What qualifies
- An individual: the street address of their primary residence in Ohio.
- An entity: its usual place of business in Ohio, meaning a place customarily open in normal business hours where someone authorized to accept service is generally present (ORC 1706.09(C)).
What does not
| Address type | OK? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| P.O. box | No | Excluded by statute |
| UPS Store or similar box | No | State forms refuse commercial mail receiving agencies |
| Virtual office with no one present | No | Not customarily open with someone to accept service |
| Vacation home | No, for an individual | Not the primary residence |
| Coworking space | Depends | Someone authorized has to be generally present |
| Out-of-state address | No | Must be in Ohio |
The agent address versus your other addresses
Ohio records can hold more than one address for a company. The agent address is where papers go. Your principal office is where the company is run from. Your mailing address is where you want everyday mail. They can all be different.
When the address changes
If your agent moves within Ohio, Form 521 records the new address for $25, and the statute says this must happen forthwith (ORC 1706.09(E)). If the address on file stops working, a plaintiff can serve your company through the Secretary of State, and the state can start the cancellation process.
Our address
Ours is 3416 Erhart Road, Litchfield, Ohio 44253, in Medina County. It's our office, not a mailbox store, and it is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET.
Questions
Will papers served at Litchfield be a problem if my business is in Cincinnati?
No. The agent can be anywhere in Ohio, and a suit against you can be filed in the court with proper venue, regardless of where your agent sits.
Does the agent address have to match my business address?
No. Many companies use an agent specifically so that they are different.
Reviewed by Sean Webb, owner of Ohio Registered Statutory Agent LLC. Updated 2026-11-06. General information, not legal advice.