Step 1: Choose a name Ohio will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.”, “LLC” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Ohio Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Ohio against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $39, for 180 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Ohio who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Ohio companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Ohio Secretary of State. The fee is $99. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. 3 to 7 business days for a filing sent to the office. Faster service: $100 for two business days, $200 for one, $300 for four hours in person (received by 1 p.m.) (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Ohio doesn't require one (Ohio Rev. Code § 1706.08(A)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Ohio LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Ohio has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: Keep the LLC in good standing
No annual report: the Secretary of State's filing forms for a domestic LLC include no annual or biennial report (professional associations and limited liability partnerships file a $25 biennial report, Form 520).
| After formation | Ohio |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | None |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | Commercial activity tax: none due at $6 million or less of taxable gross receipts (0.26% above) |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, $5 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Ohio certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Ohio
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $99 |
| First year, state fees | $99 |
| Each year after (commercial activity tax: none due at $6 million or less of taxable gross receipts) | $0 |
Over five years, Ohio's state fees come to $99. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Business filing forms, ohiosos.gov, checked 2026-10-09
ohiosos.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Ohio Rev. Code chapter 1706, codes.ohio.gov, checked 2026-10-07
2026 state agency fees SOS (PDF), lsc.ohio.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Important warnings, ohiosos.gov, checked 2026-10-08
ohiosos.gov, checked 2026-10-09
CAT information release 2023-01 (PDF), tax.ohio.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Keeping your business up to date, ohiosos.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Guide to name availability, ohiosos.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Ohio
- Choose a name Ohio will accept and check it against the Ohio Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Ohio.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Ohio Secretary of State ($99).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Ohio?
$99 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $99 in the first year and nothing in later years (commercial activity tax: none due at $6 million or less of taxable gross receipts); a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Ohio?
The Ohio Secretary of State gives 3 to 7 business days for a filing sent to the office. Faster service: $100 for two business days, $200 for one, $300 for four hours in person (received by 1 p.m.).
Do I need an operating agreement in Ohio?
Ohio doesn't require one (Ohio Rev. Code § 1706.08(A)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Ohio online?
Yes. The Ohio Secretary of State takes the Articles of Organization online, for $99.
Does Ohio require an annual report for LLCs?
No. Ohio has no recurring report for LLCs.