ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
Compare the best Ohio Statutory Agent services below as reviewed by ZenBusiness.
*SPECIAL OFFER: $99 + OH state fees for the first year when you switch to ZenBusiness! Renews at $199/yr, subject to change.
Last Updated: May 27, 2025
Founded in 2017, ZenBusiness has quickly become a top player in the business formation and compliance space. With over 800,000 businesses formed and a strong reputation, our registered agent service offers solid value and top-tier support in Ohio.
✔ First year is 50% off at $99 plus state fees (renews at $119/year)✔ 60-day money-back guarantee✔ 22549+ reviews with a 4.8 average rating✔ Responsive, award-winning customer support via phone, email, and chat✔ Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
✘ Registered agent service is not included with formation packages✘ No multi-state discount for businesses operating in more than one state
Rocket Lawyer is a legal services platform that also offers registered agent services as part of its suite of tools. While not the cheapest option, it may appeal to users who want bundled legal help. If you find value in their legal services plan, Rocket Lawyer is an intriguing choice for registered agent services in Ohio. If you don’t need its subscription service, you can probably find a more suitable alternative.
✔ Includes access to legal documents and attorney consultations✔ 30-day money-back guarantee✔ Discount of 50% with legal plan subscription
✘ Registered agent service is basic and lacks advanced features✘ Higher ongoing costs unless you’re on a subscription✘ Not a core focus of their platform — limited functionality compared to standalone services
Bizee, formerly known as Incfile, has been a popular choice for business formation and compliance services in Ohio since 2004. With over 1 million businesses served, Bizee is best known for its basic LLC formation package (only pay Ohio state fees), which includes one year of registered agent service.
✔ Free 1st year with LLC formation✔ $119/year after the first free year✔ Good value for basic compliance needs
✘ Registered agent service must be manually renewed✘ Customer support is slower and less detailed than top competitors✘ No refund policy on services once submitted
LegalZoom is a household name in online legal services, with over 3 million businesses served. Its registered agent service is backed by brand trust and comes with useful compliance tools. While its registered agent service comes at a higher price, the added perks and company reputation may justify the cost for some Ohio business owners.
✔ Compliance calendar and deadline reminders included✔ 60-day money-back guarantee✔ Large support team with extended hours
✘ $249/year pricing is one of the highest on this list✘ No first-year discount or bundling options✘ Less value for cost compared to smaller, more focused competitors
Northwest Registered Agent has been offering registered agent services since 1998 and is known for being a solid choice in Ohio. Northwest Registered Agent now has thousands of registered agent service subscribers across the country.
✔ $125/year pricing✔ Scans all mail, not just government documents
✘ Not the cheapest option for LLC formation✘ Limited refund policy✘ No online compliance dashboard or automation tools
If you want to receive personalized registered agent service at reasonable price points, Northwest Registered Agent might be worth a look. However, keep in mind that Northwest charges at least $39 to form an LLC, so there are many cheaper options for that service in Ohio.
Switch to ZENBUSINESS Today!
SPECIAL OFFER: Get 50% off Ohio Registered Agent Services.
Every business entity in the state of Ohio is required to have a statutory agent. In fact, you won’t be allowed to finish the formation process for your company until you designate your statutory agent.
One thing we should note before jumping in: Ohio refers to this position as a “statutory agent,” while most other states call it a registered agent. It’s a simple difference in word choice.
The most important aspect of this role is receiving document deliveries from the state government and process servers, then alerting your business of the delivery before forwarding the documents to you. The role of the statutory agent is so important because it establishes a point of contact for your business with the state and others so that they have a reliable place to get in touch with an official representative of your company at any time.
The Ohio Secretary of State provides a Statutory Agent Search tool that can help you with finding an agent, but its usefulness is limited. You will need to know at least part of the agent’s name; when you type it in, the tool will pull up additional info for all agent names containing the part you typed. So you’ll need to do some legwork yourself. But between that independent research and this guide, you should be set to go.
Each state has its own rules and regulations surrounding statutory agents. For the most part, these laws are fairly similar, but it’s always worth taking a look to see what Ohio requires.
