Ohio Articles of Organization (Form 610): Fees, Required Contents and Expedited Filing
Ohio Articles of Organization (Form 610): Fees, Required Contents and Expedited Filing
The Articles of Organization create your Ohio limited liability company. You file Form 610 with the Ohio Secretary of State, and once the filing is accepted, the LLC exists as a legal entity. The form itself is short, but a few details cause most rejections and delays: the name, the statutory agent, and the paperwork that has to travel with the form. This guide covers the exact fee, what the form needs, how to file online, and what the expedite options cost.
Informational notice: This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. If you have partners, outside investors, debt, or a business that operates in more than one state, talk to an attorney and a CPA before you file.
What Form 610 Is and Where Its Rules Come From
Form 610 is the Articles of Organization for a Domestic Limited Liability Company. Ohio law governing these companies is found in Chapter 1706 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC). The Secretary of State will not accept the Articles unless they are accompanied by two signed documents: a written appointment of your statutory agent, signed for the company, and the agent's written acceptance, signed on the prescribed form. Plan to prepare both before you start the online filing.
The Secretary of State's main site is ohiosos.gov, and the current forms list is on the business filing forms page. Check that page for the current version of Form 610 before you file, because forms are revised.
Filing Fee and Related Costs
The Articles of Organization carry a $99 filing fee under ORC 111.16. Other costs that may come up during formation are listed below.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (Form 610) | $99 | Standard filing fee |
| Name reservation | $39 | Holds a name for 180 days. Separate from the Articles. |
| Expedite Service 1 | $100 above the filing fee | Processed within 2 business days of receipt |
| Expedite Service 2 | $200 | Processed within 1 business day |
| Expedite Service 3 | $300 | In-person delivery required. Processed within 4 hours if received by 1:00 p.m., otherwise by noon the following business day. |
| Preclearance review | $50 | Pre-filing review, 1 to 2 business days |
| Change of statutory agent, agent address, or agent resignation | $25 | Charged each time the change is filed |
| Annual or biennial report | $0 | Not required for Ohio LLCs |
Budget for the $99 filing fee and do not budget for a recurring state report. An Ohio LLC files no annual or biennial report. Expedite fees appear in the table above as they are published by the Secretary of State, but older Secretary of State forms printed a $100 fee for two-business-day service, so confirm current amounts on Ohio Business Central before you pay.
Required Contents of the Articles
Company Name
The name must include the words limited liability company or one of these abbreviations: L.L.C., LLC, limited, ltd., or ltd. It must also be distinguishable on Secretary of State records from the name of any other domestic or foreign LLC, corporation, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, or registered trade name. The only exception is written consent from the prior holder of the name. Search the Ohio business search before you file. Close matches are the most common reason a name gets rejected.
Statutory Agent
Ohio uses the term statutory agent for the registered agent that other states call by that name. Every LLC must appoint one and keep one in place at all times. The agent must be one of two things:
- A natural person who is a resident of Ohio.
- A corporation, LLC, partnership, or other entity with a business address in Ohio.
The address on the form must be the street address of the individual's primary Ohio residence, or, for an entity, the agent's usual place of business in Ohio. A post office box does not qualify, even one that has an associated street address. If you list yourself as agent at home, the address has to be your home street address, not a mail drop.
Changing the agent, changing the agent's address, or filing a resignation costs $25. A resignation takes effect 30 days after it is filed, so the company needs a replacement agent in place before that date.
Purpose
Stating a business purpose is optional. Check the form instructions for the wording and format the Secretary of State accepts, and leave the field blank if you do not need a purpose statement.
Effective Date
The Articles can carry a specific effective date. Check the form instructions for how to enter that date and any limits on it before you choose one. If you do not specify a date, the Articles take effect when they are filed.
Filing Online Through Ohio Business Central
Ohio Business Central at ohiobusinesscentral.gov is the fastest standard route. Work through these steps in order:
- Search the proposed name on the Ohio business search. If the name is free and you need time to finish the paperwork, reserve it for $39. The reservation lasts 180 days and does not form the company.
- Choose your statutory agent and confirm that the agent is eligible under the rules above.
- Get the agent's signed acceptance on the prescribed form, and sign the written appointment for the company.
- Sign in to Ohio Business Central and select the domestic LLC Articles of Organization, Form 610.
