Ohio · OH
Ohio LLC Formation Cost 2026
Filing fee $99 · Annual no report · Privacy 5/10 · Banking 8/10
The numbers
| Initial state filing fee | $99 |
|---|---|
| Annual report (none) | Not required |
| Franchise / privilege tax | CAT on gross receipts > $3M |
| State personal income tax (top) | 3.5% |
| State corporate income tax (top) | None |
| Publication required? | No |
| Standard processing time | 5 business days |
| Privacy score | 5/10 |
| Banking accessibility | 8/10 |
| 5-year total cost | $349 |
Why people choose Ohio
- No annual report
- No traditional corporate tax
- CAT exemption raised to $3M
Trade-offs to know
- Commercial Activity Tax on gross receipts above threshold
Who Ohio is best for
- Midwest businesses
CAT exemption is $3M of taxable gross receipts as of 2024.
- Ohio Secretary of State / business division
- Fees last verified against the source: 2026-05-15
Ohio vs the alternatives
| State | Filing | Recurring | State tax | Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $99 | $0/yr | 3.5% | 5/10 |
| Wyoming | $100 | $62/yr | 0% | 9/10 |
| Delaware | $110 | $300/yr | 6.6% | 7/10 |
How to form an LLC in Ohio (general steps)
- Choose a unique name ending in "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company". Check name availability with the Ohio Secretary of State.
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Ohio address.
- File Articles of Organization ($99) with the Ohio Secretary of State.
- Draft an Operating Agreement — most states do not require filing but strongly recommend having one.
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS (free online with SSN/ITIN).
- File the FinCEN BOI report within 90 days of formation (federal requirement).
Other commonly compared states
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Ohio?
The state filing fee is $99. Ohio has no annual report requirement. Plus a registered agent (typically $25-$150/year).
Does Ohio have a state income tax on LLCs?
Ohio's top personal income tax rate is 3.5%. Pass-through LLC profits flow to your personal return at this rate.
What is the annual cost of maintaining a Ohio LLC?
Excluding the first-year filing fee, the recurring cost is $50 (annual report + franchise minimum + $50 registered agent baseline). Five-year total ≈ $349.
Can a non-resident form an LLC in Ohio?
Yes. Non-US residents can form an LLC in any state. However, banking, payment processing, and EIN acquisition vary in difficulty. Ohio has strong banking accessibility (8/10). See our non-resident guide for the full process.
Is Ohio a good state for an anonymous LLC?
Ohio's privacy score is 5/10. Some member or manager information appears on public filings. For maximum privacy, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Nevada are common choices.
Deep-dive Ohio guides
Interactive cost calculator for Ohio
LLC Cost Calculator
Estimate the real cost of forming and maintaining an LLC across 51 US jurisdictions. Includes state filing, registered agent, annual report, franchise tax, and (where applicable) publication.
Year 1 breakdown — Ohio
| State filing fee | $99 |
| Registered agent (yr 1) | $50 |
| Annual report fee | $0 |
| Franchise / privilege tax (minimum) | $0 |
| Year 1 total | $149 |
| Recurring (yr 2+) | $50/yr |
Avg. $70 / year — compares to 5-yr baseline $349.
What this calculator does NOT include
- Federal BOI report (free, but mandatory)
- EIN application (free with SSN/ITIN; some services charge $50-$300)
- Operating Agreement drafting
- State-level business licenses (industry-specific)
- Local city/county fees (varies by municipality)
- Foreign LLC registration if operating outside formation state
- Federal and state income tax on profits
Educational estimate only. Not legal or tax advice. Verify with a licensed CPA or attorney before filing.