How to Start an LLC in Ohio
Learn how to form an LLC in Ohio in 6 steps. File your Articles of Organization, get a registered agent, and pay the $99 state fee. Bizee handles the paperwork for $0.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Ohio LLC at a glance
Filing fee: $99
Processing time: 3–5 business days (standard); expedited options available
State agency: Ohio Secretary of State
Annual report due: Biennial report due by the last day of the anniversary month every 2 years
State tax rate: No state-level LLC franchise tax; Ohio Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) applies to businesses with gross receipts over $150,000
How to form an LLC in Ohio
To form an LLC in Ohio, you need to choose a unique business name, appoint a registered agent, file Articles of Organization with the Ohio Secretary of State, and pay the $99 state filing fee. Most filings are processed in 3–5 business days. You'll also need an EIN from the IRS and an operating agreement.
Why form an LLC in Ohio
Ohio is consistently ranked among the top states for business, with a low cost of doing business, a large consumer base, and a range of state incentives — including job creation tax credits and small business grants. For entrepreneurs starting out, an LLC is the most practical structure: it limits your personal liability, keeps your taxes straightforward, and doesn't require the formality of a corporation.
Ohio doesn't impose a state-level franchise tax on LLCs the way some states do. If your gross receipts stay under $150,000, you won't owe the Commercial Activity Tax either. That makes Ohio a genuinely cost-friendly state to run a small business.
Step 1: Choose a business name
Your LLC name must be unique in Ohio and include a designator like "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." It can't be the same as — or too similar to — a name already on file with the Ohio Secretary of State.
Search the Ohio Secretary of State's business name database before you commit to a name. If your preferred name is available but you're not ready to file yet, you can reserve it for 180 days by filing a Name Reservation with the state for a small fee. One thing people often overlook: check whether the matching domain name is available too.
Step 2: Provide an official address
Every Ohio LLC needs a designated street address on file with the state. This address appears on your Articles of Organization and becomes part of the public record. It must be a physical street address in Ohio — P.O. boxes aren't accepted for this purpose.
If you run your business from home and don't want your home address on public documents, a virtual business address or your registered agent's address can work as an alternative for some filings. Check what's permitted for each specific form before you file.
Step 3: Appoint a registered agent
Ohio requires every LLC to have a registered agent — a person or business entity with a physical Ohio address that's available during business hours to receive legal documents and official state correspondence on your behalf.
You can serve as your own registered agent, but most business owners use a registered agent service. It keeps your personal address off public records and makes sure you don't miss anything important if you're traveling or working outside normal hours. Missing a legal notice because no one was available to receive it is the kind of problem that's hard to fix after the fact.
Step 4: File your Articles of Organization
Filing Articles of Organization with the Ohio Secretary of State is the step that officially creates your LLC. The filing fee is $99. Standard processing takes 3–5 business days, though expedited options are available for an additional fee.
Your Articles of Organization need to include your LLC name, your principal business address, the name and address of your registered agent, and the names of the organizers. You can file online through the Ohio Secretary of State's website or by mail.
Step 5: Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a federal tax ID issued by the IRS. You'll need one to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. Applying is free and takes about 15 minutes online through the IRS website.
Single-member LLCs without employees can technically use the owner's Social Security number instead. But an EIN keeps your personal number off business documents and makes opening a business bank account much easier. The IRS online application is available Monday through Friday, 7 AM – 10 PM ET.
Step 6: Create an operating agreement
Ohio doesn't legally require an operating agreement, but you should have one. It's the internal document that spells out how your LLC is owned, how decisions get made, how profits are split, and how the business handles a member leaving or the LLC dissolving.
Without an operating agreement, Ohio's default LLC statutes govern your business — and those defaults may not match what you actually want. For multi-member LLCs especially, a written agreement prevents disputes before they start. Banks may also ask to see it when you open a business bank account.
Frequently asked questions
The Ohio state filing fee for Articles of Organization is $99. That's the required cost you pay directly to the state. If you use a formation service, you may pay an additional service fee on top of the state fee — though some platforms, including Bizee, file the paperwork for $0 and you pay only the $99 state fee.
No — not entirely. Ohio requires a $99 state filing fee to form an LLC, and that fee goes directly to the Ohio Secretary of State. You can't waive it. What you can avoid paying is a service fee on top of the state fee. Bizee files your Ohio LLC paperwork for $0, so the only required cost is the $99 state fee.
Standard processing through the Ohio Secretary of State generally takes 3–5 business days. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee if you need approval faster. Mail filings take longer than online filings, so filing online is the faster path.
Yes. Ohio law requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical Ohio address. The registered agent receives legal documents and official state notices on behalf of your LLC. You can serve as your own registered agent, but most business owners use a registered agent service to keep their personal address off public records and make sure nothing gets missed.
Yes. You can file your Ohio Articles of Organization directly through the Ohio Secretary of State's website without hiring anyone. You'll need your LLC name, a registered agent, a principal business address, and the $99 filing fee. Many business owners file on their own. A formation platform can handle the paperwork for you if you'd rather not navigate the state portal yourself.
A few mistakes come up often. Skipping the operating agreement is the biggest one — without it, Ohio's default rules govern your LLC, which may not reflect what you actually want. Not getting an EIN before opening a bank account slows things down. Using a personal bank account for business transactions can put your liability protection at risk if a court decides your LLC isn't truly separate from you personally. And missing the biennial report deadline can put your LLC out of good standing with the state.
Ohio requires a biennial report — filed every 2 years, not every year. It's due by the last day of the anniversary month of your LLC's formation. Missing the deadline can put your LLC out of good standing with the Ohio Secretary of State, which can affect your ability to do business in the state.
It depends. If your LLC has employees, more than 1 member, or elects to be taxed as a corporation, you're required to get an EIN from the IRS. Single-member LLCs without employees can use the owner's Social Security number instead. That said, getting an EIN is free, takes about 15 minutes online, and is required by most banks before they'll open a business account — so it's worth getting regardless.