- Enter the name, the statutory agent details, and any optional purpose or effective date. Pay the $99 filing fee, plus an expedite fee if you chose one.
- Save the confirmation, then search the Ohio business search again to confirm that the LLC appears as filed.
Processing Times and Expedited Options
Regular service takes 3 to 7 business days from the date the Secretary of State receives the filing. Online filing through Ohio Business Central is the fastest standard route. Paying for expedited service makes sense only when a bank, lender, landlord, or signing deadline needs the LLC to exist on a specific date. For a filing with no deadline, the standard route is enough.
Three expedite tiers are available:
- Expedite Service 1: $100 above the filing fee, processed within 2 business days of receipt.
- Expedite Service 2: $200, processed within 1 business day.
- Expedite Service 3: $300. This tier requires in-person delivery and is processed within 4 hours if received by 1:00 p.m., otherwise by noon the following business day.
Paper expedited filings go to P.O. Box 1390, Columbus, OH 43216. A preclearance review costs $50 and takes 1 to 2 business days. Use it when the name, the agent appointment, or the form itself is unusual enough that a rejection would cost you more time than the review does.
Name Reservation and Trade Names
A name reservation is a separate filing from the Articles. It costs $39, holds the name for 180 days, and does not create the company. Use it when you need to lock a name before the LLC is ready to file.
A trade name, also called a fictitious name, is a different filing. If your LLC will operate under a name other than its legal name, register it on Trade Name or Fictitious Name Registration (Form 534A). The fee is $39. Trade names are registered with the Ohio Secretary of State, online through Ohio Business Central or by mail, not with the county. Renewal costs $25 every five years, and an update or change of registrant name costs $25.
What Ohio Does Not Require After You File
Many first-time filers look for requirements that Ohio does not impose. Here is what to expect:
- No state general business license. Ohio issues none. The licenses and permits you need depend on your industry and come from state agencies, a county, or a city. Ask the agency that regulates your work which license applies.
- No county business license. Counties issue no general business license. The sales tax vendor's license is the main registration most retailers need, and the county auditor issues it under state law. As of April 9, 2025, the application fee is $50. Obtain it through the Ohio Business Gateway or the county auditor before you make taxable sales.
- No statewide general contractor license. If you are a contractor, check with your city or county for local requirements.
- No annual report. Ohio LLCs file no annual or biennial report.
- No franchise tax or LLC annual tax. Ohio instead levies the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT), a gross receipts tax of 0.26% (.0026) on Ohio taxable gross receipts. For tax year 2025 and later, only businesses with more than $6 million of Ohio taxable gross receipts owe the CAT or must register. CAT returns are filed quarterly. Confirm your filing obligation with the Ohio Department of Taxation at tax.ohio.gov.
- Workers' compensation. Coverage is bought from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation state fund. Check with the BWC before you hire your first employee.
- City or village income tax. Many Ohio cities and villages tax business net profit under their own rates. Confirm the rate that applies to your address with your local tax office.
Articles of Incorporation for Ohio Corporations
If you are forming a corporation instead of an LLC, the document is the Initial Articles of Incorporation for a Domestic For-Profit Corporation, Form 532A. The filing fee is also $99. For-profit corporations file no annual or biennial report. Ohio does not levy a corporate income tax, but corporations pay the CAT on the same terms described above. Only domestic professional associations file a Biennial Report (Form 520), at $25.
Common Filing Mistakes
- Using a post office box for the statutory agent. The address must be a street address that meets the Ohio residence or business rules.
- Skipping the agent's signed acceptance. The Secretary of State will not accept the Articles without it.
- Choosing a name without an LLC designation or with a conflicting name. Search the business records before you pay.
- Assuming the name reservation forms the company. It only holds a name for 180 days. You still have to file the Articles.
- Paying for expedite without checking current fees. Confirm the amount and processing time on Ohio Business Central first.
Next Steps
Before you file, confirm the current Form 610 on the Secretary of State forms page, run the name search, and get the agent's signed acceptance. If the company has more than one owner, a complicated ownership structure, or a tax question about CAT, the city income tax, or payroll, schedule time with a qualified attorney or CPA before you submit the filing. This article is informational only and does not replace advice from a licensed professional.