Ohio Registered Agents: The Essential Facts for Small Business
In the Buckeye State, every business is obligated to maintain a registered agent, also referred to as a statutory agent in Ohio. While choosing a registered agent is a crucial step to starting a business, it can be hard to know what questions to ask. This guide will give you a simple explanation of the role and importance of an Ohio registered (or statutory) agent and will help you decide who can fill that role for you.
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What’s the Difference Between a Registered Agent and a Statutory Agent in Ohio?
Ohio law refers to statutory agents rather than registered agents, but they are legally the exact same thing. “Registered agent” is a term you will hear much more often throughout the country, but some states have unique terms for the role. In Ohio you will likely see them both referred to in the legal and business worlds, so just know that the two terms are interchangeable.
Overview: What is an Ohio Registered Agent?
An Ohio registered agent receives and handles important documents for a business, including legal communication (especially services of process) and tax documents. Most importantly, an Ohio registered agent serves as your business’s official point of contact with the Ohio Secretary of State. According to Ohio General Corporation Law § 1707.07, all business entities are required to maintain an Ohio registered agent. If the state is unable to get in touch with your registered agent, your business’s good standing is at risk.
Businesses That Need an Ohio Registered Agent:
The following types of business entities are required to have an Ohio registered agent:
• Corporations
• Nonprofit Corporations
• Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
• Limited Partnerships (LPs)
• Limited Partnership Associations
• Professional Associations
• Business Trusts
• Unincorporated Nonprofit Associations
Businesses That Don’t:
The following business structures do not need an Ohio registered agent:
• Sole Proprietorships
• General Partnerships
What is a Commercial Ohio Registered Agent?
A commercial registered agent is a company that provides professional registered agent services for multiple different businesses. While some business owners opt to serve as their own registered agent (more on that below), others rely on professional commercial registered agents who specialize in securely monitoring and handling legal documents and compliance notifications.
Most importantly, they can function as an official point of contact between you, your business, and various state agencies, including the Ohio Secretary of State. Lawsuit notifications and regulatory requests will be reliably attended to by a commercial registered agent, ensuring that your company remains in good legal standing.
Why People Hire a Commercial Ohio Registered Agent
Business owners in Ohio hire professional registered agent services because they value efficiency, privacy, and convenience. Whether you work from home or work in a client-facing environment, a designated registered agent who can be available during all business hours is worth their weight in gold. A registered agent is much more than just a mail service—it’s a buffer between your personal life and your work life.
Privacy
One of the biggest perks of a registered agent is the privacy that they offer. When you form your business, you’ll be asked to provide contact information for your registered or statutory agent. If you use yourself and your own address, that information will become public record.
Hiring a registered agent from the start to help you form your business can keep that information private from day one. A commercial registered agent will use their address instead of yours on the formation documents so that your personal info can stay out of public records (and out of the hands of scammers and spammers). And you won’t have to worry about disgruntled clients or customers showing up at your doorstep or private offices. Additionally, consider that sensitive legal documents can be sent to secure registered agent offices instead of sitting in your public mailbox, and you won’t risk being served in front of customers or business partners.
Compliance
Running a business will require close attention paid to important deadlines and state requirements. Every year, businesses in Ohio fall out of good standing with the state because of missed annual renewals or improperly submitted paperwork—and getting your business back into good standing takes time and effort that can be better spent elsewhere. A good Ohio registered agent will keep your business compliant and the state happy. They know the ins and out of Ohio laws and regulations and can make sure you always meet those deadlines and requirements. They’ll inform you when forms and money are due, and (for a small fee) they should offer to file them for you so that you can move on to more pressing matters.
Expertise
A commercial registered agent will be an expert in forming businesses and in working with the state of Ohio. And a good commercial registered agent will advertise their registered agent services as the main thing that they do for businesses. They aren’t law offices looking to make more money from clients by doing the bare minimum, they aren’t celebrity-endorsed big businesses trying to charge you for legal forms you can easily find yourself—they are registered agents, first and foremost.
They’ll know the Ohio laws, they are familiar with the paperwork, and they stay up to date on changes and new requirements. If you need to know something, you can be sure that a commercial registered agent will give you the heads up so that your business isn’t negatively affected.
How to Serve as Your Own Ohio Registered Agent
Many people choose to serve as their own registered agent, or they choose to list themselves as a registered agent first and hire a commercial agent later. If you’re a small business owner, you might find that this is a practical and reasonable choice, especially if you are an organized person who has a knack for paying attention to details.
To serve as your own registered agent, make sure that you meet the basic requirements set out by the state of Ohio and are prepared to keep up with the state’s compliance requests (below). Then, simply include your own contact information on the forms you submit to the Secretary of State when you form your business.
Legal Requirements to be an Ohio Registered Agent
No credentials or license is required to become a registered agent. However, according to Ohio Revised Code § 1701.07, Ohio registered or statutory agents must:
- be a resident of the state of Ohio or a business entity that has an official business address in Ohio
- include an address on the formation documents where they can be found during regular business hours
- be capable of receiving legal documents (as outlined by Ohio Civ.R. 4.2)
Succeeding as Your Own Registered Agent
The most important thing a registered agent does is receive services of process in the case of any lawsuits brought against the business. So as a registered agent, make sure that you can be available at the address listed on your formation forms during regular business hours. It’s a good idea to make sure that you have a secure mailbox for important communications that you can check every day, and to have a solid plan for keeping official communication organized. Additionally, set up calendar alerts for any state deadlines, especially your annual reports.
Ohio Registered Agents We Recommend
Selecting the right Ohio registered or statutory agent service can get you started on the right foot. Whether you’re looking for an affordable option or are ready to splurge for extra features, here are three services we recommend:
Best Budget Ohio Registered Agents
For those looking for the basics at a good price, we recommend the following for reliable document handling and compliance alerts:
- Ohio Registered Agent ($49/yr)
- Ohio Statutory Agent LLC ($49/yr)
These registered agents offer same-day document scans for state mail, compliance monitoring, and individualized customer service at a comparably low price.
Best Premium Ohio Registered Agent
On the other hand, if you are in the market for highly experienced corporate guides that will walk you through business formation to annual reports to identity building, Northwest Registered Agents, Inc. will be a good fit for you.
Northwest offers compliance alerts, supports your business across different states, and prioritizes Privacy by Default ® for your business above all else. They also offer comprehensive guides on starting and running your business, as well as free access to legal templates and forms you’ll need for your business.
- Northwest Registered Agent ($125/yr)
Frequently Asked Questions
To change a registered agent in Ohio, your business will need to file a Statutory Agent Update Form with the Ohio Secretary of State and pay the requested fee. Your new statutory agent will need to consent to the appointment.
If you don’t have a registered agent, or if someone attempting to serve your business cannot find your registered agent during business hours, the Secretary of State can get involved. If they are unable to make contact with you, you will be responsible for any court precedings brought against you, and you risk your business being dissolved.
Depending on the individual registered agent in question, services can include mail forwarding, same-day scans of legal and state mail, help with annual renewals and reports, and general expertise and help with starting and running a business.
When a business expands into a new state, they need to hire a registered agent located in that state who is either a resident of the state or has an official address in that state. If you know ahead of time that you plan to expand, or are already planning on doing business in multiple states, then you can search for national commercial registered agents that work across state lines.
Banks, trust companies, insurance companies, and any other business entity that is defined as a public utility under Ohio law is exempt from having to appoint a statutory agent.