LLC Formation Cost Calculator
Ohio LLC 2026

$99 to form your Ohio LLC

$99 state filing fee . 5-year cost of ownership: $99.

By Aissam Baidi · Reviewed against www.ohiosos.gov · Verified 2026-04-28

How much does a Ohio LLC cost in 2026? A Ohio LLC costs $99 in year one ($99 filing fee for the Form 533A (Articles of Organization)). Ongoing cost is $0/year (no annual report). Five-year total: $99. Standard processing takes about 5 business days; expedite for $100 extra. At $99, Ohio runs $56 below the US median of $155 for year-one LLC costs, making it one of the cheaper states to form in. This makes Ohio attractive for solo founders, e-commerce sellers, and home-based businesses on a tight startup budget. Sourced from www.ohiosos.gov, verified 2026-04-28.

Filing fee $99 Form 533A (Articles of Organization)
Annual / recurring $0 no report
Processing 5 days expedite +$100
5-year total $99
2025 business formations 164,040 total entity filings, all types
Current processing window 3-7 business days standard; 1-2 days expedited verified 2026-04-28 from www.ohiosos.gov
Top sectors for new Ohio businesses
  1. #1Health Care & Social Assistance
  2. #2Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
  3. #3Retail Trade
SBA Office of Advocacy 2024-2025 State Profile

Customize your Ohio LLC cost

Add a registered agent, expedite, or operating agreement, see your exact total.

LLC Cost Calculator

Pick your state, choose any add-ons, and see the year-one + 5-year math. Every figure cites the state's Secretary of State or the IRS.

The U.S. state where you'll file LLC paperwork. Foreign qualification fees apply if you operate elsewhere.

State filing fee is the same for any member count; member count drives IRS tax classification (single-member = disregarded; multi-member = partnership).

Operating agreement

Not legal advice. Estimates based on publicly available data from each state's Secretary of State office. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

Ohio vs the rest of the US

Year-1 LLC cost in Ohio is $99. That's $64 more than the cheapest state (Montana). Form there if you can register your business out-of-state.

Ohio You are here Your state
$99
Pennsylvania Peer state
$125
Illinois Peer state
$225
Delaware Peer state
$390
Wyoming Peer state
$160
Montana Cheapest in US
$35
Massachusetts Most expensive
$1,000

All figures are year-1 LLC formation cost (state filing fee + first-year report fee + first-year franchise tax). Sourced quarterly from each state's Secretary of State office.

5-year cumulative cost projection

How Ohio's LLC cost compares against the popular "shop another state" alternatives over 5 years of ownership. Steeper line = higher recurring cost.

$0 $500 $1,000 $1,500 $2,000 Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5 Ohio Delaware Wyoming New Mexico
After 5 years of ownership, Ohio totals $99. Delaware: $1,590 (+$1,491). Wyoming: $400 (+$301). New Mexico: $50 (save $49).

All 50 states + DC, by 5-year LLC cost

Heat-map of 5-year ownership cost across the US. Click any state to see its full breakdown. Cheapest in green, most expensive in dark red.

  • Cheapest 20%
  • Below average
  • Average
  • Above average
  • Most expensive 20%
Alaska: $450 over 5 years Alabama: $700 over 5 years Arkansas: $1,245 over 5 years Arizona: $50 over 5 years California: $4,130 over 5 years Colorado: $175 over 5 years Connecticut: $1,770 over 5 years District of Columbia: $999 over 5 years Delaware: $1,590 over 5 years Florida: $818.75 over 5 years Georgia: $350 over 5 years Hawaii: $118.5 over 5 years Iowa: $110 over 5 years Idaho: $100 over 5 years Illinois: $525 over 5 years Indiana: $159 over 5 years Kansas: $185 over 5 years Kentucky: $990 over 5 years Louisiana: $250 over 5 years Massachusetts: $3,000 over 5 years Maryland: $1,600 over 5 years Maine: $515 over 5 years Michigan: $150 over 5 years Minnesota: $155 over 5 years Missouri: $50 over 5 years Mississippi: $50 over 5 years Montana: $35 over 5 years North Carolina: $1,135 over 5 years North Dakota: $385 over 5 years Nebraska: $156 over 5 years New Hampshire: $510 over 5 years New Jersey: $1,250 over 5 years New Mexico: $50 over 5 years Nevada: $1,825 over 5 years New York: $218 over 5 years Ohio: $99 over 5 years Oklahoma: $229 over 5 years Oregon: $600 over 5 years Pennsylvania: $153 over 5 years Rhode Island: $2,406 over 5 years South Carolina: $110 over 5 years South Dakota: $425 over 5 years Tennessee: $2,300 over 5 years Texas: $300 over 5 years Utah: $149 over 5 years Virginia: $350 over 5 years Vermont: $1,630 over 5 years Washington: $480 over 5 years Wisconsin: $255 over 5 years West Virginia: $200 over 5 years Wyoming: $400 over 5 years

