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Ohio Registered Agent: If you wish to start an Ohio LLC, you must appoint a registered agent (often known as a statutory agent in Ohio). According to Ohio State Law, it is mandatory to have an Ohio Registered Agent if you are conducting business in the state. A registered agent receives all the official and legal documents from the State. They also receive the service of process if there’s any lawsuit in concern.
In the following guide, we have shared all the required information regarding hiring a registered (statutory) agent, why you need a registered agent in Ohio, and who can be a registered agent for your LLC. Read this guide carefully before you hire an Ohio Registered Agent.
On this page, you’ll learn about the following:
What is an Ohio Registered Agent
A registered agent (or a Statutory Agent or a resident agent) in Ohio is an individual or a business representing your business in receiving official documents. These official papers include formation documents, business renewal documents, tax filing, and any legal document if the LLC gets sued by other companies. All these documents go straight to the registered agent’s official address in the state. While forming an LLC, it is mandatory to appoint a registered agent.
When you file the Ohio LLC formation papers with the Secretary of State, LLCs must mention their statutory agent’s name and address. When you choose a registered agent in Ohio, you can go for two options, hiring an in-house registered agent or outsourcing the service.
Note: In Ohio, a registered agent is called a Statutory Agent. The Statutory Agent is an individual or a business that receives all the legal and state-related documents for your Ohio LLC. An LLC must maintain a Statutory Agent till the LLC shuts down or gets dissolved. In Ohio, the requirements and duties of a Statutory Agent can be found in the (R.C. 1705.06(B)(1)).
Hiring a Registered Agent in Ohio
You may have several options for hiring a registered agent in Ohio. To become a registered agent, one has to meet the basic eligibility criteria. If the minimum requirements are fulfilled, anyone residing in Ohio can represent your LLC as your registered agent.
Who Can Be a Registered Agent
- The person must be above 18 years old.
- The person must have a legal and physical address in the state where the LLC will operate.
- The person must be physically present during normal working hours.
- Anyone who fulfills the above requirements can act as a registered agent.
- Recommended – You should use a professional registered agent in Ohio always.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent
Yes, you can be your own registered agent. In fact, any member of the LLC, managers, and the owner can be a registered agent. Besides, someone from the owner’s family, such as a spouse, relatives, or other family members, can also act as a registered agent. As mentioned above, anyone who is representing the business as an agent should fulfill the basic criteria.
Why You Shouldn’t Be Your Own Registered Agent
Many small businesses do not hire a registered agent to save a chunk of money. However, it is not recommended to be your own registered agent. There are a bunch of problems one has to face while being a registered agent of his own LLC. Following are some of the issues you face,
- If you are operating your business from home or you are into web business, then your home address will be shared on the public portal. This address will be used for mailing and other official purposes. This will hamper your privacy.
- A registered agent has to be physically available at the official address during working hours on working days for 52 weeks. Being your own registered agent might restrict your other work due to this.
- The registered agent’s address must be up-to-date in the Secretary of State portal.
It is recommended to outsource the registered agent service to ease your work as it protects your privacy, especially if you conduct your business from home. It is always wise to outsource the RA service than be your own registered agent.
Recommended: You can get the best registered agent service at a reasonable price with online LLC service providers. We recommend using –
LegalZoom – $299 Per Year
How to Choose a Registered Agent in Ohio
You can choose an Ohio Registered Agent in two ways, either you can employ an in-house RA or outsource the service. Another option is to be your own registered agent. However, it is recommended to outsource the service as it is less worrisome and hassle-free.
In-house Registered Agent
As far as the in-house registered agent is concerned, it can be anyone from the LLC, including you, or you can employ an individual for this position. In that case, your office or home address will be the Registered Agent’s office address. Every LLC has to share its principal office address, mailing address, and registered agent’s office address to the state public portal. Hiring a registered agent service will make it easier to use the RA’s address as a mailing address.
Outsourcing Registered Agent Service
You may also avail yourself of professional registered agent services. Doing so ensures that you will have the best service provider to represent your business. Following are the best Registered Agent services on our list that will provide you with registered agents to ease your worries.
LLC Service | Our Rating & Pricing | Top Features | Learn More |
#1 TOP PICK  | $99 Per Year |
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 | $125 Per Year |
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Note that availing of the services of professional registered agents would be your best option since you are guaranteed that whoever is handling your legal affairs knows their stuff well. If you are forming your LLC from scratch, then with LegalZoom Registered Agent, you will get the full formation package.
What to Consider While Choosing an Ohio Registered Agent
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a Registered agent.
- Service Fee: Since most states require formal businesses to have registered agents, selecting the best-registered agent is critical. Hiring a registered agent typically costs between $99 and $300 annually. When you consider how much time it will save you, this is a small price to pay.
- Tenure in Business of Registered Agent: You want the registered agent to have established and time-tested procedures for handling documents. We recommend Registered Agent Services that have been in business for a long time. They are experienced and well capable of handling all your documentation.
- State Jurisdiction Limitation: If your company expands to another state, you should use the same registered agent in all states to reduce the administrative burden of dealing with multiple registered agent service providers. Check out the best Registered Agent Services to consider for this job.
- Offer Monitoring and Follow-up Services: You want to receive up-to-date information and alerts from your registered agent as soon as possible so that you are aware of the various statutes, rules, and regulations that apply to your company. Some of the service providers offer this service. Make sure to choose an RA service that includes this service.
How to Appoint a Registered Agent in Ohio
At the time of submitting the Ohio Articles of Organization, the registered agent can be appointed by the LLC. It can be done online or by mail. No additional fee is charged for appointing a Registered Agent. Only the state filing fee should be paid.
Appoint Registered Agent Online
To appoint a registered agent online, you must go to the Ohio LLC Online Filing page and provide the information of your Registered Agent accordingly.
Appoint Registered Agent By Mail
To appoint a registered agent in Ohio by mail, you need to download the Ohio LLC filing form (PDF). Fill up the “Registered Agent” section with the appropriate details of the agent and submit it to the SOS office. For more information, read on Ohio Articles of Organization.
Cost of an Ohio Registered Agent
The cost of having a registered agent can be variable. It depends on whether you are employing an in-house registered agent, being your own agent, or outsourcing the service. The cost of having a registered agent can start from $99 and go up to $300 per year. It will be cost-effective if you outsource the registered agent service in Ohio.
Registered Agent services that also provide LLC formation packages can provide the same service at a lower price. For example, LegalZoom Registered Agent offers standalone registered agent service at $299 per year, but if you buy their LLC formation package at $0 + state fees, you might get a registered agent at a low cost.
How to Change a Registered Agent in Ohio
To change the Ohio registered agent, you must file a Change of registered agent or office by entity form. This form can be submitted to the Ohio Secretary of State via mail or online.
File Online
For online filing, you need to get the online form which is available on the Ohio Secretary of State portal. Fill in all the necessary information of LLC as well as current and old registered agents. This form must be completed and signed by the newly appointed registered agent and any authorized member of the LLC. The signature of the new registered agent acts like the consent to be appointed as one. Submit it online.
Fee: $25
File By Mail
You can also choose to file the form through the mail. You need to download the Change of registered agent or office by entity form from the Ohio Secretary of State’s portal. Fill in all the details on your computer. The completed form is to be signed by the newly appointed registered agent. The duly signed form must be sent to the following address,
Mail to: Ohio Secretary of State
P.O. Box 788
Columbus, OH 43216
How to Pay: The filing amount is payable to the Ohio secretary of state through a credit card when filing online/by email. For paper filing, you can choose to pay through a money order or check.
Consent Form
The newly appointed registered agent in Ohio has to give their consent before start working for the LLC. They can give their nod by signing the Change of a Registered Agent (Statutory Agent) form in Ohio. There is no additional cost to be paid for the consent.
Why Do LLCs in Ohio Need a Registered Agent Service
There are several reasons why a business should appoint a registered agent in Ohio. Some of the most important reasons are listed below,
- Confidentiality: Having a registered agent service in Ohio ensures the complete privacy of your business and related documentation. Appointing a registered agent company instead of an individual gets you privacy and confidentiality contracts beforehand.
- Up-to-date Compliance: LLCs and corporates have plenty of paperwork and compliances that are to be updated on time. With a registered agent service, you don’t have to worry about those compliances as your registered agent will maintain a compliance calendar.
- Privacy: It is mandatory for businesses in Ohio to publicly upload their address to the Ohio Secretary of State. If you are using the home address for your business, then it would not be safe to make your private address public. On the other side, appointing a registered agent service will cover you up here as they have to provide their address to the Ohio SOS and not yours.
- Availability: Every registered agent has to be available during office hours of work on business days. If you hire a registered agent service, then they can be available at the required time without harming other tasks at the company.
- Online Safe Backup: Every registered agent in Ohio or any other state usually takes an online backup of all the documents and paperwork. This ensures the LLC papers are securely saved in a central system.
- Lawsuits or Summons: Getting summoned or involved in a lawsuit does not leave a good impression on the employees. With a registered agent, all the related papers will be delivered to the Registered Agent’s official address. Hence, owners do not have to receive any such papers in their office in front of their employees.
