In Ohio, the cost of forming an LLC (limited liability corporation) online is $99. When the LLC’s Articles of Organization are filed, this fee is paid to the Ohio Secretary of State.
Fee for filing an Ohio LLC online: $99
The biggest expense of forming an LLC is the $99 filing fee with the Ohio Secretary of State to register your LLC’s Articles of Organization online.
Variable Ohio Commercial Activity Tax
In Ohio, LLCs having gross revenues of more than $150,000 per year must pay a commercial activity tax. LLCs having gross revenues of less than $150,000 are exempt from this tax.
In addition, any gross revenues above $1 million are subject to a 0.26% tax rate.
0.26% x ($1 million in Taxable Gross Receipts)
A late filing penalty of $50 or 10% of the tax payable, whichever is larger, is imposed. Unpaid taxes may be subject to interest charges.
Fee for Statutory Agent
You may be your own statutory agent (also known as a registered agent) in Ohio, but employing a statutory agent service keeps your firm in compliance, reminds you of critical filing dates, and helps you avoid late fines.
If you currently have an LLC established in another state and want to expand into Ohio, you must register your LLC as a foreign LLC in Ohio.
The fee for forming an Ohio foreign LLC is $99. A foreign LLC may be registered in Ohio by submitting a Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 533b) online or by mail.
Depending on your industry and geographical location, your company may need federal, state, and municipal permits/licenses to operate lawfully in Ohio. This is true regardless of whether you create an LLC or another sort of company structure.
There are several extra costs involved with forming an LLC:
LLC Name Reservation: File a Name Reservation / Transfer / Cancellation form (Form 534b) and pay the $39 cost to reserve your name for up to 180 days prior to LLC formation.
To establish a name different than your official LLC company name, file a Name Registration (Form 534A) and pay the $39 filing fee.
Certificate of Good Standing: Banks and lending institutions often need an Ohio certificate of good standing. To get this certificate, you must pay a $5 cost.
