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Every company operating in the State of Ohio must appoint a registered agent to receive the company’s “service of process.” Service of process (SOP) is the procedure whereby business entities are served with formal documents from the state government. These documents may include regulatory notices and communications about other legal obligations of the company to the state. It is the responsibility of the registered agent to both receive these files and deliver them to the company the agent represents. Having a responsible registered agent you can trust is critical to ensure that you are promptly notified about correspondence from the state, which may involve important filing deadlines or potential notices of a lawsuit brought against you. These are files that, if mishandled, could negatively impact the good standing of your company.
Registered agent services may be delegated to third party service providers such as National Registered Agents, Inc. (NRAI). Through www.registeredagent.com, NRAI offers registered agent services for businesses of all sizes, designations and locations. With extensive experience in handling service of process for companies, we are known for providing our clients with service at the highest standards of excellence in the industry. We know that every business is unique - NRAI offers highly personalized consultations that allow us to get to know your business and create a customized solution that matches the needs of your business. NRAI also provides an added convenience of serving companies nationwide. If your company decides to expand its operations down the line to different U.S. states, NRAI can also connect you with agents who are experienced with the laws and regulations of that state.
As our client, you can also access a variety of NRAI’s diverse professional services, such as our document library. Here, you can access official forms and applications from all different states. Another popular service is Company Guard®, which provides email notifications of important filing dates. To speak with a customer service specialist, call (800) 520-6724 or visit www.registeredagent.com to complete our quick quote form.
If you already have a registered agent but would like to experience NRAI’s pre-eminent services, we can help you switch your service to NRAI. Our account representative will need the following information to get started:
- Name of parent entity
- Complete name of each entity being changed
- The state of incorporation/formation and jurisdiction to be changed
- Name of current registered agent
- Date of incorporation
- Date of adoption of the board of directors giving authorization for change of registered agent
- Name and title of the authorized person(s) executing the documents
Forming a Limited Liability Company in Ohio
A Limited Liability Company is a business entity that limits the liability of its members. LLCs have some characteristics of both corporations and partnerships - its managers enjoy limited personal liability while also avoiding many of the tedious reporting requirements of a corporation. When forming a Limited Liability Company in Ohio, you must appoint a registered agent and a registered office. Be sure the name you select for your company contains one of the following: “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.,” “LLC,” “Limited” or “ltd.” If the name is available for the State of Ohio, you may reserve it for a 180-day period, with a payment of $50. Submit an executed original of the Articles of Organization to the Ohio Secretary of State, along with a $125 payment to cover the filing fee. An additional $100 is required if you choose to expedite service.
Registering a Foreign LLC in Ohio
If you would like to do business in Ohio, but have an LLC that is organized in another state, you will also need to assign a registered agent and registered office for your operations in Ohio. Name restrictions for foreign LLCs are the same as those of a domestic LLC. Send one copy of the Application for Registration as a Foreign Limited Liability Company to the Ohio Secretary of State. The total filing fee is $125, with an additional $100 for expedited service.
Forming a Domestic Corporation in Ohio
In the State of Ohio, there is no minimum amount of capital required to start a corporation. One benefit to forming a corporation is to protect the personal assets of the company founders - stakeholders or shareholders cannot be held personally liable for the corporation’s debts. As with all other businesses, domestic corporations in Ohio must have a registered agent and office to receive service of process within the state. Similar to an LLC, you must choose a business name that has not already been taken in the State of Ohio. With a $50 fee, you may reserve that name for up to 180 days. It must contain one of the following terms: “corporation,” “incorporated,” “company,” “corp.,” “inc.,” or “co.” Send to the Ohio Secretary of State one executed copy of the Articles of Incorporation and one executed copy of your Appointment of Statutory Agent. Also send payment to cover the minimum $125 filing fee, and an extra $100 for expedited service. The total fee owed will depend on the total authorized shares of the company.
Registering a Foreign Corporation in Ohio
Corporations that already exist in a state other than Ohio must obtain approval to do business as a foreign corporation within Ohio state boundaries. To get approval, you must complete and send one copy of your Foreign Corporation Application to the Ohio Secretary of State, as well as a Certificate of Good Standing from your original state of incorporation. The corporate name need not include any word indicating its corporate status. If the name is available, you may reserve it for up to 180 days for a $50 fee.
