Place1
Best hereMainstay Filing
1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies in more than one state
Service fee $199 plus state fee; renewal $149/yr
Our mark9.5out of 10
Mainstay Filing earns first place with one $199 service fee to register here or anywhere else, with year one of agent service included.
Year two onward, $149 a year for the agent, in any state.
Over three years it costs $100 more than OH Registered Agent.org, and we think the extra coverage earns that here.
What you get
- Registration prepared and filed
- Service of process scanned the same business day, no fee
Why pick it
- Same price in all fifty states
- $199 + the Ohio fee
- Service of process scanned the same business day, no fee
Less good
- Agent renews at $149, $50 more than OH Registered Agent.org
Place2
Best value hereOH Registered Agent.org
2. OH Registered Agent.org: best for companies adding only Ohio
Service fee $199 plus state fee; renewal $99/yr
Our mark9.2out of 10
OH Registered Agent.org ranks second: $199 over the state fee to register in Ohio, with the agent at $99 a year after that.
You get an Ohio street address for the registered office, and served papers are scanned to your account.
What you get
- The registration filing
- A year of statutory agent service
Why pick it
- $99 yearly from year two
- $199 plus the state's fee
- A year of statutory agent service included
Less good
- Covers Ohio only
- EIN application is a $99 add-on
Our top 2 at a glance
| Rank | Service | Our score | Service fee | Year two | Best for | Link |
|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | 9.5 | $199 | $149/yr | Companies registered in several states | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
|---|
| 2 | OH Registered Agent.org | 9.2 | $199 | $99/yr | Lowest agent renewal on this list | Visit OH Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
|---|
The scores are ours: editorial marks out of 10 built from the weighted criteria on How we rank, not ratings from customers.
Annual and renewal prices in Ohio, 2026
| Service | Year one | Year two | Year three | Three-year total | Agent in year one |
|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149 | $149 | $497 | Not stated |
|---|
| OH Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99 | $99 | $397 | Included |
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We read these prices on the companies' own sites on November 12, 2026. The $99 state fee comes on top of each total.
What decided the ranking
Five criteria set the order; the two heaviest are three-year cost and what one price covers. Here what one price covers made the difference.
Multi-state companies need agents in each state, and one price everywhere outscored OH Registered Agent.org.
Our method page lists all five criteria.
Ohio foreign registration fee and form (official)
The Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services takes the Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 617) and a $99 state fee.
Ohio has no yearly report for foreign LLCs.
What the filing asks for
- Legal name and formation date from the home state.
- Someone to serve as your statutory agent there; every service here does.
- The $99 state fee, paid with the filing.
If you never register
An unregistered foreign LLC cannot bring a lawsuit in the state's courts until it registers (R.C. 1706.515(A)). Its contracts stay valid (R.C. 1706.515(E)).
Ohio foreign registration service FAQ
Do I need to register my out-of-state LLC in Ohio?
Yes, if the company transacts business there. Until it registers it cannot bring a lawsuit in the state's courts.
How much does foreign registration cost in Ohio?
$99 to the state, plus $199 for a service.
Which form does the state use?
The Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 617), filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services.
Do I need a statutory agent after registering?
Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which foreign registration services do you rank here?
Mainstay Filing ($199) and OH Registered Agent.org ($199), from first to last.
Which foreign registration service is best in Ohio?
Mainstay Filing tops our list: the Ohio registration for $199 plus state fees and a free first year as your statutory agent.
Official sources and price pages
- Ohio Rev. Code § 1706.16: codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.16, checked August 2026
- Ohio formation fee: Filing fee, official source: codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-111.16, checked October 2026
- Ohio registered agent statute: codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.09, checked October 2026
- Ohio Secretary of State, filing forms and fee schedule: www.ohiosos.gov/businesses/filing-forms--fee-schedule, checked October 2026
- Form 617, Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company: www.ohiosos.gov/globalassets/business/forms/617.pdf, checked October 2026
- R.C. 1706.511, registration of foreign LLCs: codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.511, checked October 2026
- R.C. 1706.515, effect of failing to register: codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.515, checked October 2026
- Ohio service page of Mainstay Filing, read November 12, 2026
- Pricing and service pages of OH Registered Agent.org, read November 12, 2026