Are you unsatisfied with your Ohio registered agent? Or perhaps you’re currently serving as your own registered agent, but would rather hire a professional registered agent service instead?
The state of Ohio makes it rather easy to change your registered agent, but there are some details involved in the process that are worth reviewing.
In this guide, we’ll discuss all the relevant details of changing a registered agent in Ohio.
Guru Tip: If you would prefer to have a professional service deal with the paperwork and take over registered agent duties, hire a Ohio registered agent service. It’s just a small annual fee.
What Is an Ohio Registered Agent?
Why is a registered agent required for every limited liability company (LLC) or corporation? It all comes down to the fact that the state needs to be able to contact an official representative of your business if they need to deliver important documents to you, especially service of process.
Without a registered agent, you could remain unaware of a lawsuit against your business progressing through the court system.
Who Can Be an Ohio Registered Agent?
If you’re looking to change your company’s registered agent, it’s a good idea to know who is eligible to serve as one.
In Ohio, registered agents can be either an Ohio resident, a domestic LLC or corporation, or a foreign LLC or corporation. Additionally, unincorporated nonprofit associations are permitted to act as a registered agent if they keep a business address with the state.
While a business entity is not permitted to act as its own registered agent, a qualified, affiliated individual may. In many cases, those in Ohio in need of a registered agent may choose to hire a business entity that specializes in serving as one. These commercial registered agents must meet all of the requirements outlined by Ohio’s Title XVII of the Revised Code.
Although the Ohio Secretary of State does not provide any list of recommended registered agent services in the state, we have reviewed the top options and compiled a list of our own based on price and overall value. The list can be viewed anytime at this link.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Ohio
If you would like to change your registered agent for any reason, the process is simple.
The only necessary form you’ll need to submit to change your registered agent in the state of Ohio is section one of the Statutory Agent Update document. The form can either be found here as a PDF file and submitted by mail to the Ohio Secretary of state, or it can be filed online using Ohio’s digital business filing service. To complete the document, you’ll need the following details:
- The name of the business entity
- The charter, license or registration number
- The name of the current agent
- The name of the new agent
- The address of the new agent
For the document to be processed it must also include a statement of acceptance from the new registered agent. The signature may be provided in the section of the Update Registered Agent document under the header “Acceptance of Appointment for Domestic Entities”. Without the signature, the document will not be processed.
Change of Registered Agent Fee: $25
Should You Hire a Professional Ohio Registered Agent Service?
Hiring a registered agent service like Northwest Registered Agent has some distinct advantages. First and foremost, compared to serving as your own agent, professional registered agent services allow you to keep your personal address private. They’re also much less expensive than hiring a lawyer or accountant to provide registered agent service.
An often-overlooked benefit is how easy it is to expand your Ohio business into other states if you choose a professional registered agent. They typically have offices in all 50 states, so if you begin transacting business in an additional state, your same registered agent service can handle that for you.
If you’re interested in hiring a professional registered agent service, take a look at our guide to the top service providers.
Conclusion
The process for changing a registered agent in Ohio isn’t a complicated one, but it’s certainly advisable to know exactly what you want to do ahead of time. If you know what you want going in, you’ll find that the process is really quite painless.
We hope this article answered your questions about changing your Ohio registered agent!