Starting an Ohio LLC
LLC Registration in Ohio
Forming an Ohio Limited Liability Company (LLC), requires you to designate a statutory agent in Ohio and submit your Articles of Organization ($99) with the Secretary of State.
In addition, your business will need an operating agreement, EIN, a bank account, a website and other key essentials before you are ready to start operating.
We understand paperwork isn’t everyone’s favorite task.
That’s why our value-packed Ohio LLC Formation package includes a full year of registered agent service, free operating agreement, limited mail scanning, and more. Plus, we offer a domain name, website, email, and virtual phone service at no extra upfront cost.
What You’ll Find on This Page:
Easy & Affordable LLC Formation
with Ohio Statutory Agent LLC
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This company was amazing! I had a representative who took 15 minutes of her time walking me [through] setting up my company correctly… Their software is fantastic and customer service was excellent… Thank you so much!
— Vasilios Sahinidis, Google Review
Benefits of Creating an LLC in Ohio
- Liability Protection
When you setup an LLC, you’re creating a business that is legally separate from you. This separation helps protect your personal assets if you business ever gets sued or runs into debt.
Thinking about just running things as a sole proprietorship or partnership instead? Sure, you might save a little money upfront by skipping state registration, but you won’t get any of the liability protection an Ohio LLC offers, and that is what keeps your personal finances safe. - No Double Taxation
If you’re struggling to choose between forming a corporation or an LLC in Ohio, deciding on an LLC will keep you from double taxation. With an LLC your taxes are simplified and keep you from paying both personal income and corporate taxes at the federal level.
With an Ohio LLC, you can choose pass-through taxation. You’ll be taxed on your personal income from your LLC, but your LLC itself won’t be taxed on its gross income. - No Annual Report
A great benefit of registering an LLC in Ohio is you do not have to file an Annual Report, nor do you have to pay an annual fee to keep your business compliant.
Once your formation paperwork has been accepted, you’re good to go.
Forming an Ohio LLC in 6 Steps
Here are the 6 main steps to forming your Ohio LLC in compliance with state and federal law:
1. Name Your LLC
Picking a unique name that follows Ohio business naming rules is the first step in forming your Ohio LLC. If your name is too similar to the name of another registered business or violates the naming rules, your formation filing will be rejected.
How do I make sure the name I want to use isn’t already taken by another business?
You can use the Ohio Business Name Search to search for names already in use.
How do I make sure my name is unique?
The Ohio Secretary of State’s office has published General Name Availability Guidelines that lay out the rules for determining if your desired name is distinguishable from (i.e.: not too similar to) business names currently in use.
Some examples of actions that do NOT make a name unique include:
- Adding punctuation: “Catz and Dogz” is too similar to “Catz & Dogz”
- Having a different entity identifier: “Buckeye Bagel Boys, LLC” is too similar to “Buckeye Bagel Boys, Corp”
- Adding or changing an article: “The Buckeye Bagel Boys” is too similar to “Buckeye Bagel Boys”
What other naming rules do I need to follow?
Your name must contain some variation of “limited liability company,” either the full term or an abbreviation like “LLC” or “Ltd.”
You’ll also want to make sure your business name doesn’t include any words or phrases that could confuse people about what your business actually does, or imply that you’re connected to a government agency when you’re not. For example, you can’t use the word “bank” in your name unless your business is actually a bank, or you’ve gotten special approval from the superintendent of financial institutions before registering with the state. Even a name like “Buckeye Bagel Bank” would need that kind of approval first.
All of the naming rules are available to read in the Secretary of State’s Business Name Availability Guidelines.
2. Appoint an Ohio Statutory Agent
In accordance with Ohio state statutes (Section 1701.07), every LLC must have an Ohio statutory agent, also known as an Ohio registered agent.
What are the Ohio statutory agent requirements?
To serve as a statutory agent, the individual or business you appoint must:
- Have a physical address in Ohio
- Be available to accept documents during regular business hours
Why not serve as my own Ohio statutory agent?
There are no rules that say you can’t, but there are some reasons why that may not be the best idea for your business. First, you’ll have to be available year-round at the same address during regular business hours. If you travel a lot or work flexible hours, you may miss a delivery. Second, you’ll have to put the address where you’ll be available on your formation paperwork, which becomes public record. If you work from home, that means it’ll be your home address listed. Hiring a statutory agent ensures that your documents will always be received and helps protect your privacy.
