Your three kinds of options
| Compare | Yourself | A person you know | A commercial service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $0 | Usually $0 | About $49 to $300 a year |
| Address on the public record | Your home or shop | Their home or office | The company's office |
| Must stay at that address | You | Them | The company |
| Works if you leave Ohio | No | Yes | Yes |
| Alerts and scans | None | Whatever they remember | Usually included |
We are one of the commercial options, so weigh our opinion accordingly. If you run a business from a storefront in Ohio and do not mind the exposure, serving as your own agent is legal and free.
What to compare between services
- The renewal price. A low first year can double in year two. Ask what year two costs.
- Scan speed. The statute does not set one. Same business day is the useful standard, since your time to answer a lawsuit begins at service.
- Who files the appointment. Some services leave Form 521 to you and some charge extra to file it. Ours lets you do either.
- Extra fees. Ask about charges per document, per page, or for forwarding.
- Where the address actually is. It must be a real Ohio street address open during business hours. Mailbox stores do not qualify.
- Who answers. Can you reach a person who knows your account?
- How easy it is to leave. You should be able to change agents at any time without their involvement.
Red flags
- A P.O. box or a suite number at a mailbox store listed as the agent address.
- No published renewal price.
- Being told that you must buy a bundle to get agent service.
- Claims that an agent will protect you from lawsuits. An agent only receives them.
- Statements that a government agency endorses the provider.
Questions to ask before signing
- What happens on the day a summons arrives?
- Who else gets notified if I do not respond?
- If I stop paying, how much notice do I get before you resign?
- How long do you keep originals?
Learn more about us. Our answers: same-business-day scan and alert to all your contacts, a call if an urgent item is not acknowledged, and originals kept seven years for service of process. See what's included.
Questions
Is a commercial agent required by Ohio law?
No. Ohio only requires a qualifying agent. Plenty of owners serve themselves. Most commercial customers are paying for privacy and for not having to be available.
Does using a bigger national company give more protection?
The statute treats any qualified agent the same. What matters is how reliably and quickly a given provider gets papers to you.
Reviewed by Sean Webb, owner of Ohio Registered Statutory Agent LLC. Updated 2026-11-06. General information, not legal advice.