5-year cost = year-1 (state filing + first-year report + first-year franchise tax) + 4 years of ongoing (annual/biennial report + franchise tax). Sourced quarterly from each Secretary of State.

Where would you save the most?

Filing in Montana instead of Ohio could save you about $64 over 5 years (65% lower total).

Cross-state filing requires foreign qualification in the state you actually operate from, which adds $50-$300/year in fees plus a registered agent in each jurisdiction. Run the math before deciding.

Cheapest 5-year LLC states

  1. #1 Montana $35
  2. #2 Arizona $50
  3. #3 Mississippi $50

Most expensive 5-year LLC states

  1. #1 California $4,130
  2. #2 Massachusetts $3,000
  3. #3 Rhode Island $2,406
AI Insights

Ohio LLC formation, decoded

Cost dynamics

Ohio requires no annual report fee, one of only a handful of states with this advantage. Five-year ownership cost stays close to your initial filing fee plus EIN/RA service costs.

Insights compiled from primary government sources (Secretary of State, IRS, Census BFS) and verified by Gemini 2.5 with Google Search grounding. Last refreshed 2026-06-01.
Full Ohio LLC cost guide

Ohio LLC Cost: $99 Filing + No Annual Report (2026)

Forming an LLC in Ohio costs $99 to file Articles of Organization (Form 533A). No annual report fee. No franchise tax. Ohio is one of only 7 states with zero ongoing state-level LLC fees. The Commercial Activity Tax (CAT), 0.26% on gross receipts above $150,000, is the only ongoing state cost, and it’s $0 below the $150K threshold. Five-year cost: $99 plus optional RA service.

Reviewed by LLC Formation Cost Editorial Team, fact-checked against primary government sources • Last updated 2026-04-25 • 4 primary government sources cited

TL;DR

Ohio LLCs file Articles of Organization with the Ohio Secretary of State for $99. No annual report. No franchise tax. The only ongoing state-level cost is the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT), which kicks in at $150,000 in gross receipts at 0.26%, most small LLCs owe $0. Ohio dropped the CAT threshold from $1M to $150K in 2024, broadening the tax base. Personal income tax is 3.5% top rate (2026). The state’s central LLC portal at ohiosos.gov processes filings online within 3-5 business days.

Ohio LLC cost breakdown (2026)

Line itemCostSource
Articles of Organization (Form 533A)$99ohiosos.gov
Annual Report$0 (not required)ohiosos.gov
Franchise Tax$0n/a
Commercial Activity Tax (over $150K gross receipts)0.26%tax.ohio.gov
Statement of Continued Existence (every 5 years for LLP, not LLC)$25ohiosos.gov
Expedited filing (1-day)+$100ohiosos.gov
Expedited filing (4-hour)+$200ohiosos.gov
Expedited filing (1-hour)+$300ohiosos.gov
Year 1 total (no add-ons)$99
Year 2+ ongoing (under $150K rev)$0
5-year total (under threshold)$99

All figures verified 2026-04-28 from primary Ohio state sources.

Why Ohio is one of the cheapest mid-size states

Ohio is the largest state by population in the no-annual-report club. Texas (under threshold), Florida-not, California-no, but Ohio is genuinely no-annual-report. Combined with a $99 filing fee, Ohio is among the cheapest 5-year LLC ownership states despite being the 7th-most-populous state in the country.

The trade-off appeared in 2024 when Ohio dropped the Commercial Activity Tax threshold from $1,000,000 to $150,000. CAT is a gross receipts tax, it taxes revenue, not profit, so a low-margin LLC with $200K revenue and $20K profit pays $520 in CAT (0.26% × $200K). The tax registration is free but compliance is non-trivial.

For an LLC under $150K revenue: total state-level cost is $99, paid once. No annual filings, no taxes. That’s the cheapest large-state LLC structure available.

Filing steps (DIY, no service)

  1. Pick a name, search availability via Ohio Business Search. Names must include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “Limited,” “Ltd.,” or “Ltd.”
  2. Designate a statutory agent (Ohio’s term for registered agent), must have an Ohio street address.
  3. File Form 533A, $99 fee. File online via the Ohio Business Central portal or by mail to Ohio Secretary of State, PO Box 670, Columbus, OH 43216.
  4. Get a federal EIN, free at irs.gov.
  5. Draft an operating agreement, not required by Ohio law but recommended.
  6. Register with Ohio Department of Taxation, sales tax permit (free) if selling tangible goods, withholding tax if hiring, CAT if expecting >$150K revenue.
  7. Open a business bank account, Ohio-located banks (Huntington, Fifth Third, KeyBank) easiest.
  8. File FinCEN BOI report, within 30 days of formation. Free at fincen.gov/boi.
  9. Calendar nothing for SOS, no annual report required.
  10. CAT quarterly filings if revenue exceeds $150K. CAT is filed quarterly online via tax.ohio.gov.

Standard online filings are processed within 3-5 business days. Expedite tiers: 1-day ($100), 4-hour ($200), 1-hour ($300).

Page-unique facts

  • Ohio’s CAT threshold dropped from $1M to $150K in 2024 under HB 33. Many small Ohio LLCs that previously owed $0 CAT now owe small amounts.
  • Ohio is the most populous state with no LLC annual report. Texas has a no-tax-due threshold but still requires filing the PIR. Ohio truly has no annual SOS filing.
  • Ohio uses “statutory agent” instead of “registered agent.” Functionally identical.
  • Ohio’s expedite is the fastest in the country. 1-hour expedite at the Columbus office for $300, same day as the filing arrives.
  • Ohio is one of 11 states allowing Series LLCs (Ohio Rev. Code § 1706.76, effective 2022).

FAQ

Does Ohio have an LLC annual fee?

No. Ohio is one of only 7 states with no annual report and no franchise tax for LLCs. The 7-state list: Arizona, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, Mississippi, Texas (under $1.23M revenue threshold). Total 5-year cost for an Ohio LLC: $99 (filing only) + RA service if used + CAT if revenue exceeds $150K. Source: ohiosos.gov, verified 2026-04-28.

What is Ohio’s Commercial Activity Tax (CAT)?

A 0.26% tax on gross receipts above $150,000/yr. Below $150K, you owe $0 but must still register if expecting to cross the threshold. The threshold dropped from $1M to $150K in 2024 under HB 33. CAT is filed quarterly online via tax.ohio.gov. Source: Ohio Department of Taxation CAT page.

Can a non-Ohio resident form an Ohio LLC?

Yes. Ohio does not require members or organizers to be Ohio residents, only the statutory agent must have an Ohio street address. Many Cincinnati and Cleveland businesses owned by out-of-state operators form here for the no-annual-report structure. Source: ohiosos.gov.

Does Ohio allow Series LLCs?

Yes, Ohio Rev. Code § 1706.76, effective 2022. Series LLCs are newer in Ohio than in Delaware or Wyoming, with less developed case law. Filing fee for the master Series LLC is $99. Each internal series shares the LLC’s filing fee but has separate liability shielding for its assets. Source: Ohio Revised Code Title 17.

What changed about Ohio’s CAT threshold in 2024 and how does it affect my LLC?

