Quick answer
- Form
- Form 521, Statutory Agent Update
- State fee
- $25
- Needs
- New agent's name, Ohio address, and signed acceptance
- Old agent's consent
- Not required
- Amend your articles?
- No
The five steps
- Look up your current record. Search your business on the Ohio Secretary of State business search and note the exact entity name, entity number, and the agent currently listed.
- Hire the new agent. Get its exact legal name and Ohio street address, and confirm how it will sign the acceptance.
- Complete Form 521. Enter your entity's name and number, the new agent's name and address, and have the new agent sign the acceptance of appointment. An authorized representative of your business signs the form.
- File it with the $25 fee. You can file online through the Secretary of State's Ohio Business Central or by mail.
- Confirm, then cancel the old agent. When the business search shows the new agent, cancel the old service so it does not renew.
Do it in this order
Keep the old agent active until the state record shows the new one. If you cancel first and the filing is delayed or rejected, legal papers can go to an agent that is no longer working for you. A few weeks of overlap costs little. A missed lawsuit can cost a great deal.
Who files the form?
It depends on the provider.
| Provider | Year one | Renewal | 5 years | Files Form 521 | Ohio office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Registered Statutory Agent, LLC | $49 | $49 | $245 | Yes | Litchfield, Medina County (3416 Erhart Road, Litchfield, OH 44253) |
| Ohio Statutory Agent LLC | $49 | $49 | $245 | No | North Canton (6545 Market Avenue N., Suite 100) |
| Ohio Registered Agent | $49 | $49 | $245 | Yes | North Canton (6545 Market Avenue N., Suite 100) |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125 | $125 | $625 | Yes | North Canton (street not listed on its Ohio page) |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 | $159 | $735 | Add-on | North Canton |
| InCorp | $129 | $129 | $645 | Yes | Cincinnati |
| CT Corporation | $436 | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Ohio location not named on its Ohio page |
Read from each provider’s Ohio page on October 31, 2026. How we compare.
"Yes" means the provider says it completes or files the change for you. "Add-on" means it is offered for a fee. "No" means the provider treats it as your filing. With our service you choose: file it yourself with our step-by-step instructions, or have us file it after you e-sign.
Common reasons Form 521 is rejected
- The entity name does not match the state record exactly
- The agent's acceptance is missing or unsigned
- The agent's address is a P.O. box, not a street address
- The fee is missing
Other reasons to file Form 521
The same form covers two other situations. If your agent stays the same but its address changes, the record has to be updated. And an agent that wants to stop serving files a resignation, which takes effect 30 days after filing for LLCs and for-profit corporations. If your agent resigns, you need a replacement on record before that window closes. See what happens without a statutory agent.