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Written by: Carolyn Young
Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.
Edited by: David Lepeska
David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.
Published on August 15, 2022
Updated on April 9, 2024
If you’re starting an LLC in Ohio, the business entity formation process is one of the first and most important hurdles. This step can be terribly complex and time-consuming, which is why many entrepreneurs turn to professional formation services.
But which are the best LLC formation services in Ohio? This article takes a closer look, stepping into an entrepreneur’s shoes, to help you choose the service that puts you on the road to success.
Here we summarize our top picks of business formation services in Ohio.
Best Overall
Best Statutory Agent Service
Best Turnaround Time
Best for Small Budget
Best for Legal Services
Best for Ensuring Compliance
Best for Speedy Processing
For those looking to establish an Ohio LLC, ZenBusiness provides a range of plans tailored to various business needs.
Their Starter plan, priced at $0 plus Ohio state fees, offers a business name availability search in Ohio and comprehensive formation support.
For a more comprehensive package, their Pro plan is available at $199 plus Ohio state fees and includes all the services of the Starter plan, an operating agreement template tailored for Ohio, an EIN, annual compliance services, and rush filing.
Ohio entrepreneurs seeking a top-tier package can consider the Premium plan at $349 plus state fees, which brings in all Pro offerings along with a business document template library, domain name, website, and email.
When it comes to establishing an Ohio LLC, ZenBusiness stands out as the top choice for LLC filing. Their remarkable base service offers LLC filing with a 100% accuracy guarantee, starting at just $0 plus Ohio’s state fees.
Notably, ZenBusiness operates as a Public Benefit Corporation, positioning itself as a for-profit entity with a community-centric goal akin to nonprofits.
Beyond just LLC formation in Ohio, ZenBusiness also offers a variety of additional services ranging from statutory agent offerings to various business tools. While these can affect the overall cost, the historical feedback from customers affirms the company’s quality and reliability in the Ohio business landscape.
ZenBusiness offers valuable services for budding entrepreneurs. While statutory agent services are an add-on, their excellent customer support, user-friendly site, and positive reviews make them a top choice.
Northwest’s Ohio plan, priced at $39 plus Ohio state fees, encompasses business formation specific to Ohio, complimentary statutory agent services for the first year, an Ohio business address, an operating agreement tailored for Ohio LLCs, and several additional features.
For those establishing an Ohio LLC, this plan offers remarkable value, particularly with the inclusion of statutory agent services and an Ohio-specific operating agreement — both of which are paramount for businesses in the state. However, it’s noteworthy that even if you opt out of the statutory agent services, the full plan price remains unchanged.
Northwest Registered Agent, echoing its name, is prominently recognized for its statutory agent services in Ohio. Serving as a statutory agent, they pride themselves on providing Ohio businesses with more personalized customer support and swift correspondence notifications.
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent because of their transparent pricing, outstanding customer service, and a commitment to maintaining your privacy. They pride themselves on personalizing their approach to meeting your statutory agent needs, which are their specialty.
For just Ohio state fees, Swyft Filings’ Basic package offers verification of your Ohio LLC name, preparation of articles of organization, and state document submission. You’ll also have online document access and ongoing customer support.
At $199 plus Ohio fees, the Standard package includes all Basic features with an Ohio-specific operating agreement and a federal EIN. Clients also get custom banking resolution services and organizational minutes for their Ohio LLC’s first meeting.
The Premium package, at $299 plus Ohio fees, provides all Standard benefits with expedited Ohio filing, a business document library, compliance alerts, a domain name, a website, and a digital LLC kit with a company “seal” and ownership tools.
Swyft Filings is well-regarded in Ohio for its top-notch customer support and positive reviews.
Swyft Filings offers fast processing but doesn’t include statutory agent services in their packages, making additions somewhat costly. However, they provide good value overall and strong customer support.
For just Ohio state fees, the Silver package offers the preparation and filing of the articles of organization, unlimited name searches, business tax consultation, business banking account offer, and lifetime compliance alerts, with free registered agent services for a year. Lifetime company alerts mean that Bizee will remind you of any reporting due dates based on your state’s requirements. You’ll also get access to a personalized online dashboard and unlimited phone and email support.
At $199, the Gold package encompasses all Silver features and adds an Ohio-specific operating agreement template, lifetime company alerts tailored to Ohio’s reporting requirements, a banking resolution, an EIN tax number, and the filing of IRS Form 2553, which allows LLCs to reap the tax benefits of an S Corporation.
The Platinum package, priced at $299, builds on the Gold by offering expedited Ohio filing, a domain name, business email, and access to 25+ business contract templates designed for Ohio LLCs, all vetted by legal professionals.
