North Dakota vs Ohio: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in North Dakota and Ohio — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: North Dakota vs Ohio
| Metric | North Dakota | Ohio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $135 | $99 | Ohio |
| Annual Report | $50 | $0 | Ohio |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $135 | $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
North Dakota: North Dakota requires an annual report every year — don't miss the deadline.
Ohio: Ohio has a Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) for businesses with over $6 million in annual taxable gross receipts (tax years 2025 and later).
North Dakota: Moderate fees and low business competition in many sectors.
Ohio: No annual report — free to maintain after the $99 formation fee.
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Small Claims Court: North Dakota vs Ohio
| Metric | North Dakota | Ohio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $15,000 | $6,000 | North Dakota |
| Min Filing Fee | $20 | $35 | North Dakota |
| Contract SOL | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Tie |
Max Claim Limit
North Dakota is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
North Dakota is cheaper here
Contract SOL
It's a tie
Divorce Filing Costs: North Dakota vs Ohio
| Metric | North Dakota | Ohio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $80 | $250 | North Dakota |
| Sheriff Service | $30 | $45 | North Dakota |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $25 | North Dakota |
Filing Fee
North Dakota is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
North Dakota is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
North Dakota is cheaper here
Notary Fees: North Dakota vs Ohio
| Metric | North Dakota | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $5 | $5 |
| Jurat | $5 | $5 |
| RON Fee | $5 | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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