Formation · Ohio
Company formation in Ohio for founders anywhere
LLC or corporation formed in Ohio, EIN without an SSN, registered agent, banking pack and a first-year compliance calendar, handled by a team of Certified Accountants, CPAs and Enrolled Agents. Fixed fee quoted upfront.
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- 447 Broadway, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10013
- Certified Accountants, CPAs and Enrolled Agents
- Flat fees quoted upfront
- Replies within 8 hours
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What forming in Ohio commits you to
Formation is the cheap part. Ohio charges $99 to form an LLC and then expects no annual report or annual fee for an LLC. Add personal income tax from 2.75% to 3.5%, a gross-receipts tax instead of a corporate income tax and a 5.75% state sales tax (about 7.29% combined with local rates), and you have the real annual cost of a Ohio entity.
| Ohio at a glance | What applies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal income tax | Personal income tax from 2.75% to 3.5% | Graduated brackets (2025 table) |
| Corporate income tax | A gross-receipts tax instead of a corporate income tax | No corporate income tax; Commercial Activity Tax of 0.26% on taxable gross receipts above the exclusion ($6 million from 2025) |
| Sales tax | A 5.75% state sales tax (about 7.29% combined with local rates) | Combined figure is the population-weighted average with local rates (2026 table) |
| LLC fees | Formation $99; No annual report or annual fee for an LLC | $0 |
| Corporation fees | Formation $99; No annual report | Ohio has no annual report for corporations or LLCs |
| S-corp election | Federal election recognised | Recognised; CAT applies to gross receipts regardless of S status; PTE election available |
Figures checked 2026-09 against Ohio Department of Taxation and Ohio Secretary of State. Rates and fees change; we confirm the current numbers for your entity before we quote.
What is included
- Entity choice: LLC, S-corp election or C-corp, explained in plain English for your situation
- Ohio formation filing and state fees handled
- Registered agent coordination in Ohio
- EIN application, including for non-US owners without an SSN
- Operating agreement or bylaws and a banking pack
- Beneficial ownership guidance where FinCEN reporting still applies
- First-year compliance calendar: no annual report or annual fee for an LLC, federal deadlines, sales tax registration if needed
- Bookkeeping and the first tax return, if you want one team for all of it
Is Ohio the right state for you?
Ohio has no corporate income tax; it taxes gross receipts through the Commercial Activity Tax, which only bites once taxable receipts pass the exclusion threshold. LLCs have no annual report in Ohio, which surprises owners moving in from other states.
Ohio is rarely chosen by non-resident founders without local operations. Form or register here when the business has Ohio customers, staff or inventory; otherwise Wyoming, Delaware or New Mexico usually cost less to maintain. The honest rule: form where the business actually operates. A Ohio entity run from another state usually has to register there too, and pays both sets of fees. For a non-US owner with no US operations, the choice comes down to annual cost, privacy and how the banks view the state.
We do not advertise or process government identifiers as a standalone service. The EIN is one step inside a formation engagement, applied for on your behalf with the IRS.
Who we form companies for
- Non-US founders who want a US entity for Stripe, Amazon or US clients
- Indian, UAE and UK residents opening a US subsidiary
- US residents starting an LLC or S-corp in Ohio
- E-commerce sellers and SaaS founders
- Consultants and agencies billing US customers
- CPA firms that need a formation partner for their clients
How it works
- Free call: entity type, state and what the business will do.
- Fixed quote covering formation, EIN and the first-year calendar.
- We file the formation documents and set up the registered agent.
- EIN application (no SSN needed) and banking pack.
- Compliance calendar handed over, with reminders.
Pricing
Formation packages are quoted as one fixed fee that includes our work and the Ohio state fee, so you see the whole number before you say yes. Registered agent fees are passed through at cost. Bundles with bookkeeping and the first year's tax return are the most common choice for non-US owners, because the Form 5472 filing that follows formation is where most first-year penalties come from.
Ohio questions people ask first
Can a non-US resident form a Ohio LLC?
Yes. There is no residency or citizenship requirement. You need a registered agent with a Ohio address, an EIN (which we apply for without an SSN), and a plan for the annual filings that follow.
What does a Ohio LLC cost each year after formation?
No annual report or annual fee for an LLC, plus a registered agent (typically $50 to $150 a year) and the federal filings. $0
LLC or C-corp in Ohio?
An LLC is simpler and passes income through to the owner. A C-corp is what US investors expect and what Delaware is famous for. For a solo non-US founder with no investors, an LLC is usually the right start; we walk through the choice on the call.
Does forming in Ohio change my federal taxes?
No. State choice changes state fees and state tax, not federal treatment. A foreign-owned single-member LLC files Form 5472 with a pro forma 1120 every year in every state.
How long does Ohio formation take?
State processing times vary from a day to a few weeks; the EIN for a non-US owner can take a further two to six weeks by fax. We tell you the current timing on the call.
Can you also do the bookkeeping and tax return?
Yes, and most clients bundle them. One team means the formation, the books and the first return are consistent, and the compliance calendar is actually owned by someone.
Ready for a fixed quote in Ohio?
Two sentences from you. A written price within 8 hours. No obligation, no long-term contract.
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