Ohio vs Virginia: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Ohio and Virginia — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Ohio vs Virginia
| Metric | Ohio | Virginia | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $99 | $100 | Ohio |
| Annual Report | $0 | $50 | Ohio |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $99 | $100 | 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
Ohio: Ohio has a Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) for businesses with over $6 million in annual taxable gross receipts (tax years 2025 and later).
Virginia: Virginia requires an annual fee even if your LLC had zero activity that year.
Ohio: No annual report — free to maintain after the $99 formation fee.
Virginia: Northern Virginia is a major tech hub with proximity to federal contracts.
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Small Claims Court: Ohio vs Virginia
| Metric | Ohio | Virginia | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $6,000 | $5,000 | Ohio |
| Min Filing Fee | $35 | $46 | Ohio |
| Contract SOL | 6 yrs | 5 yrs | Ohio |
Max Claim Limit
Ohio is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
Ohio is cheaper here
Contract SOL
Ohio is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Ohio vs Virginia
| Metric | Ohio | Virginia | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $250 | $86 | Virginia |
| Sheriff Service | $45 | $40 | Virginia |
| Children Surcharge | $25 | $0 | Virginia |
Filing Fee
Virginia is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
Virginia is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
Virginia is cheaper here
Notary Fees: Ohio vs Virginia
| Metric | Ohio | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $5 | $10 |
| Jurat | $5 | $10 |
| RON Fee | $25 | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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