Florida vs Ohio: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Florida and Ohio — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Florida vs Ohio
| Metric | Florida | Ohio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $125 | $99 | Ohio |
| Annual Report | $138.75 | $0 | Ohio |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $125 | $99 | Ohio |
Filing Fee
Ohio is cheaper here
Annual Report
Ohio is cheaper here
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
Ohio is cheaper here
Florida: Annual report must be filed between January 1 and May 1 each year or a $400 late fee applies.
Ohio: Ohio has a Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) for businesses with over $6 million in annual taxable gross receipts (tax years 2025 and later).
Florida: No state income tax — major advantage for profitable LLCs.
Ohio: No annual report — free to maintain after the $99 formation fee.
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Small Claims Court: Florida vs Ohio
| Metric | Florida | Ohio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $8,000 | $6,000 | Florida |
| Min Filing Fee | $55 | $35 | Ohio |
| Contract SOL | 5 yrs | 6 yrs | Ohio |
Max Claim Limit
Florida is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
Ohio is cheaper here
Contract SOL
Ohio is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Florida vs Ohio
| Metric | Florida | Ohio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $400 | $250 | Ohio |
| Sheriff Service | $40 | $45 | Florida |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $25 | Florida |
Filing Fee
Ohio is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
Florida is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
Florida is cheaper here
Notary Fees: Florida vs Ohio
| Metric | Florida | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $10 | $5 |
| Jurat | $10 | $5 |
| RON Fee | $25 | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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