Bizee provides substantial value, especially with their Silver package that costs only state fees and includes a year of statutory agent service. For first-time entrepreneurs looking to save, Bizee stands out in the competition.
Rocket Lawyer doesn’t offer specific Ohio LLC formation service packages. To form an Ohio LLC with them, the fee is $99, but it’s waived if you opt for their $39.99 membership.
Ohio business owners with this membership can also benefit from discounted statutory agent services at $111.99, a notable reduction from the regular $149.99 rate.
Furthermore, members have access to a variety of business document templates tailored for Ohio LLCs, including an Ohio-specific operating agreement.
Rocket Lawyer simplifies business start-up, though it lacks some services offered by competitors. Their membership stands out, providing ongoing legal assistance and offering the best value.
Harbor Compliance doesn’t have specific Ohio LLC formation packages, but they do provide a la carte services. Establishing an Ohio LLC with them is priced at $99 plus Ohio state fees.
Additionally, Ohio businesses can opt for their statutory agent services, annual report filing, and EIN.
Statutory agent service is $99 annually ($50 off if you pay for five years upfront, $100 off if you pay for 10). For Ohio businesses keen on streamlining compliance, annual report filing services are available at a rate of $175 plus any associated state filing fees annually (you’ll get $250 off if you purchase ten years’ worth of annual report filing). Ohio LLCs can also secure an EIN for $99.
Beyond these, Harbor Compliance provides business license management tools tailored for Ohio and a variety of other services.
Harbor Compliance stands out with its prompt processing and a broader range of services than many competitors, especially when considering their competitive pricing for statutory agent services in Ohio.
Harbor Compliance provides extensive services, including comprehensive annual compliance and business license guidance, surpassing competitors. Though on the pricier side, they cater to most needs of new business owners.
Filenow presents a Starter plan tailored for Ohio LLCs priced at $49, which encompasses company compliance alerts, a tax consultation specific to Ohio, and a business bank account.
Their Ohio-targeted Premium plan, priced at $199, bolsters the offerings of the Starter plan with a free year of statutory agent services in Ohio, an operating agreement designed for Ohio LLCs, an EIN, a banking resolution, business contract templates suitable for the Ohio business environment, and a rapid 24-hour processing.
Filenow sets itself apart with swift processing times ideal for Ohio entrepreneurs and offers a money-back guarantee. For those setting up an Ohio LLC, their Premium plan represents outstanding value.
Filenow’s Premium plan is an exceptional value based on what you get for the price. It’s less expensive than similar plans offered by competitors. They also offer fast turnaround times, and a money back guarantee.
A business formation service handles the business formation process for you, making it nearly seamless while offering additional services that can make life easier for a new business owner. Whether you’re forming a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation, a business formation service takes care of all the red tape, freeing you up to focus on growing your business.
With so many business formation services to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which is best for you. There are four essential elements that can help you make your decision.
Each service offers various products and services, and their plans are all designed differently. You may need some services but not others, so you need to choose the service that offers everything you need. For example, only some of the providers offer annual report filing.
If it’s important to you to get that task off your plate, you’ll want a service that offers that feature. Another feature you might need is a digital dashboard where you can always access your business formation documents.
You’ll want to choose a service that has everything you need to make starting and running your business as easy as possible.
Of course, you’ll want to get the best value for your money!
Compare the cost of each service for everything you need. The price can really add up when you start adding extras, so be careful not to go too far. You also want to get good value and great customer service, so if you’re considering the cheapest service, check the reviews to see how people feel about it.
Business formation turnaround times vary with each service, so if you’re in a hurry to get your business up and running, you’ll want to look for the quickest service. You don’t want your order to sit in an office too long before your paperwork gets filed with the state. Some services differentiate themselves with fast turnaround times, so if they also offer good value, that might be your best choice.
One good way to learn about the quality of anything you’re buying is to listen to what people are saying about it. When we review services we look at Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot ratings and reviews. It’s wise to look at both positive and negative reviews to find out what people love about the service and about issues customers have encountered.
Remember that fake reviews are common, so you should take some of the reviews with a grain of salt.
As an entrepreneurial advisory site, we take our responsibilities seriously. We understand that countless entrepreneurs, and potential entrepreneurs, rely on our judgments and insights, particularly when it comes to creating their business.
As a result, our writers do their utmost to gain a comprehensive understanding of the services offered and the actual customer experience. In nearly every case, we:
Thanks to this full immersion in the actual customer experience, our reviewers are able to provide the most complete and insightful analysis of various LLC formation services.
Published on June 30, 2022
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