Updated May 2026 Side-by-Side

Ohio vs South Dakota: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)

Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Ohio and South Dakota — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.

Ohio

Cheaper LLC

South Dakota

Cheaper Divorce

South Dakota

Higher SC Limit

LLC Formation Costs: Ohio vs South Dakota

Metric	Ohio	South Dakota	Winner
Filing Fee	$99	$150	✓ Ohio
Annual Report	$0	$50	✓ Ohio
Publication Cost	$0	$0	Tie
Franchise Tax	$0	$0	Tie
Est. Year-1 Total	$99	$150	✓ Ohio

Ohio

South Dakota

Filing Fee

$99 WIN

$150

✓ Ohio is cheaper here

Annual Report

$0 WIN

$50

✓ Ohio is cheaper here

Publication Cost

It's a tie

Franchise Tax

It's a tie

Est. Year-1 Total

$99 WIN

$150

✓ Ohio is cheaper here

Ohio: Ohio has a Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) for businesses with over $150,000 in annual gross receipts.

South Dakota: South Dakota's foreign qualification fee ($750) is one of the highest in the US — 5× the domestic fee.

Ohio: No annual report — free to maintain after the $99 formation fee.

South Dakota: No state income tax and no personal income tax.

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Small Claims Court: Ohio vs South Dakota

Metric	Ohio	South Dakota	Winner
Max Claim Limit	$6,000	$12,000	✓ South Dakota
Min Filing Fee	$35	$40	✓ Ohio
Contract SOL	6 yrs	6 yrs	Tie

Ohio

South Dakota

Max Claim Limit

$6,000

$12,000 WIN

✓ South Dakota is cheaper here

Min Filing Fee

$35 WIN

$40

✓ Ohio is cheaper here

Contract SOL

6 yrs

It's a tie

Divorce Filing Costs: Ohio vs South Dakota

Metric	Ohio	South Dakota	Winner
Filing Fee	$250	$95	✓ South Dakota
Sheriff Service	$45	$30	✓ South Dakota
Children Surcharge	$25	$0	✓ South Dakota

Ohio

South Dakota

Filing Fee

$250

$95 WIN

✓ South Dakota is cheaper here

Sheriff Service

$45

$30 WIN

✓ South Dakota is cheaper here

Children Surcharge

$25

$0 WIN

✓ South Dakota is cheaper here

Notary Fees: Ohio vs South Dakota

Metric	Ohio	South Dakota
Acknowledgment	$5	$10
Jurat	$5	$10
RON Fee	$25	$10

Ohio

South Dakota

Acknowledgment

$10

Jurat

$10

RON Fee

$25

$10

All Legal Costs in Ohio →

Full breakdown: LLC, divorce, small claims & notary

All Legal Costs in South Dakota →

Full breakdown: LLC, divorce, small claims & notary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ohio or South Dakota cheaper to form an LLC?

Ohio vs South Dakota legal costs rules vary by state. See our complete state-by-state breakdown above for the most current information, sourced directly from official court and government websites.

What is the LLC filing fee in Ohio vs South Dakota?

Ohio vs South Dakota legal costs costs vary by state. Use our calculator above to find the exact amount for your state. Fees are updated regularly from official state and court sources.

Which state is better for a small business — Ohio or South Dakota?

Ohio vs South Dakota legal costs rules vary by state. See our complete state-by-state breakdown above for the most current information, sourced directly from official court and government websites.

How do divorce filing fees compare between Ohio and South Dakota?

Ohio vs South Dakota legal costs costs vary by state. Use our calculator above to find the exact amount for your state. Fees are updated regularly from official state and court sources.

What is the small claims limit in Ohio vs South Dakota?

What is the small claims limit in Ohio vs South Dakota is an important aspect of Ohio vs South Dakota legal costs. Requirements and limits vary by state. Our state-by-state data above covers the key figures you need, sourced from official government websites.