Class 1 · Ohio
How to Start an LLC in Ohio (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 2 Best LLC Services
The short version
Lesson goals
- The Ohio filing, what it costs and where it goes
- The statutory agent requirement
- The recurring state filing
- How the graded picks compare
Ohio: the services that earned a grade
1. OH Registered Agent.org: best for a small first bill
First in the class in Ohio is OH Registered Agent.org: a $199 formation fee, then $99 a year to keep the agent.
Cost decides this one: across three years it totals less than Mainstay Filing.
What the price covers
- Filing with the state
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Year one of agent service is in the price
- A low $99 renewal
- A formation fee of $199
Where it loses points
- It charges $99 for the EIN step
2. Mainstay Filing: best for a simple bundle
Mainstay Filing is a sound second choice because $199 a year covers the filing and a statutory agent, and it applies for the EIN as well.
On three-year cost it falls $200 behind OH Registered Agent.org.
What the price covers
- The filing is done for you
- Statutory agent for twelve months
- The EIN application
- The state fee is passed through at cost
Marks in its favor
- No extra charge for the EIN application
- A flat $199 each year
- Renews at $199
Where it loses points
- Costs $100 more per year from year two
- Without a report, the bundle matters less
Compare the picks
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OH Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit OH Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
The lesson, step by step
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Step
1Check that the name is available
Type the name into the business search at the Ohio Secretary of State before you file anything, so you do not pick one that is in use.
Have a spare name ready.
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Step
2Appoint a statutory agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. An Ohio resident, or a business entity with a business address in Ohio.
The address has to be the agent's home or usual place of business in Ohio. P.O. boxes and commercial mail receiving agencies are not accepted.
Each of the picks above is able to act as your statutory agent.
Where this comes from: Checked against codes.ohio.gov, October 2026
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Step
3File it on your own, or hand it off
Filing directly costs only the $99 state fee. A service adds $199 but handles the forms. See the graded list.
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Step
4Fill out and file the Articles of Organization
The Articles of Organization (Form 610) is what you prepare for the Ohio Secretary of State, and the filing fee that goes with it is $99, as Ohio Rev. Code § 1706.16 provides.
Where this comes from: Checked against codes.ohio.gov, October 2026
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Step
5Get the company a tax ID (EIN)
Your EIN comes from the IRS rather than from Ohio. Apply once the state has approved the filing, then give the number to your bank. If you hire Mainstay Filing, it files the EIN application for you.
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Step
6Write an operating agreement
The owners sign an operating agreement covering shares, votes and what happens if someone leaves. It stays in your files and is not filed with the state.
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Step
7Stay in good standing in Ohio
You will not file a yearly report for a Ohio LLC, so the statutory agent is the only item to maintain.
Costs, step by step
| Cost item | Paid to | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Filing the LLC | Paid to the state | $99 |
| Help from a service | Service company | $199 to start |
| State fees for three years | Paid to the state | $99 |
How the grade worked out
Tuition over three years carries 32% of the report card, and that is where pulled ahead in Ohio.
OH Registered Agent.org totals $397 for three years, leaving $200 in your pocket compared with Mainstay Filing.
Common questions
What is the price of forming a Ohio LLC?
The official fee is $99. Add $199 if a service files it for you.
Which form creates the LLC?
Look for the Articles of Organization (Form 610); the Ohio Secretary of State is where it gets filed.
Is a statutory agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does Ohio require each year?
Ohio has no recurring LLC report.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
The state takes filings directly from owners, so you can skip the service; expect $99 plus a statutory agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
OH Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing, graded from first to last.
Class references
- Homework check for Ohio Rev: the facts come from codes.ohio.gov, a page we last confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Ohio formation fee: Filing fee, official source: the facts come from codes.ohio.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Ohio registered agent statute: the facts come from codes.ohio.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- OH Registered Agent.org, pricing page, as it appeared on November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing, Ohio service page, as it appeared on November 13, 2026