Ohio Resident Agent Service

Why Ohio requires a resident agent

In Ohio your resident agent, known as the designated agent for a licensed foreign corporation, may be a natural person who lives in Ohio, or almost any kind of entity with an Ohio business address, whether a corporation, a nonprofit, an LLC, a partnership, an LP, an LLP, a professional association, a business trust or another type. An entity agent that is not an Ohio corporation has to be qualified under Title XVII to do business in the state. The address you give for the agent has to be where the agent primarily resides or has a usual place of business, never a PO box. The LLC rule is materially the same (R.C. 1706.09(A)), and 1701.07 does not reach banks, trust companies, insurance companies or public utilities. Ohio Rev. Code § 1701.07(A), (C)(2); § 1706.09(A); § 1703.041(A)

What happens if you lapse

• When a corporation fails to name a replacement agent or to file a change of the agent's address, the Secretary of State mails a notice, and if you do not cure within 30 days or any extension, its articles are canceled with nothing more required; the same process cancels the articles of an LLC or the registration of a foreign LLC (R.C. 1706.09(L)). Ohio Rev. Code § 1701.07(M); § 1706.09(L)
• If the designated agent of a licensed foreign corporation dies, resigns or moves out of Ohio and no replacement is designated, the corporation gets notice by certified mail, and the Secretary of State cancels its license to transact business unless it cures within 30 days, reserving the former name for only one year. Ohio Rev. Code § 1703.15
• Once its license has expired or been canceled, including a cancellation over a missing agent, a foreign corporation may not keep up any suit in Ohio courts until reinstated, and before suing on a claim that arose while it lacked a license it must pay a $250 forfeiture, file its reinstatement papers and pay a 15% forfeiture on the reinstatement fee. Ohio Rev. Code § 1703.29(A), (C)
• Doing business in Ohio on an expired or canceled license that has not been reinstated exposes a foreign corporation to a forfeiture of at least $250 and up to $10,000, along with unpaid filing fees and franchise taxes plus 6% interest, which the attorney general or a prosecuting attorney can recover. Ohio Rev. Code § 1703.28
• Reinstatement of canceled articles, a canceled foreign LLC registration or a canceled foreign corporation license is available only for two years after cancellation, and takes an application, an appointment of the required agent and the fee set in R.C. 111.16(Q), with reinstated rights subject to R.C. 1701.922 and 1706.46. Ohio Rev. Code § 1701.07(M); § 1706.09(L); § 1703.15

Switching to us

We prepare and file the change of resident agent for you. Ohio charges $25 for an LLC Ohio SOS 'Filing Forms and Fee Schedule' - Domestic Limited Liability... and $25 for a corporation Ohio SOS 'Filing Forms and Fee Schedule' - Domestic For-Profit....

Official Ohio links

• Business entity search
• Statutes
• Forms

Frequently asked

Do I need a resident agent in Ohio?

Almost every state does, and the Ohio rule is set out above with its citation. Where the law leaves a choice, a resident agent is still the practical way to make sure service of process reaches you.

How much does Ohio resident agent service cost?

$129 a year, with no setup fee, the same price in all 50 states plus DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Service of process is received and scanned the same business day.

Can I switch my Ohio resident agent to ResidentAgents.com?

Yes. Order online and we prepare the change of agent filing for you; the state's filing fee is shown on this page.