Ohio LLC Cost: $99 to File Articles (2026)

Make your Ohio business official. Have your LLC paperwork prepared and filed so you can focus on getting your business off the ground.

• Your business name checked before filing.
• Your formation paperwork prepared and submitted.
• Your formation documents together in an online account.

$0 service fee + $99 state filing fee

Start my Ohio LLC

Filing service by ZenBusiness. Choose Starter for the $0 service fee. State follow-up charges and optional services and renewals are separate.

We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.

Get the paperwork handled and your company underway

With ZenBusiness, you provide the details and its team handles the Ohio formation filing. You get electronic documents and customer support by phone, chat and email.

Use your approved LLC records to open a company bank account, organize your ownership agreement and do business under the company name. The state-specific costs and next steps below help you plan what comes after approval.

What it costs to start a Ohio LLC

An Ohio LLC costs $99 to file with Ohio Secretary of State. Ohio’s exclusive fund is BWC workers’ compensation—not an LLC filing fee. Standard LLCs do not file an SOS annual report.

Start with the official filing office: Ohio Secretary of State. Government charges are separate from anything a formation company bills you.

Budget example: $99 Articles with no recurring SOS report—before BWC (if you have employees), taxes, insurance, or permits.

Ohio’s exclusive fund is monopolistic workers’ compensation through the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC)—not an LLC SOS fee. Commercial Activity Tax may apply only above high gross-receipts thresholds via the Department of Taxation.

Choose the services you want with your filing

Starter’s base formation service does not renew. Registered-agent service, an EIN service, an operating agreement and faster preparation are optional purchases.

The preselected website-builder trial renews at $15/month after 30 days; you can remove it at checkout. Optional Worry-Free Compliance is free for the first year and renews at $199/year. Registered-agent service is listed separately at $199/year; first-year promotions may differ.

Review the services and renewal terms in your order. Provider details checked October 14, 2026 against ZenBusiness’s formation plans.

How to start your Ohio LLC

Use your company details to get the formation paperwork prepared and submitted. Here is how the filing service works:

1. Enter your business details. Choose Ohio, your company name and the information requested for the filing.
2. Review your services and order. Select Starter for the $0 base service fee. ZenBusiness prepares and submits the formation document from your answers.
3. Save your approved company records. Once the filing office accepts the paperwork, use the documents to finish your banking and business setup.

Your Ohio filing checklist and required next steps

1. Check the name. Search the state business database and include a required LLC designator. Filing acceptance is not a trademark clearance.
2. Gather addresses and agent consent. Have registered-agent details and principal-office information ready.
3. Decide who manages the company. Confirm member-managed vs manager-managed as required on the formation form.
4. File the formation document. Prefer Ohio Business Central and pay $99 (plus any listed extras).
5. Confirm acceptance. Save the filed document and receipt, then calendar recurring compliance.

Check your proposed name in the Ohio business search.

How long does approval take?

File online at Ohio Business Central or mail Form 610. A service’s preparation time is separate from Ohio’s review. ZenBusiness lists standard preparation at 7–10 business days before state processing; state review follows the service’s preparation.

Can I file directly with Ohio?

Yes. You can prepare and submit the filing yourself through the Ohio official LLC filing service. A formation service handles preparation and submission from the information you provide. The government charges and required follow-up steps above still apply.

Choose your Ohio registered agent

Continuously maintain an Ohio statutory agent (ORC §1706.09). File Form 521 ($25) when the agent or address changes.

Plan your address use before filing. State records are public. Ask which address fields the agent service covers. Supply accurate information in every field.

Ohio LLC ongoing filings: what happens after formation?

Standard Ohio LLCs do not file an annual or biennial report with the Secretary of State. Keep the statutory agent current. Exclusive fund clarification: BWC’s monopolistic workers’ compensation system is not an LLC SOS fee.

Form 610 replaced older LLC articles forms—use the current form on the SOS fee schedule. Ohio Business Central online filing catches many validation errors before you pay.

Because there is no annual SOS report, phishing-style “annual report” invoices are a known nuisance in Ohio. Verify any demand against ohiosos.gov before paying a third party. Keep Form 521 handy for statutory-agent updates ($25).

Get your Ohio LLC filing underway

Put the formation paperwork in ZenBusiness’s hands. Starter has a $0 service fee plus the applicable Ohio charges detailed above.

Start my Ohio LLC

Continue to ZenBusiness to enter your details and review your order. Optional services and renewal details.

We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.

Put your approved LLC to work

• Document how the LLC works. An operating agreement can set ownership, contributions, decision-making, distributions, and exit arrangements. Ohio’s filing office generally does not require you to file the agreement with the formation paperwork—keep it with your company records. For multiple owners, resolve disagreements before money or contracts are committed.Use the basic LLC operating agreement tool as a starting point.
• Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. A paid EIN service handles the application for you. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
• Open your business bank account. Ask the bank for its document checklist and establish a bookkeeping process. Use the correct legal business name on applications and contracts; keep any trade-name registrations consistent.
• Complete taxes and operating approvals. LLC formation does not itself select S-corporation taxation or issue a professional license. The IRS explains LLC tax classifications. Identify the state and local requirements for your actual work before opening.
• Check the current BOI rule. As of this review, FinCEN exempts entities created in the United States from beneficial-ownership reporting. A newly created domestic LLC generally falls within that exemption. Consult FinCEN directly for the current rule.

Insurance guidance for your Ohio business

Match coverage to your services, employees, equipment and client contracts. Start with the relevant guide:

• Ohio cleaning business insurance
• Ohio food truck insurance
• Ohio HVAC insurance
• Ohio landscaping insurance
• Ohio daycare insurance

Continue with the Ohio business guide for the broader startup process.

Ohio LLC questions before you start

This guide is for creating a new Ohio LLC. If you already have an LLC formed in another state, check Ohio’s foreign-entity registration requirements before creating a second company.

Re-check official fee pages immediately before you pay: statutes and portal convenience fees can change, and third-party blogs often lag behind the Secretary of State. Prefer the links in this guide’s cost table and the state’s own checkout total over marketing estimates.

Page updated October 14, 2026. State-source review: September 19, 2026. ZenBusiness package terms checked October 14, 2026.