Home › Ohio › LLC Formation

LLC Formation in Ohio: Cost, Steps & How to File

If you're planning to form an LLC in Ohio, the process is more paperwork than it needs to be — but it's paperwork with a predictable pattern. This page names the Ohio office that issues it, then walks the general US process in plain English.

Ohio filing fee
$99
Annual state fee
None
Typical timeline
1–20 days
Who needs it
anyone starting a business as a legal entity

Depending on the state this recurring amount is called an annual report fee, a franchise tax, or a business privilege fee. It is the amount an LLC pays the state to stay in good standing.

Who issues an LLC Formation in Ohio

In Ohio, an LLC formation is issued by the office below. That is the office to confirm every figure with.

Starting point for anything else in Ohio: the state business portal, https://www.ohiosos.gov/businesses. It is a starting point, not the issuer of this permit.

The general US process

This sequence is the shape the process takes across the US. It is not a list of Ohio requirements, and no step here should be read as one — the issuing office named above sets the actual requirements.

  1. Step 1: Pick a name and check it against the state's business-entity register — most states let you search this online for free.
  2. Step 2: Name a registered agent with a physical street address in the state; a PO box is generally not accepted.
  3. Step 3: File the formation document — usually called Articles of Organization or a Certificate of Formation — with the state's business-filing office.
  4. Step 4: Pay the state filing fee. This is the one figure on this page that we do hold per state, shown above.
  5. Step 5: Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free, online, and usually issued immediately.
  6. Step 6: Open a business bank account in the LLC's name using the EIN and the filed formation document.
  7. Step 7: Write an operating agreement. A handful of states require one; in the rest it is optional and still worth having.

What varies: the filing fee, the name of the form, how often the state wants a report, and whether the state adds its own publication or franchise-tax step. New York, for example, adds a newspaper publication requirement.

Documents usually asked for

A typical list, not an Ohio checklist.

Heads up: Put the renewal in a calendar now. Most states require a periodic report; the interval and the fee vary by state — and reminder letters are a courtesy, not a guarantee, in most of the country.

Related permits in Ohio

Business License in OhioSales Tax Registration in OhioEmployer Registration in OhioDBA Filing in Ohio

LLC Formation in states bordering Ohio

Rules stop at the state line — same permit, each state bordering Ohio:

LLC Formation in IndianaLLC Formation in KentuckyLLC Formation in MichiganLLC Formation in PennsylvaniaLLC Formation in West Virginia

See LLC Formation in all 50 states & DC →

Frequently asked questions

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

Ohio's formation filing fee is $99. On top of that, Ohio charges no recurring state fee to keep the LLC in good standing. Expedited processing, a registered agent service and a name reservation cost extra. Some states add their own steps with their own costs.

Does Ohio charge a recurring fee for an LLC?

Ohio does not charge a recurring state fee for an LLC. You may still owe state income or franchise tax on the business itself, and a report filing may still be required even when the fee is $0.

Who issues an LLC filing in Ohio?

The state office named at the top of this page.

What is Ohio-specific on this page: the issuing office, the two Ohio fees. Everything else — the numbered process, the document list, the cost and timeline — is the general US pattern, not an Ohio rule, and is labelled that way above. Requirements, fees and deadlines are set by the issuing office; confirm with it before you file or pay.