If you’re starting a business entity in Ohio and you want to learn about the best registered agents in the state, our guide on the best Ohio registered agent services will help you find the perfect service for your business.
We have compiled a list of our top eleven recommendations and reviewed their best features and cost. If, however, you don’t want to read through our entire list, our summary table below contains an overview of the best features of our top three recommendations.
Best Ohio Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | Ohio Office Location |
|---|---|---|
| IncFile | $119 a year / first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | North Canton |
| Ohio Statutory Agent | $49 a year | North Canton |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Cincinnati |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | North Canton |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Columbus |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Bismarck |
| Registered Agents Inc. | $200 a year | Not stated |
| Registered Agent Net | $89 a year | Not stated |
| MyCompanyWorks | $99 a year | Not stated |
In addition to individual reviews, we’ll also discuss all the necessary steps to registering a business in Ohio and answer additional questions in the FAQ section at the end.
Without further ado, let’s cover some basics.
What Is a Registered Agent?
The role of a registered agent is to accept official government correspondence and legal documents on behalf of a business and forward those documents to the owners.
Does Ohio Require a Registered Agent Service?
Yes, every business entity created in Ohio has to appoint a registered agent during its formation stage.
Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent Service
Still not convinced that you should hire a registered agent service to represent your business? Here are the perks you can experience if you do so:
- You can expand your business across multiple states;
- You’ll be able to maintain flexible business hours;
- You can travel guilt-free without worrying about missing an important document;
- You will remain compliant with state laws and regulations;
- You’ll never have to be in awkward positions in front of clients;
- Your business image will remain intact.
Now that we’ve covered that, let’s move on to our first recommendation.
1. IncFile
IncFile offers one of the most cost-effective deals in our guide. If you hire their formation services, you’ll get a year of registered agent services for free. Throughout the years, they’ve helped over 800,000 customers, and offer an array of useful compliance tools, including:
- Access to said correspondence on your personal dashboard
- Receiving all your important correspondence in due time
- Automatic mail forwarding
- Tailored email and text notifications
Customers really appreciate how user-friendly their site is and their timely compliance reminders.
Their regular fee is $119 and there are no hidden fees or secret contracts.
Apart from offering registered agent services, they also offer:
- EIN Number
- Certificate of good standing
- Business licenses and permits
- Virtual address
- Foreign qualification
- Tax consultations
- Amendment
- Trademarking
2. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is another company that provides a high-quality registered agent service, in addition to other services. Since their start in 2015, they’ve helped over 300,000 businesses flourish and are rated as #1 on influential sites like Forbes and Investopedia. Their registered agent package includes a myriad of benefits, such as:
- Expert handling of all your documents
- Mail forwarding
- Fast turnaround
- Document scanning
- Email notifications
- Access to a personalized dashboard
ZenBusiness are also known for helping the entrepreneurial community – with their $5K Grant Program, they support struggling business owners and offer up to $5k in funding.
Additionally, their website is easy and intuitive to use, which is especilly helpful for first-time business owners.
Their starting fee is $199 a year. Their other tiers include additional perks like two filing changes a year, so upgrading the package is always an option.
Other services offered by ZenBusiness include:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- EIN Number
- Taxes and accounting
- Worry-free compliance
- Domain name and website
- Annual reports
- Business license reports
- Operating agreement
- Banking and finances
3. Northwest
Northwest is one of the largest and most renowned registered agent services across the United States. They provide their clients with a plethora of compliance tools and access to top-notch customer support at a relatively affordable price. Once you become their client, you’ll access the following tools:
- Document storage
- Pre-filled state forms
- Mail forwarding
- Compliance alerts
- Scanned documents
- Annual report reminders
One of their major strong suits is their Corporate Guides – a team of experts who are always at your disposal for whatever issue that might arise. And thanks to their Privacy by Default practice, you’ll never have to worry about any of your personal data being exposed.
And on top of all that, during your first year of registered agent services, you’ll be given complimentary access to their compliance calendar.
Northwest’s fee is $125 annually. If you hire them as your registered agent for four or more states, your fee will be reduced to $100.
Their Ohio office is located in North Canton.