In Ohio, we’ll need to take a look at the Ohio Revised Code, which says:
All of the companies we discussed above meet these regulations and are options for Ohio statutory agent service. When you’ve made your choice, you can indicate your statutory agent’s name and address on your Articles of Organization.
As you’ve probably noticed, the statutory agent services we’ve listed here serve businesses across the country. But if you Google “Ohio Statutory Agent,” you’ll probably see results for local services, too. These can be local entrepreneurs with a knack for clerical tasks, offices dedicated to serving businesses in their counties, or statewide companies.
On one hand, using a local service can have its advantages. Some will be cheaper than nationwide firms (but not always). And each state has its own nuances for business compliance requirements, Ohio included. A statutory agent service that services Ohio alone may have detailed knowledge about those requirements. Granted, most national services do an excellent job of understanding local requirements. But they might not give you the same “homegrown Ohio” feeling as a local agent service.
That said, national businesses like ZenBusiness give you streamlined solutions. Let’s say you’re using a local Ohio-only statutory agent service, but it’s time to add locations in Michigan. You could search for an additional agent that services Michigan businesses. But that’s going to require a lot of additional paperwork, including new receipts, new automatic payments, more emails…you get the idea. But if you’re using a national service, you can cut down the “new” paperwork and focus on what really matters: growing your business.
Ultimately, the choice is up to you, and there’s no “wrong” answer. The most important thing is that you appoint one so you can run a compliant Ohio business.
The role of an Ohio statutory agent is critical to your company’s compliance and legal standing. This position requires dealing with seemingly simple tasks, yet if they’re handled incorrectly, they could cost you a considerable amount of money in fines and could even potentially see the state dissolve your business.
While you can always change your statutory agent down the line, we think it’s essential to pick the right statutory agent for your business starting at the formation phase. You should also keep an eye on your compliance standing to ensure nothing goes awry along the way.
With ZenBusiness, you can purchase reliable statutory agent service at an affordable rate, leaving this role in the hands of experts while you focus on growing your business.
In Ohio, there aren’t many complicated requirements for statutory agent eligibility. Any individual or business entity authorized to do business in the state can serve as your company’s statutory agent. The only requirements are that they have a permanent address in Ohio and that your company itself can’t serve as its own statutory agent (although you or one of your co-owners may assume this role individually).
Like most states, Ohio does not have an explicit age requirement (some states require the appointed agent to be at least 18 years of age). That said, we do recommend that you pick a responsible individual that you trust or one of the services listed above. If the statutory agent does not fulfill their duties completely and accurately, it can cause unnecessary hassle for a business. Most responsible adults can fill this role easily, but we do recommend careful consideration while you make this appointment.
Yes. If your statutory agent is an individual, that person must live in Ohio. If your agent is a business entity, that company must either be a domestic Ohio business or one with the authority to conduct business in the state.
Ohio keeps the process of changing your statutory agent pretty simple. All you have to do is download the Statutory Agent Update form, fill it out, and submit it to the Secretary of State. Ohio charges a $25 fee for this document, too, but once it’s submitted, your agent will be updated. For more information, see our Ohio change of statutory agent page.
If your statutory agent chooses to resign and no longer serves as your agent, they will notify you and the Secretary of State by filing the Statutory Agent Update form and including their information. In our opinion, it’s pretty convenient that Ohio provides just one form for all agent-related changes.
As long as you file the Statutory Agent Update in a timely manner (ensuring that there’s no lapse in your statutory agent coverage), then you won’t incur any additional penalties or fees. That keeps the agent change fees at just $25.
One common option is to serve as your company’s own statutory agent or enlist the assistance of a trusted friend or family member. The other route is to hire an attorney or accountant to handle this role. Maybe you prefer the added professionalism these people can provide, maybe you have an existing relationship with an attorney or accountant you trust, etc.
The best place to learn more about forming an Ohio LLC is our step-by-step guide. You might also be interested in checking out our list of the best Ohio LLC formation services.
Ohio Business Resources
Best Registered Agent Services Reviewed in All States
We break down the best registered agent services in every state. View all of our guides below.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 800,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
Get 50% off when you switch to ZenBusiness for your registered agent today!
Get Your Ohio Statutory Agent