by mail.
- Annual report
- $0
- None. Standard Ohio LLCs have no recurring state filing.
- Vendor's License
- $50
- Before you sell taxable goods or services. One per fixed location.
- Municipal income tax
- Varies
- Set by your city. Can apply where you live, work, and operate.
- Commercial Activity Tax
- 0.26%
- Only on Ohio taxable gross receipts above $6 million.
Ohio statutory agent cost
Ohio lets you be your own statutory agent for free, but your address goes on the public filing and you need to be there to receive legal notices. If you work from home or care about privacy, a professional statutory agent, usually $49 to $250 a year, keeps your address off the record. If you have an Ohio office with regular hours and don't mind it being public, you can skip it.
Ohio LLC cost vs nearby states
Cheaper elsewhere doesn't mean cheaper for you. If you live and work in Ohio, an out-of-state LLC still has to register here and pay Ohio's fees too.
| State | Upfront cost | Ongoing state cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $99 | $0 annual report fee |
| Wyoming | ~$100 | Annual report / license tax applies |
| Delaware | $110 | $400/yr |
| California | Higher effective cost | $800+ annual tax burden |
FAQ
How much does an LLC cost in Ohio?
$99 to file the Articles of Organization (Form 610). Standard Ohio LLCs file no annual report, so if you serve as your own statutory agent, $99 is the whole required state cost. A professional statutory agent adds about $49 to $250 a year.
What is the Ohio LLC annual fee?
There is none for standard LLCs. Ohio does not require an annual or biennial report, so there is no recurring Secretary of State fee. You do have to keep a statutory agent on file and update it within 30 days if the agent or address changes.
Do I need a vendor's license for my Ohio LLC?
Only if you sell taxable goods or services. It costs $50, and you need one for each fixed location. Forming the LLC does not get you one.
How much is a statutory agent in Ohio?
Free if you serve yourself: you need to be an Ohio resident with a physical Ohio street address, and that address goes on the public filing. A professional statutory agent usually costs $49 to $250 a year.