Ohio dropped the Commercial Activity Tax exclusion threshold from $1,000,000 to $150,000 in gross receipts effective January 1, 2024 under HB 33. The 0.26% rate above the threshold did not change, but the population of Ohio LLCs subject to CAT roughly tripled overnight. A Cincinnati service-business LLC with $300,000 gross receipts pre-2024 owed $0 CAT; in 2026 the same LLC owes 0.26% × ($300,000 - $150,000) = $390/year. CAT is on gross receipts, not profit, so low-margin businesses feel it disproportionately. Quarterly CAT returns are required for LLCs above $1M gross; annual returns suffice for LLCs in the $150K-$1M band. See IRS Ohio Small Business Resources for the federal cross-reference.

Why does Ohio call the registered agent a “statutory agent”?

Ohio uses the term “statutory agent” rather than “registered agent” because the role is defined under Ohio Rev. Code § 1706.09 as a statutorily-required agent for service of process. Functionally identical to the registered agent in 49 other states, the agent must have an Ohio street address, be available during normal business hours, and accept service of legal documents on the LLC’s behalf. The naming difference occasionally trips up out-of-state founders looking for a “registered agent” field on Ohio’s Form 533A, which uses the “statutory agent” label throughout. The American Bar Association Section of Business Law maintains terminology comparison tables for cross-state filings.

State quirk: one of six states with no annual report or franchise tax

Ohio is one of only six US states with no annual report and no franchise tax for LLCs (along with AZ, MO, NM, SC, MS), and the most populous of that group by a large margin (Ohio has 11.8M residents; the next-largest no-annual-report state is Missouri at 6.2M). The structure traces to Ohio Rev. Code Chapter 1706 (the “Ohio Revised Limited Liability Company Act,” which fully replaced the older Chapter 1705 in 2022), the legislature deliberately stripped out recurring SOS filings to reduce administrative burden on small businesses. Ohio also offers the fastest expedite in the country: the Columbus walk-in office processes 1-hour expedited filings ($300 surcharge), same-day, sometimes within 30 minutes of arrival. The trade-off appeared in 2024 with the CAT threshold drop from $1M to $150K, broadening the tax base on businesses that previously paid nothing.

Common mistake in Ohio

The most common Ohio LLC mistake post-2024 is treating the CAT as something only big businesses pay. With the threshold dropped from $1M to $150K, a Cleveland service LLC with $200K gross receipts and $20K profit now owes ~$130/year in CAT, small in absolute terms, but the registration requirement kicks in at $150K and the late-registration penalty is steep. Founders forming an Ohio LLC for the “no annual report” pitch sometimes miss the CAT registration entirely.

Sources

  1. Ohio Secretary of State Filing Forms and Fee Schedule, last verified 2026-04-28
  2. Ohio Business Central Portal, last verified 2026-04-28
  3. Ohio Department of Taxation, last verified 2026-04-28
  4. Ohio Revised Code Title 17 (LLC), last verified 2026-04-28
  5. IRS Ohio Small Business and Self-Employed Resources, last verified 2026-04-28
  6. American Bar Association Section of Business Law, last verified 2026-04-28

About the author

Aissam Baidi is the founder and researcher behind llcformationcost.com. He verifies Ohio LLC fees directly from ohiosos.gov on a quarterly cycle. Connect on LinkedIn.

Not legal advice. Estimates based on publicly available data from each state’s Secretary of State office. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

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AI Q&A

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Pre-answered for the questions founders ask first. Tap one to read the full answer, or write your own.

What's the actual filing fee in Ohio?

Ohio charges $99 to file the Form 533A (Articles of Organization) with www.ohiosos.gov. Expedited service is available for an additional $100, reducing turnaround to about 1 business days vs. the standard ~5.

Does Ohio have a franchise tax?

No. Ohio does not impose a flat franchise tax on LLCs. Some pass-through entity income may still be taxed at the member level under state income tax rules.

What's the annual report situation in Ohio?

Ohio does not require a recurring annual report. This is a meaningful long-term advantage; many states charge $50-$500/year just for the report.

Do I need a registered agent in Ohio?

Yes. Every Ohio LLC must designate a registered agent with a physical Ohio street address (no P.O. boxes), available during business hours to accept legal mail. You can serve as your own agent for free if you live in Ohio, but most founders use a commercial service ($100-150/year) to keep their home address off the public record.

Should I form my LLC in Ohio?

