LLC for Beginners

LLC for Beginners › Ohio

Forming an LLC in Ohio for the first time

The Ohio filing fee is $99. For a beginner the best service is Mainstay Filing: $199 a year covers the filing, agent, EIN application and every filing the state asks for (it has no annual report), so year 1 comes to $298.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026

Your Ohio checklist

  1. File the Articles of Organization (610). $99 to the Ohio Secretary of State.
  2. Registered agent. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. Mainstay Filing includes it.
  3. EIN. Free from the IRS; included in the application Mainstay Filing prepares.
  4. Operating agreement. Write one even for a single owner. No upcharge at Mainstay Filing.
  5. Annual report. Ohio has no LLC annual report. Nothing to file.
Best for beginners

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year + $99 state fee

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
  • Compliance reminders and stored documents

Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.

Total for the first three years

$696 with Mainstay Filing, state fees included. Others: Northwest Registered Agent $388; ZenBusiness $596; Bizee $397; LegalZoom $846 (these totals leave out any charge for filing the annual report).

Questions

What is the best LLC service for a beginner in Ohio?

Mainstay Filing. First year $298 including the $99 Ohio filing fee; $199 in year 2.

Can a beginner file an LLC in Ohio without a service?

Yes: file the Articles of Organization (610) with the Ohio Secretary of State for $99. Required registered agent: An Ohio resident, or a business entity with a business address in Ohio.

Sources