The state's fees
| Event | Fee |
|---|---|
| Naming an agent in new articles | No separate fee |
| Changing agent or address, Form 521 | $25 |
| Reinstatement with agent, Form 525A | $25 |
| Annual fee for keeping an agent | None |
What commercial services charge
Prices vary and change, so check current offers. The patterns:
- Budget Ohio services: around $49 to $100 a year.
- National online brands: often $100 to $300, sometimes with a low first-year price.
- Enterprise legal-services firms: can be several hundred dollars per entity, usually for big portfolios and compliance features.
- A person you know: often free, sometimes an hourly bill from an attorney.
Costs that do not show up in the headline
- The second-year renewal. Ask for the renewal rate.
- Scanning or per-page charges.
- Forwarding and handling.
- Filing the change. Some services charge to file Form 521.
- Bundles. Packages can include services you never needed.
What cheap can cost
The real expense of an agent shows up when it fails. A missed summons can cost far more than any annual fee. Judge an agent on the things that matter: a real address, quick delivery, and stable service.
What the free option costs
Your home address on a public website, plus being reachable. See being your own agent.
Ours
$49 a year per business, with same-business-day scans, unlimited contacts, and no per-document fees. Full details are on the pricing page.
Questions
Is the agent fee tax deductible?
It is generally treated as an ordinary business expense, but ask your tax professional about your own return.
Why are you cheaper than national brands?
We serve one state, we automate the routine work, and the owner runs the operation directly.
Reviewed by Sean Webb, owner of Ohio Registered Statutory Agent LLC. Updated 2026-11-06. General information, not legal advice.