3. File Your Articles of Organization
Registering your LLC with the state of Ohio means filing Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State’s Office.
If you’re ready, you can start filling out your Articles now using our online form. Whether you decide to hire us to file your formation paperwork, or do it yourself, the form is free to use. You can save even save your progress and come back to finish it later!
What are the filing requirements?
You’ll need to provide the following information on your form:
- Name and address of the person or business that your approval certificate will be sent to
- LLC Name
- Effective Date (if you want to delay the creation of your LLC up to 90 days)
- Purpose (optional)
- Name and mailing address of your statutory agent
- Statutory agent signature
- Signature(s) of the individual(s) filing the formation paperwork (if your LLC is owned by another business, you can simply print that business’s name in the signature box)
What is the filing fee?
- Regular Service – $99 (completed 3-7 business days after your document is received)
- 3-Day Expedited Service – $199
- 1-Day Expedited Service – $299
- Same-Day Expedited Service – $399 (must be delivered in person by 1 PM)
How do I file my Articles of Organization?
You can file by mail, in person, or online.
| Online | By Mail | In Person |
|
Ohio Secretary of State’s Office |
Avoid the Hassle!
LLC Formation + Registered Agent + Business Identity
4. Draft Your Operating Agreement
Ohio law doesn’t require LLCs to adopt an operating agreement, but it’s still a good idea to have one. An operating agreement outlines the internal rules governing your Ohio LLC, along with the roles and duties of its members.
What is in an operating agreement?
An operating agreement typically contains information relating to how your LLC is organized and managed, including:
- Members’ ownership percentage
- How profits and losses are distributed
- Powers and responsibilities of members and managers
- Meeting requirements and regulations
- Voting rights
- Procedures for solving disputes among members
- Procedures for actions such as selling or dissolving the LLC
Why is an operating agreement important?
An operating agreement helps protect the LLC and its members by outlining ownership interest, duties, and procedures. Without an operating agreement, you may rely on vague or unverifiable verbal agreements that might not hold up in court. If you do end up in court without an operating agreement, you’ll have to abide by the state’s default LLC laws, which many not be in your favor. Having a clear record of ownership interested will also help when you file your Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report.
How do I write an operating agreement?
Operating agreements are after all legal documents, so many businesses hire an attorney to take on this task. Other business owners use a template to draft their own operating agreement, which can be more cost-effective (you may still want to have it reviewed by a lawyer). In fact, we provide a free, attorney-drafted operating agreement that you can adapt to your business as part of our Ohio LLC formation package.
5. Get an Employer Identification Number
Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) are issued by the IRS. These are used to identify your company when you file federal taxes. It is not a requirement for all LLCs, but for most an EIN in required. Luckily, the process is relatively quick and simple.
Does my LLC need an EIN?
If you own a multi-members LLC and/or have employees, then yes, your LLC will need an EIN to file taxes. Own a single-member LLC without any employees? You can just use your social security number.
How do I get an EIN?
You must apply for an EIN with the IRS. Getting your EIN is free and the fastest and easiest way is to apply for an EIN online, but there are other ways to apply. We offer EIN filing services for those want to avoid the hassle of applying altogether.
Our Ohio LLC Formation Package
Why should you have a statutory agent form your LLC in Ohio? The answer is twofold. First, as a statutory agent, we can offer more than the average business formation company. Second, our Ohio LLC Formation package is an incredible deal!
Why Hire An Ohio Statutory Agent to Form Your LLC?
Increased Privacy
When you hire us to serve as your statutory agent, we give you free use of our Ohio business address. We list our address instead of yours anywhere on your Articles of Organization so that your address stays off the public record. Service of process agents will come to us instead of your home or office door. Bonus perk, you’ll probably avoid a bunch of junk mail, too.
Local Expertise
Since we are based in Ohio and have been involved with business formation here for years, we know what we’re doing. We’re not a big national brand churning out registrations on autopilot. We understand Ohio business filing rules inside and out, and we’ll make sure your filing is submitted carefully and accurately.
