Ohio vs Pennsylvania: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Ohio and Pennsylvania — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Ohio vs Pennsylvania
| Metric | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $99 | $125 | ✓ Ohio |
| Annual Report | $0 | $70 | ✓ Ohio |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $99 | $125 | ✓ 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 $150,000 in annual gross receipts.
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania recently switched from decennial to annual report requirements — more admin overhead now.
Ohio: No annual report — free to maintain after the $99 formation fee.
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia and Pittsburgh offer strong mid-Atlantic market access.
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Start My LLC Today →Small Claims Court: Ohio vs Pennsylvania
| Metric | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $6,000 | $12,000 | ✓ Pennsylvania |
| Min Filing Fee | $35 | $45 | ✓ Ohio |
| Contract SOL | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | ✓ Ohio |
Max Claim Limit
✓ Pennsylvania is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
✓ Ohio is cheaper here
Contract SOL
✓ Ohio is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Ohio vs Pennsylvania
| Metric | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $250 | $201 | ✓ Pennsylvania |
| Sheriff Service | $45 | $45 | Tie |
| Children Surcharge | $25 | $0 | ✓ Pennsylvania |
Filing Fee
✓ Pennsylvania is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
It's a tie
Children Surcharge
✓ Pennsylvania is cheaper here
Notary Fees: Ohio vs Pennsylvania
| Metric | Ohio | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $5 | $5 |
| Jurat | $5 | $5 |
| RON Fee | $25 | — |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee