Ohio Secretary of State office — contact, fees & licensing
Updated August 2026
Official Resource
Ohio Official SOS WebsiteThe Ohio Secretary of State's Business Services division handles entity formations, amendments, statutory agent designations, and related filings. Ohio is notable for not requiring annual reports for most entity types — LLCs and corporations have no recurring report obligation, which meaningfully reduces ongoing compliance costs compared to most states.
Office contact
- Address
- Client Service Center, 180 Civic Center Dr., Columbus, OH 43215
- Toll-free phone (Business Filings)
- 1-877-767-3453
- Direct phone (Business Filings)
- 614-466-3910
- business@OhioSoS.gov
- Office hours
- Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Online filing portal
- Ohio Business Central (bsportal.ohiosos.gov)
- Entity search
- businesssearch.ohiosos.gov
Entity formation and filing fees
Ohio uses a flat $99 formation fee for LLCs, nonprofit corporations, and profit corporations at the minimum share tier. For-profit corporations with higher authorized share counts incur higher fees — the $99 applies to the lowest tier only. No annual report fees apply for LLCs or corporations. Verify current amounts at ohiosos.gov before filing.
| Filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Domestic LLC — Articles of Organization | $99 |
| Domestic LLC — Annual Report | None required |
| Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation (minimum tier) | $99 |
| Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Annual Report | None required |
| Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation | $99 |
| LLP — Biennial Report | $25 |
| Name Reservation (online) | $39 |
| Certificate of Good Standing | $5 |
Key Ohio state licensing agencies
Ohio Department of Taxation
- What it covers
- Sales and use tax, employer withholding, commercial activity tax (CAT), Ohio business registration
- Website
- tax.ohio.gov
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
- What it covers
- Unemployment insurance registration, employer accounts, workforce programs
- Website
- jfs.ohio.gov
Ohio Department of Commerce — Division of Industrial Compliance
- What it covers
- Contractor licensing, construction trades, building and fire codes compliance
- Website
- com.ohio.gov
eLicense Ohio
- What it covers
- Professional, occupational, and business licensing and verification across 24 Ohio state agencies, boards, and commissions (healthcare, real estate, cosmetology, accountancy, architecture, and more)
- Website
- elicense.ohio.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Ohio LLCs have to pay an annual report fee?
No. Ohio LLC formation costs a flat $99, and no annual report or fee is required afterward. LLPs are the exception, filing a $25 biennial report between April 1 and July 1 of odd-numbered years.
Where do I check a professional license in Ohio?
eLicense Ohio covers professional, occupational, and business licensing and verification across 24 different Ohio state agencies, boards, and commissions, including healthcare, real estate, cosmetology, accountancy, and architecture.
How much does an Ohio Certificate of Good Standing cost?
Just $5 — notably cheaper than the equivalent certificate in most other states.
This guide is informational only and is not affiliated with the Ohio Secretary of State's office or any state agency listed above. Contact information and fees verified against official Ohio Secretary of State sources, August 2026. Corporation fees scale with authorized share count — verify the applicable tier before filing. Verify current fees at the official state website. Last verified: August 2026.