Great Value
Many of the big-box business formation companies don’t include statutory agent service with business identity. Or, if they do, it costs double or triple the $49/year we charge, not to mention the service isn’t included in the overall package price. When you order our Ohio LLC Formation Package, statutory agent service is included. Unlike other companies, we don’t raise the price for statutory agent service after your first year. It’s $49/year, every year.
One-Stop Ohio LLC Formation
When you sign up for Ohio business identity services with most big-time national brands, that’s all you get. And if you file yourself, you’ll still need to shop for statutory agent service, an operating agreement, web services, and the like. With us, you’ll get not only your Ohio LLC statutory, but everything you need to hit the ground running, including domain, website, email, and phone service.
What you get:
- Formation paperwork filed AND state filing fees covered
- A year of statutory agent service (just $49/year after the first year)
- A free structure-specific operating agreement and other attorney-drafted business documents
- Use of our business address on your formation documents
- Business mail scanning
- Ohio Business Identity, including domain, website, SSL certificate, email, and phone
- Lifetime client support and access to your online account
- Access to additional services and filings (EIN, DBA) at checkout
How the costs breakdown:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Ohio State Filing Fee | $99 |
| Our LLC Formation Service Fee | $100 |
| One Year Registered Agent Service | $49 |
| Total | $248 |
Additional Steps for Ohio LLC Success
Beyond the basics of getting your Ohio LLC registered, you may need to take a few more steps to get your LLC ready for business and support its success.
Get a domain name and website
These days, starting a business is almost synonymous with starting a website—entrepreneurs and those interested in becoming small business owners often look into launching a website even before registering with the state. When it comes to choosing a domain name (the URL customers will type to go directly to your site), go with something memorable and close to your business name.
Setting up business email addresses (and a business phone number, too) is important to keep your business and personal communications from overlapping and to make your business appear professional.
You can get domain name, website, email, and phone service with our Ohio Business Identity package, which can be added to our Ohio LLC Formation package at no additional upfront cost.
Open a business bank account
Opening a dedicated bank account for your business is crucial to keeping your personal and business finances separate. If you’re funneling business funds into your personal account, you could face real trouble come tax time.
Look for a banking institution that offers high-interest savings and checking accounts, low-interest loans, and low fees. When opening your account, you may need to bring your personal ID and copies of your formation paperwork or other documents.
Obtain professional or industry licenses or permits
While Ohio doesn’t issue a general business license, some professions and industries require a specialized license. For example, if you start practicing as a family therapist, you’ll need a license from the Counselor, Social Work, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. As a restaurant owner, you may need a Certificate of Occupancy, a liquor license, and food handlers’ permits for your employees.
Professional and industry licenses are typically issued through the state agency or board in charge of regulating that field. You can also find licensing information for many professional licenses online using eLicense Ohio. The state also provides Business Checklists for a variety of industries that list the licenses required and where to get them.
Register with the Department of Taxation
Ohio charges sales tax, so you’ll need to register with the Department of Taxation in order to collect and pay taxes on the goods and services you sell. You can register, pay taxes, and find business resources online through the department’s website.
Hire employees
You may operate your LLC with your members alone, but if you need more help, you may take on some employees. That means reporting your new hires, setting up payroll, and paying into unemployment insurance. Check out the state’s guide to Hiring Your First or Next Employee for a full rundown of what’s required of you as an employer.
Ohio LLC FAQs
Do I need a statutory agent?
Yes. Ohio law requires that all LLCs have a statutory agent. You can serve as your own agent or hire a service.
Do I need to file an annual report in Ohio?
Nope! Ohio doesn’t require LLCs to file annual reports.
If I hire you to form my Ohio LLC, do you have any control over my company?
No. If you use Ohio Statutory Agent as your LLC organizer to file your formation paperwork for privacy reasons, doesn’t mean we are granted any position, interest, or power in your company.
Can I order Ohio LLC formation without registered agent service?
No. Our LLC formation always includes registered agent service. This allows us to increase your privacy through the use of our business address and to offer filing and other business services to support your Ohio LLC.
Why do you charge less than other business formation services?
We charge less because we can. We’re a local company that wants to help other local businesses succeed. Our prices are enough to keep us in the black—we don’t need to overcharge.