Form in Ohio if you operate primarily in Ohio. Out-of-state formation (Delaware, Wyoming, etc.) requires foreign-LLC qualification in your home state, doubling fees. The exception is highly venture-funded startups raising priced rounds, where Delaware is investor-expected.

Live answers grounded in primary state SOS sources. No account needed; we don't save your question.

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Ohio-specific Operating Agreement preview

Five substantive sections with Ohio-specific clauses (filing form, franchise tax, publication requirements, governing law). Use as a starting point with your attorney, or upgrade for the full 12-section document.

OPERATING AGREEMENT OF [COMPANY NAME], LLC

A Ohio Limited Liability Company
Generated 2026-06-01 • State-specific template

Article I. Formation

This Operating Agreement is entered into as of [date], by and among the undersigned members of [Company Name], a Limited Liability Company organized under the Ohio Limited Liability Company Act. The Company was formed by filing the Form 533A (Articles of Organization) with the Ohio Secretary of State on [filing date]. The Company's principal office is located at [address], Ohio.

Article II. Members & Membership Interests

The members of the Company are listed on Exhibit A. Each member's capital contribution and percentage interest are set forth therein. Members may be admitted only by [unanimous / majority] consent of existing members. Ohio law does not mandate a written operating agreement, but the parties agree that this writing governs.

Article III. Management

The Company shall be [member-managed / manager-managed]. Ohio default rules apply to any matter not addressed here.

Article IV. Distributions & Allocations

Profits, losses, and distributions shall be allocated among members in proportion to their percentage interests, except as otherwise agreed in writing. Distributions shall be made [quarterly / annually / at the discretion of the [members / managers]]. The Company shall maintain capital accounts in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b).

Article V. Dissolution & Ohio-Specific Provisions

The Company shall dissolve upon [vote of majority members / occurrence of specific events]. Upon dissolution, the Company shall wind up its affairs and distribute remaining assets in accordance with Ohio law. This agreement is governed by Ohio law and any disputes shall be resolved in [forum].

7 more sections in the full document

Tax matters, indemnification, transfer restrictions, dissolution mechanics, signature pages, exhibits A & B (member roster + capital contributions), and amendment procedures. Plus state-specific signature-line text per $Ohio convention.

Get the open dataset (free, CC BY 4.0)

Not legal advice. This template is a starting point for discussion with a licensed Ohio attorney. Operating Agreements should be reviewed by counsel for your specific situation.

Ohio LLC cost vs popular alternatives

A common decision is whether to form in your home state or an out-of-state filing state (Delaware, Wyoming, New Mexico). Out-of-state formation usually requires foreign-LLC registration in your home state too, adding both filing costs.

State First-year cost Annual renewal Franchise tax Processing days Publication required
Ohio $99 $0 - 5 days -
Pennsylvania $125 $7 - 7 days -
Illinois $225 $75 - 10 days -
Delaware $390 $300 - 14 days -
Wyoming $160 $60 - 14 days -

Fees verified 2026-04-28 from each state's Secretary of State.

Frequently asked questions about Ohio LLCs

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Ohio in 2026?

Ohio charges $99 to file the Form 533A (Articles of Organization). Ohio has no annual report fee. Verified 2026-04-28 from www.ohiosos.gov.

Does Ohio require an annual report?

Ohio does not require an annual report or charges no fee for it.

What is the processing time in Ohio?

Standard processing in Ohio takes about 5 business days. Expedited processing is available for an additional $100, reducing turnaround to about 1 business days.

Does Ohio have a publication requirement?

No. Ohio does not require LLC formation to be published in newspapers.

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Best State Recommender 5-question decision tree: form in Ohio or somewhere else? Honest, non-affiliate. Foreign LLC Cost Calculator Form in one state, operate in Ohio? See the actual cost, both states' fees combined. Registered Agent Cost Comparator Sortable table of all major RA services + the $0 "act as your own agent" path. S-Corp Savings Calculator Income-threshold math: at what profit does S-corp election save you money? Compare LLC Services Pick any LLC formation service, see real cost vs filing direct with Ohio's SOS.

Not legal advice. Estimates based on publicly available data from each state's Secretary of State office. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.