Ohio Business Laws for Registered Agents to Note
Businesses are governed by a patchwork of federal, state, and municipal regulations. States, for example, may set a higher minimum wage than the national requirement or provide additional employee rights. Deceptive business practices, securities fraud, environmental requirements, such as air and water cleaning standards, insurance and liability, and contracts are all examples of business laws.
Ohio bears its own set of business rules and regulations. Ohio registered agents are responsible for being present at the time of lawsuits being filed as well as when the government sends legal and tax documents.
Ohio Antitrust Laws
A claim must be brought within four years after the discovery of any anticompetitive business conduct under Ohio antitrust laws (or reasonably should have been discovered). It’s also worth noting that antitrust claims can be filed by both the attorney general and private parties in Ohio.
Ohio Civil Statute of Limitations Laws
The statute of limitations, which applies to both civil and criminal matters, has a time restriction. These limits in civil litigation are intended to ensure that potential plaintiffs cannot threaten lawsuits forever, that evidence (including eyewitness testimony) is protected, and that disagreements are resolved quickly. Personal injury, defamatory, and medical malpractice lawsuits in Ohio are subject to a one-year statute of limitations.
Ohio Deceptive Trade Practices Laws
State laws restrict certain business activities that are considered “deceptive” (not just misleading). Bait-and-switch methods and resetting the odometer on a used car are two examples. False advertising, auto odometer tampering, and other shady business tactics are prohibited by Ohio deceptive trade practices statutes.
Ohio Interest Rates Laws
Consumers routinely pay greater interest rates than are legally permitted by renouncing these protections in order to settle the terms of a loan. While they are largely irrelevant in most cases, most states have regulations limiting the amount of interest that can be charged. The state of Ohio, for example, has an interest rate cap of 8%.
FAQ
The registered agent might be changed in Ohio. You must download, complete, and submit the RA change application form to the Secretary of State online, by mail at Ohio Secretary of State, P.O. Box 788, Columbus, OH 43216, via fax, or by any other method that is convenient for you. In Ohio, it will cost you $25 to change the registered agent.
You must fulfill a number of criteria to be a registered agent in Ohio. The need to be a legal adult (18+) is among the most crucial requirements. You must also live in Ohio, which is another condition. You are qualified to apply to be a registered agent if you satisfy these requirements.
In Ohio, a registered agent might be a spouse, any LLC member, a family member, a friend, or even you. Being an adult (18 years or older) and a resident of the state are the two essential requirements. If you are capable of doing so, being a registered agent should not be difficult.
A registered agent’s Ohio address may be changed without any difficulty. The Ohio Secretary of State’s website has the RA Change Form, which you must file. Specify the new address in the form. You may submit it as is most convenient for you: online, via fax, or by mail to the Ohio Secretary of State, P.O. Box 788, Columbus, OH 43216. To change the address, there can be a cost.
Visit the Ohio SOS website to see who a company’s registered agent is. When searching, use the company name if you know it. Get the firm you’re searching for, and then use that to find the registered agent’s contact information.
It is required by law in Ohio for every business to have a registered agent. Any legal documents, including notifications, permits, and processes, must be served on your registered agent, who is also in charge of receiving any legal actions brought against the business at his registered address. During business hours, he or she must be accessible at their desk.
At the time of company registration, firms are required to provide their name, address, and contact information in order to formally designate a registered agent in Ohio. For the registered agent, there is a distinct section in the articles of incorporation. It works like this to designate a registered agent in Ohio.
You must go to the official website of the Ohio Secretary of State in order to look for a registered agent’s address in Ohio. The following procedures may be used to seek the registered agent’s address:
1. Access the Ohio SOS website.
2. Use the business name to get information about the firm
3. Look for the list of registered agents’ addresses
The registered agent’s address will be simpler to locate this way.
The name of a registered agent may be used to look for a company in Ohio. Access the official website of the Ohio Secretary of State. “Business Search” should be an available option. The option to “Search by the registered agent” is located in the search section. A registration agent’s name should be entered after choosing the choice. The company name will be yours.
Having an Ohio physical address and being at least 18 years old are the two basic requirements in Ohio for a registered agent. It is possible for someone or anything to serve as the registered agent if they are a state resident and are at least 18 years old.
You must contact the Ohio SOS in Ohio to hunt for a registered agent for a company. Select Business Search from the main page. To search for a company if you know the corporate name, input it. To get information, choose the registered agent option.
If a registered agent must provide a formal resignation letter to the business, they were acting. The Ohio Secretary of State must receive a resignation letter through the mail, fax, or online after the firm accepts it. The notification must be sent within the allotted period.
By login onto the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, you may make online changes to a registered agent in Ohio. Make sure the online method is accessible to you before continuing; however, before you begin the online process. RA Change Form should be sent if not.
