Ohio lesson 3 of 6
File the Articles of Organization
Form 610 is the document that creates an Ohio LLC. The state fee is $99, and it can be filed online, by mail, or in person in Columbus.
What Form 610 asks for
The form covers the LLC's name, its statutory agent and the agent's Ohio address, an optional effective date, and the name and signature of whoever is filing on the LLC's behalf. Ohio does not require you to list members or managers on the Articles, so ownership is not disclosed at this stage.
- You can set a future effective date, useful for a clean start on a specific date
- The filer does not have to be an owner of the LLC
- Standard processing typically runs a few business days; paying the expedite fee moves it up
Fee and speed
The standard filing fee is $99. Ohio also offers expedited service for an extra fee if you need the filing turned around faster than the standard queue.
Filing online through Ohio Business Central is generally the fastest and lowest-error route, since the system checks required fields before you submit.
After approval
Keep the certified copy of your Articles safe. Ohio does not require an operating agreement to be filed, but drafting one is still how you set out ownership percentages, voting and how profits are split, and banks will typically ask to see it when you open an account.
Key takeaways
- Form 610 costs $99, filed with the Ohio Secretary of State.
- Ownership is not disclosed in the Articles themselves.
- An operating agreement is not filed with the state but is expected by banks.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to live in Ohio to form an Ohio LLC?
No. There is no residency requirement for members or managers. Only the statutory agent needs an Ohio address.
Is an operating agreement required in Ohio?
It is not filed with the state, but Ohio law lets it override many default rules for how the LLC is run. Most banks and any future investors will ask to see one.
Official sources
Or let us file your Ohio LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization (Form 610), act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team