Start a Business by State › Ohio
How to start an LLC in Ohio: checklist (2026)
To start an LLC in Ohio, file the Articles of Organization (610) with the Ohio Secretary of State for $99, name a registered agent, get a free EIN and check your local licenses. Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, does the filing, the agent, the EIN application and the report for $199 a year.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
Ohio checklist
- File the formation document. Articles of Organization (610), Ohio Secretary of State, $99.
- Name a registered agent. Required. An Ohio resident, or a business entity with a business address in Ohio.
- Get an EIN. Free from the IRS online.
- Check licenses. We could not confirm a general-license statement from Ohio’s own pages, so check with your city or county. The state’s starting-a-business page is a good place to begin.
- Keep it current. Ohio has no annual report.
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, same at renewal
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
Questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Ohio?
The state filing fee is $99 for the Articles of Organization (610). The first report later costs nothing because none is required.
Do I need a registered agent in Ohio?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Do I need a business license in Ohio?
We could not confirm a general-license statement from Ohio’s own pages, so check with your city or county. The state’s starting-a-business page is a good place to begin.
Sources
- Ohio Rev. Code § 1706.16 (Ohio Revised Limited Liability Company Act — articles of organization); fee set by ORC § 111.16(F) (multira state research spine): codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.16, checked August 12, 2026
- Ohio formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-111.16, checked October 1, 2026
- Ohio Secretary of State (multira state research spine): www.ohiosos.gov/business/ohio-business-roadmap/frequently-asked-questions, checked August 12, 2026
- Ohio Secretary of State (multira state research spine): www.ohiosos.gov/business/ohio-business-roadmap/keeping-your-business-up-to-date, checked August 12, 2026
- Ohio report due date (multira state research spine, due dates verified 714/714): codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-1706, checked August 12, 2026
- Ohio registered agent statute (Ohio Rev. Code § 1706.09): codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.09, checked October 20, 2026
- Ohio Secretary of State: www.ohiosos.gov/, checked October 20, 2026
- IRS: Get an employer identification number: www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number, checked October 21, 2026
- Ohio.gov business page (starting a business): ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/site/business, checked October 21, 2026