Ohio vs Texas: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Ohio and Texas — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Ohio vs Texas
| Metric | Ohio | Texas | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $99 | $300 | Ohio |
| Annual Report | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $99 | $300 | Ohio |
Filing Fee
Ohio is cheaper here
Annual Report
It's a tie
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
Ohio is cheaper here
Ohio: Ohio has a Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) for businesses with over $6 million in annual taxable gross receipts (tax years 2025 and later).
Texas: Texas has no annual report fee, but foreign qualification costs $750. The $300 formation fee is offset by zero ongoing costs for most small LLCs.
Ohio: No annual report — free to maintain after the $99 formation fee.
Texas: No state income tax, no annual report fee, massive economy — one of the best states for small businesses.
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Small Claims Court: Ohio vs Texas
| Metric | Ohio | Texas | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $6,000 | $20,000 | Texas |
| Min Filing Fee | $35 | $54 | Ohio |
| Contract SOL | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | Ohio |
Max Claim Limit
Texas is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
Ohio is cheaper here
Contract SOL
Ohio is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Ohio vs Texas
| Metric | Ohio | Texas | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $250 | $300 | Ohio |
| Sheriff Service | $45 | $75 | Ohio |
| Children Surcharge | $25 | $20 | Texas |
Filing Fee
Ohio is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
Ohio is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
Texas is cheaper here
Notary Fees: Ohio vs Texas
| Metric | Ohio | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $5 | $10 |
| Jurat | $5 | $10 |
| RON Fee | $25 | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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