Northwest also offer the following services:
- Trademarking
- Phone service
- Annual report filings
- Payment processing
- Foreign qualification
- Mail forwarding
- Virtual office
4. Ohio Statutory Agent
The Ohio Statutory Agent registered agent service is ideal for anyone who wants to hire an affordable yet effective registered agent service. For just $49 a year, you’ll unlock the following benefits:
- Same-day document scans
- Compliance monitoring
- Annual report reminders
- Ohio tax notifications
- Access to their online portal
Their service is extremely affordable, and you’ll never have to worry about unwanted fees and hidden charges.
Their Ohio office is located in North Canton.
In addition to registered agent services, they also offer an LLC formation service and an incorporation service.
5. InCorp
InCorp is an A+ rated nationwide service that’s been in the business for over 20 years and has helped over 250,000 worldwide clients. Their registered agent package includes:
- Access to their Entity Management System
- Annual report filings
- Legal notifications
- Mail forwarding
Another reason to opt for InCorp is their dedication to protecting their clients from identity theft with their EntityWatch technology.
Their yearly fee is $129, but you can pay as low as $87 if you use their multi-year service.
Their Ohio office is located in Cincinnati.
Other than incorporation services, they also offer:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Copyright
- EIN Number
- DBA Filing
- Apostille service
- UCC search
- Trademarking
- Articles of amendment
- Foreign qualification
6. Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance is a reputable nationwide registered agent service that’s served over 35,000 customers. They offer an amazing discount for their multi-year service, making them a great option for anyone who is looking to purchase a registered agent for more than one year. Their service includes the following features:
- Customizable notifications
- Same-day electronic delivery of your documents
- Annual report reminders
- Pre-filled state forms
Harbor Compliance are known for their rapid processing speed, so you’ll never have to worry about not receiving a document on time or missing a deadline.
Customers also love how user-friendly their software is and the dedicated customer support team.
Their Ohio office is located in North Canton.
Their annual fee is $99, but you can get an additional discount with their multi-year deal.
On top of registered agent services, they also provide:
- Amendments
- Incorporation
- LLC formation
- Registration
- Business licenses
7. LegalZoom
LegalZoom is a go-to registered agent for many business owners that also offers amazing legal services They’ve helped over 2 million businesses, and their registered agent package includes:
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Mail alerts
- $1M in identity theft protection
- Annual report reminders
Each customer also gets access to their compliance calendar, which will help you seamlessly track all your due dates and deadlines.
If you don’t like what you’re currently getting from your registered agent, LegalZoom can change your current registered agent, free of charge.
What makes them a great option for larger businesses is that they offer up to $1M in identity theft insurance.
Their yearly fee is a little steeper than some of our other recommendations ($299), but they’re surely a worthwhile investment, considering all the benefits you’ll get in return.
On top of registered agent services, they also offer:
- Taxation
- Incorporation
- Business registration
- Trademarking
- Residential lease
- Copyright
- Foreign qualification
- Annual reports
- EIN Number
- Business formation
- Power of attorney
8. CSC Global
Another incredible option for larger businesses is CSC Global. They’re a more expensive option than our other recommendations (costing $381 a year), but they offer a plethora of useful tools, including:
- Annual compliance reminders
- Access to a personalized online dashboard
- Access to their SOC-2 facilities
- Electronic delivery of documents
- Same-day document scans
Thanks to their SOC-2 technology, your business will remain safe at all times and you’ll never have to worry about third parties accessing your personal information.
Their Ohio office is located in Columbus.
CSC Global also offer the following services:
- Corporate filings
- Entity management
- Legal management
- Real estate and erecording
- Digital brand services
- UCC
9. Registered Agent Inc.
Registered Agent Inc. is a reputable nationwide registered agent service that offers a wide range of perks, such as:
- Access to a Corporate Accounts Portal
- Digital notifications
- Professional filer tips
- Compliance reminders
Additionally, their website has a very intuitive design and is easy to use, which is always a plus when it comes to registered agent services.
Their yearly fee will set you back $200.
Other services provided by Registered Agent Inc. include:
- BOC-3 Process Agent Service
- Start-up formation
- Incorporation services
10. Registered Agent Net
Another excellent option, if you’re looking for a registered agent under $100, is Registered Agent Net. Costing only $89, this registered agent service provides:
- Access to their Compliance Calendar and Compliance Entity Manager
- Two-year price guarantee
- Same-day document delivery
With the help of their compliance tools, you’ll be able to seamlessly stay on top of any deadlines. Before any due date, you’ll receive a mail notifying you about the due date.
You’ll never have to worry about the fees being increased or having to deal with sneaky contracts.
11. MyCompanyWorks
Our last recommendation for the best Ohio registered agent service is MyCompanyWorks. This nationwide registered agent is affordable and it comes with a comprehensive list of benefits, which include:
- Access to an online dashboard
- Compliance monitoring
- Free E-delivery
- Same-day processing
- Access to The Startup Wizard
- Online order tracking
Being a nationwide service, MyCompanyWorks allows you to expand your business across many jurisdictions without changing them as your agent.
If you’re not satisfied with what they’re offering, you can get a 100% satisfaction guarantee. A year of registered agent services with MyCompanyWorks will cost you $99.
MyCompanyWorks also offer the following services:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Company dissolution
- Virtual office
- Annual reports
- File a DBA
- Business licenses
How do I Register a Business in Ohio?
If you’re thinking of starting a business in Ohio, here are all the essential steps you need to take.
Choose a Name for Your Business
Assuming you have a clear business idea in mind, the first step is to choose a name for your business. While you have a lot of creative freedom, you also have to keep in mind a few guidelines.
For instance, your business name must be unique – no other business in the state of Ohio can have the same name as your business. You can check this by doing an online business entity search on the Ohio Secretary of State website.
In addition, your business name must indicate the type of business structure you’ve chosen. For instance, if you opt for an LLC, you need to include “LLC” or some other variation in the name.
To ensure that no other business takes your name while you’re completing the finishing touches of your registration, you can reserve your business name with the state. The filing fee is $39 and your name will remain reserved up to 180 days.
Choose Your Business Structure
Deciding what business structure to give to your business goes hand in hand with choosing its name. After all, as we mentioned earlier, your name should indicate the type of business entity you’ve decided on.
There are four main business structures in Ohio:
Sole proprietorships and partnerships are much easier and cheaper to form. Plus, they don’t come with as many formation and yearly obligations with the Ohio state. If your budget is limited, you might want to consider sticking to these options. If not, choosing an LLC or a corporation can give you a lot of peace of mind since these business structures give their owners limited liability and ensure the protection of your assets.
File Articles of Organization
One of the filings you have to complete if you’ve decided to opt for an LLC is filing articles of organization with the state. This mandatory document contains important information about your business, such as its location, information about its owners, and information about the registered agent. By this stage, you need to have chosen which registered agent you want to represent your business.
The filing fee for articles of organization is $99.
File Articles of Incorporation
Filing articles of incorporation is an obligatory step for corporations. This document has a similar purpose to articles of organization, except it contains additional information that pertains to corporations, such as information about the comapny’s stocks.
Articles of incorporation require a $99 fee.
Obtain an EIN
Obtaining an Employee Identification Number is crucial for businesses that have employees or file certain kinds of tax returns.
You can apply for EIN online, using the IRS website. There is no filing fee.
If your business isn’t required to get an EIN, it still might be a good idea to obtain one. You’ll have an easier time opening a bank account and your business will remain protected.
Acquire the Necessary Licenses and Permits
The last step to ensuring that your business operates legally is getting all the necessary licenses and permits.
Unlike many other states, businesses are required to register with the Ohio Secretary of State in order to operate legally.
The type of license or permit your business will require depends on the industry you’re in. In addition, some licenses and permits vary from county to county. To double check that you have all the necessary requirements, you can check the Ohio Government website for additional guidelines.
Last but not least, businesses that involve selling goods will need to register for a collect sales tax.
FAQs
Where Can I Do an Ohio Business Entity Search?
You can do an Ohio business entity search on the Ohio Secretary of State website.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Ohio?
The cost of registering a business in Ohio is $99.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re expanding or starting your business in Ohio, and regardless of your starting budget, we hope you found our article on the best Ohio registered agent services helpful in finding your perfect registered agent match.
Our top three overall recommendations are Northwest, IncFile, and ZenBusiness. They offer a plethora of compliance tools and additional perks like great customer support, all at a relatively affordable fee.
If you want an even more affordable option, check out Ohio Statutory Agent or Registered Agent Net.
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