Illinois vs Ohio: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Illinois and Ohio — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Illinois vs Ohio
| Metric | Illinois | Ohio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $150 | $99 | ✓ Ohio |
| Annual Report | $75 | $0 | ✓ Ohio |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $150 | $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
Illinois: Illinois processing time can be slow — up to 10 business days for standard filing.
Ohio: Ohio has a Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) for businesses with over $150,000 in annual gross receipts.
Illinois: Chicago access — major market for B2B and professional services.
Ohio: No annual report — free to maintain after the $99 formation fee.
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Small Claims Court: Illinois vs Ohio
| Metric | Illinois | Ohio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $10,000 | $6,000 | ✓ Illinois |
| Min Filing Fee | $56 | $35 | ✓ Ohio |
| Contract SOL | 5 yrs | 6 yrs | ✓ Ohio |
Max Claim Limit
✓ Illinois is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
✓ Ohio is cheaper here
Contract SOL
✓ Ohio is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Illinois vs Ohio
| Metric | Illinois | Ohio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $289 | $250 | ✓ Ohio |
| Sheriff Service | $60 | $45 | ✓ Ohio |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $25 | ✓ Illinois |
Filing Fee
✓ Ohio is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
✓ Ohio is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
✓ Illinois is cheaper here
Notary Fees: Illinois vs Ohio
| Metric | Illinois | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $5 | $5 |
| Jurat | $5 | $5 |
| RON Fee | $25 | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee