Skip to content
Formation ClassClass is in session: LLC paperwork, state by state.

Class 2 · Ohio

Ohio Registered Agent Class (2026): 6 Assignments and the 2 Best Agents

Pop quiz answer for Ohio in 2026: Mainstay Filing ($149 a year) and OH Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) are the services to use for getting a registered agent, best grade first. Assignment 1 is the Ohio rule on a statutory agent; 6 assignments later the appointment is on file.

Taught by the Formation Class faculty

Key facts for this class

Legally requiredYesLook at codes.ohio.gov for yourself; we read it in October 2026
Cost of hiring an agent$99 to $149 a yearPublished rates
Assignments6Listed below

Class objectives

  • What the law says
  • The address and eligibility rules
  • Naming the agent with the state
  • Which agents we recommend and why

Who we would hire in Ohio

Three-year tuition and homework done weigh the most; how we grade lists all five criteria.
Best overall

1. Mainstay Filing: best for LLCs that may add other states

$149 per year (renews at $149)

We start with Mainstay Filing; $149 a year from one provider, including for states you add later.

Three years here run $150 higher than at OH Registered Agent.org, with more of the work done in return.

Covered by the tuition

  • An office address inside the state
  • Scans of papers served on the company, free and on the same business day
  • Three government letters a year are scanned free
  • Also serves nonprofits, corporations, LPs and LLPs

Strengths

  • The same provider anywhere
  • $149 per year

Weak spots

  • Higher by $50 a year
  • An agent-only plan, so no report filing
In-state service

2. OH Registered Agent.org: best for one-state companies

$99 per year (renews at $99)

Our second pick, OH Registered Agent.org: $99 a year, with scanned copies of served papers placed in an online account.

Covered by the tuition

  • A physical address in Ohio
  • Served papers are scanned into your account

Strengths

  • Yearly price below the national pick
  • A flat $99 yearly

Weak spots

  • Ohio only; each other state needs its own agent

All the tuition in one table

#ServiceAnnual priceRenewal priceThree-year total
1Mainstay Filing$149$149/yr$447Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2OH Registered Agent.org$99$99/yr$297Visit OH Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Each company's posted price on November 13, 2026. Switching agents does not change what the state charges.

The Ohio agent, in order

  1. Assignment
    1

    Start with the rule

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

    Textbook page: Look at codes.ohio.gov for yourself; we read it in October 2026

  2. Assignment
    2

    Find out who is allowed to serve

    An Ohio resident, or a business entity with a business address in Ohio. This is in Ohio Rev. Code § 1706.09.

  3. Assignment
    3

    Pick an address that complies

    The address has to be the agent's home or usual place of business in Ohio. P.O. boxes and commercial mail receiving agencies are not accepted.

    Hire a service and its Ohio street address goes on the filing in place of yours.

  4. Assignment
    4

    Choose between acting alone and hiring

    If you pass the tests above, you can name yourself; hiring one of the graded agents costs $99 to $149 a year.

  5. Assignment
    5

    Get the agent listed publicly

    The agent of a brand-new LLC is listed on the Articles of Organization (Form 610), sent to the Ohio Secretary of State. Swapping agents later means filing an amendment with the same office.

    Textbook page: Look at codes.ohio.gov for yourself; we read it in October 2026

  6. Assignment
    6

    Check the record every year

    The state wants no yearly report, but the statutory agent must stay in place.

Ohio agent costs

AssignmentWho gets paidSum
Registered agent serviceThe service$99 to $149 a year
RenewalThe service$99 to $149 a year
Here is how the three-year state row works: filing fee, plus the report in each of years two and three, plus any yearly minimum tax. Service fees get their own rows.

How we graded the Ohio picks

Homework the price does makes up 34% of the grade, and that is where got ahead in Ohio.

OH Registered Agent.org costs less, but reach across states won the higher grade.

Short answers

Is having a statutory agent the law in Ohio?

Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Can I be my own statutory agent?

An owner can serve if eligible; the tests are in assignments 2 and 3.

Can I change my statutory agent later?

Yes; the Ohio Secretary of State takes change filings, and assignment 5 says what to send.

What does a registered agent cost in Ohio?

The graded agents charge $99 to $149 a year.

What does the LLC pay the state each year?

No report fee is due.

Which registered agent would you choose?

Mainstay Filing gets the top grade and OH Registered Agent.org follow; Mainstay Filing wins on homework the price does.

See also

Textbook pages and extra reading

  1. Study tip for Ohio Rev: everything above comes from codes.ohio.gov, which we reread in August 2026. Open it and follow along.
  2. Study tip for Ohio formation fee: Filing fee, official source: everything above comes from codes.ohio.gov, which we reread in October 2026. Open it and follow along.
  3. Study tip for Ohio registered agent statute: everything above comes from codes.ohio.gov, which we reread in October 2026. Open it and follow along.
  4. The Ohio service page at Mainstay Filing, November 13, 2026
  5. The pricing page at OH Registered Agent.org, November 13, 2026