A free registered agent is available in Ohio. You won’t need to physically pay yourself anything if you act as your own registered agent. You might perhaps avoid paying if your partner or a friend joins an agency. In Ohio, you may also use a free registered agent service.
You need to go to the Ohio Secretary of State’s website to do some investigation on the registered agent in Ohio. “Search Business” will be an option you have. By using its name, you may search for your company. The information for the registered agent may be found on the list while you wait for the results.
The registered agent does not have a unique form in Ohio. Businesses that are registering their business must choose a registered agent and send their information via the formation paperwork. The Ohio Secretary of State, PO Box788, Columbus, OH43216, is the address for mailing the formation paperwork.
If your firm does not have an Ohio registered agent, the Ohio SOS must be notified. In Ohio, every firm must have a registered agent; thus, there can be a legal problems. You could be required to act as the Ohio registered agent if there isn’t one.
In Ohio, all of the agent’s authority is lost in the event of death. Having a registered agent is required in Ohio. Consequently, the business must choose or replace a new registered agent. A registered agent might also be a manager, an official of the business, or the owner.
For registering your company, Ohio has certain regulations. If you visit the Ohio Secretary of State, they can tell you if you may keep your registered agent’s name off the public platform. A member’s identity may be concealed if the organization is an Anonymous LLC.
Ohio’s Secretary of State’s office must be contacted in order to get the registered agent’s information. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. is the official timeframe. Make a connection with the executive by dialing 877-767-3453. Receive the information according to the caller’s directions.
A person’s agreement to act as a registered agent in Ohio constitutes their acceptance of that role. Prior to beginning the process of serving in Ohio, the newly appointed individual must provide his or her permission.
In Ohio, a registered agent is the same as a resident agent. The terms “resident agent” and “registered agent” are both used in certain states but not in the majority. In every state, there is a uniform designation, appointment process, and registration procedure.
In Ohio, if the registered agent does not give their consent, then the company might have to serve a legal penalty for presenting a false statement. However, the registered agent has the right to refuse any obligation that has been placed upon them.
It is still possible to bring a lawsuit against the firm even though it has no registered agent in Ohio. The only issue is that the corporation and the ability to receive legal notification are not being represented by an agent. However, there will be an alternative method of sending the notification, and the lawsuit will proceed.
The application for the rejection must be submitted in Ohio by the registered agent who wishes to reject the designation. The Ohio Secretary of State just needs to receive a signed rejection declaration from them. Like accepting the designation, it is comparable.
How to Remove a Registered Agent for LLC in Ohio
A registered agent for LLC in Ohio can be removed by filing a Statutory Agent Update Form with the Ohio Secretary of State by paying a filing fee of $25.
Removing a registered agent for an LLC in Ohio is a straightforward process, but it’s important to follow the proper steps to ensure compliance with state regulations. There are a few key steps you should take to successfully remove a registered agent from your LLC.
First and foremost, it’s important to review your LLC’s operating agreement, as it may outline specific procedures for removing a registered agent. If your operating agreement does not address this issue, you will need to follow the guidelines set by the Ohio Secretary of State.
To officially remove a registered agent from your LLC, you will need to file a Statement of Resignation of Statutory Agent form with the Ohio Secretary of State. This form can be downloaded from the Secretary of State’s website or obtained in person at their office. The form will require information such as the LLC’s name, the name of the resigning registered agent, and the effective date of the resignation.
It’s essential to ensure that the registered agent you are removing has been properly notified of their resignation. This can typically be done by sending a written notice to the registered agent’s business address or last-known address on file. Be sure to keep a record of this notice for your own records.
Once you have submitted the Statement of Resignation of Statutory Agent form to the Ohio Secretary of State, they will process the form and update the LLC’s records to reflect the removal of the registered agent. It’s crucial to wait for confirmation from the Secretary of State before considering the removal process complete.
After the registered agent has been successfully removed, you should promptly appoint a new registered agent for your LLC to avoid any gaps in service. Selecting a new registered agent can be done by following the same process as when you initially appointed the resigning agent. Be sure to update your LLC’s records with the new agent’s information to ensure they receive all necessary correspondence moving forward.
In conclusion, removing a registered agent for an LLC in Ohio is a fairly straightforward process, but it requires attention to detail and compliance with state regulations. By following the proper steps outlined by the Ohio Secretary of State, you can successfully remove a registered agent and appoint a new one to continue operating your business effectively.
In Conclusion
Before you choose a registered agent for your Ohio LLC, compare their price and services from the table. They will be responsible for all your documentation, filings, and other LLC-related tasks. Hence, choose the best one for your business that provides 100% accurate service at a reasonable price.