New York vs Ohio: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in New York and Ohio — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: New York vs Ohio
| Metric | New York | Ohio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $200 | $99 | ✓ Ohio |
| Annual Report | $9 | $0 | ✓ Ohio |
| Publication Cost | $200 | $0 | ✓ Ohio |
| Franchise Tax | $25 | $0 | ✓ Ohio |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $425 | $99 | ✓ Ohio |
Filing Fee
✓ Ohio is cheaper here
Annual Report
✓ Ohio is cheaper here
Publication Cost
✓ Ohio is cheaper here
Franchise Tax
✓ Ohio is cheaper here
Est. Year-1 Total
✓ Ohio is cheaper here
New York: New York's publication requirement forces new LLCs to publish in two newspapers for 6 weeks — costing $1,000–$2,000 in NYC, or $40–$150 upstate.
Ohio: Ohio has a Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) for businesses with over $150,000 in annual gross receipts.
New York: NYC access — unmatched for finance, media, fashion, and tech businesses.
Ohio: No annual report — free to maintain after the $99 formation fee.
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Start My LLC Today →Small Claims Court: New York vs Ohio
| Metric | New York | Ohio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $10,000 | $6,000 | ✓ New York |
| Min Filing Fee | $15 | $35 | ✓ New York |
| Contract SOL | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Tie |
Max Claim Limit
✓ New York is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
✓ New York is cheaper here
Contract SOL
It's a tie
Divorce Filing Costs: New York vs Ohio
| Metric | New York | Ohio | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $335 | $250 | ✓ Ohio |
| Sheriff Service | $60 | $45 | ✓ Ohio |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $25 | ✓ New York |
Filing Fee
✓ Ohio is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
✓ Ohio is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
✓ New York is cheaper here
Notary Fees: New York vs Ohio
| Metric | New York | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $2 | $5 |
| Jurat | $2 | $5 |
| RON Fee | $25 | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee