Quick answer
- Allowed?
- Yes, for Ohio residents
- Cost
- $0
- Address requirement
- A physical Ohio street address, not a P.O. box
- Main downsides
- Your address is public, and papers are delivered to you there
- If you live out of state
- Not allowed; use an Ohio resident or a commercial agent
The rule
Ohio lets an individual serve as statutory agent if they are a resident of the state. The address on record has to be a physical location in Ohio. You sign the acceptance of appointment yourself. There is no license, registration, or fee to be an agent.
What you take on
Your address goes public. The agent's name and address appear on the Secretary of State's business search for anyone to see. If you run the business from home, that is your home address.
Legal papers come to you. Lawsuits and notices are delivered to the address on record. If a delivery is missed because you were traveling or had moved, the case can go forward without you knowing.
You have to keep the record current. Move, and you need to file Form 521 with the $25 fee to update the address. Owners forget, and a stale address is how state notices get missed.
Being served at work. If your agent address is your shop or office, papers may be handed over in front of customers or staff.
Side by side
| Be your own agent | Hire a $49 agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly cost | $0 | $49 |
| Address on public record | Yours | The agent's |
| Who receives lawsuits | You, in person or by mail | The agent, who scans them to you |
| If you travel or move | Risk of missed papers; file Form 521 after a move | No change needed |
| Works if you live outside Ohio | No | Yes |
When doing it yourself makes sense
- You live in Ohio and expect to stay at the same address
- The business has a real office with regular hours
- You do not mind the address being public
- You are disciplined about mail and will update the state if anything changes
When to hire one
- You work from home and want your address off the agent line
- You travel, or keep irregular hours
- You live outside Ohio, in which case you cannot serve
- You own several entities and want all legal mail handled in one place
If you decide to hire, the cheapest Ohio statutory agents charge $49 a year. Switching from yourself to a service is one Form 521 filing.