Ohio forms an LLC with Articles of Organization, and the current form is Form 610. It goes to the Ohio Secretary of State, and the filing fee is $99. The form replaced Form 533A in the state's records.
This page describes the filing and is not advice. The office itself, with its search and contacts, is covered in the Ohio office guide. For the general picture, read our articles of organization guide.
Where do you file Ohio articles of organization?
Online or by mail. The state lists the filing at Ohio Business Central, its business portal, and also offers a PDF of the form.
| LLC form | Articles of Organization, Form 610 (replaces Form 533A) (ohiosos.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Corporation form | Initial Articles of Incorporation, Form 532A (ohiosos.gov, checked ) |
| Form page | ohiosos.gov/globalassets/business/forms/610.pdf (ohiosos.gov, checked ) |
| State filing fee for an LLC | $99 (ohiosos.gov, checked ) |
| State filing fee for a corporation | $99 (ohiosos.gov, checked ) |
| Filing online | File online at Ohio Business Central or download the PDF form (ohiosos.gov, checked ) |
| Faster processing | $100 for 2 business days, $200 for 1 business day, $300 for 4 hours (in person only) (ohiosos.gov, checked ) |
| Processing time | Regular service takes 3 to 7 business days (ohiosos.gov, checked ) |
| Worth knowing | The statutory agent address must be in Ohio. P.O. boxes and commercial mail receiving agency addresses are not allowed (ohiosos.gov, checked ) |
| Faster processing (all filings) | 2 business days: $100; 1 business day: $200; 4 hours: $300 (ohiosos.gov, checked ) |
| Where to file online | bsportal.ohiosos.gov (ohiosos.gov, checked ) |
If you mail it, use one address for regular filings and another for expedited ones. The expedite address is a separate post office box. Make the check or money order payable to Ohio Secretary of State. The form must be typed and printed on one side of letter size paper. Double sided pages and unreadable forms are rejected.
What does Form 610 ask for?
The form is short. It asks for the name of the LLC and an optional effective date and time. It has an optional purpose clause. It carries the appointment of a statutory agent, with the agent's acceptance signed on the same page. And it needs the signature of the organizer or organizers.
Two points trip people up. The LLC does not exist until the state approves the filing, so the new LLC itself cannot sign the form. And the state cannot file a document that carries a Social Security number or a tax identification number, so keep those off it.
Fees and what speed costs
The base fee is $99 for the LLC. Speed costs more, and the extra is added to the filing fee:
- Regular service: no extra fee, 3 to 7 business days.
- Expedite service 1: $100, two business days after receipt.
- Expedite service 2: $200, one business day after receipt.
- Expedite service 3: $300, four hours if received by 1:00 p.m. It requires in-person delivery.
A preclearance filing is also available, for a separate fee of $50. It is a review of a form you plan to submit later.
Naming rules and the statutory agent
The LLC name has to include a designator such as limited liability company, LLC, L.L.C., limited, ltd. or ltd. It also has to be distinguishable on the state's records from other business entities. Our LLC filing fees guide compares costs between states.
Every Ohio LLC needs a statutory agent for service of process. The agent can be a person living in Ohio or a business entity with an Ohio address. The agent signs the acceptance on the form. A P.O. box is not allowed as the address, and neither is a private mailbox rental business.
What happens after filing
When the state approves the articles, the LLC exists. An effective date can delay that, but not by more than ninety days after the state receives the form. Ohio does not require an annual report from LLCs, so there is no yearly filing to diary. Check your other duties, such as the operating agreement and tax registration, with a professional.
If you would like help with the filing, you can ask our private filing service. State fees are separate, and you can file with the state yourself.
Sources
- www.ohiosos.gov/business/business-filing-forms: LLC filing fee, corporation filing fee, expedite fees, online filing. Checked .
- www.ohiosos.gov/business/business-filing-forms: llc form, corporation form, filing online. Checked .
- www.ohiosos.gov/globalassets/business/forms/610.pdf: form page, faster processing, processing time, worth knowing. Checked .