Starting an LLC in Illinois: Costs, Steps, and What to Know
A clean Illinois registered agent setup for $99 per year. You get the office address on file, scanned legal mail, and compliance reminders ahead of state deadlines.
Launching an LLC in Illinois involves a single state filing, an ongoing appointed agent, and a short list of compliance items each year. $150 is the state's filing charge, about a week is the processing window, and your annual maintenance budget builds from there. Below: each step explained, the cost picture, and what our service covers.
Build Your Illinois LLC — $199
For a flat $199, we prepare and submit your formation document to Illinois Secretary of State. Allow about a week from filing to approval.
Build Your Illinois LLC — $199
The Illinois LLC, Briefly Explained
A limited liability company is the entity choice that protects the owner's house, savings, and car from most business liabilities. Among Illinois small businesses, consultants, real estate holders, solo operators, and small partnerships all favor the LLC for its blend of low overhead and real protection.
Illinois LLC Pricing
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee (Illinois Secretary of State) | $150 one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Illinois LLC) | $99/year |
| State annual report fee | $75/year |
$199 flat to us, state fee to Illinois Secretary of State, and $99 per year for the RA service — three distinct items.
Illinois LLC Formation: Each Step
1. Name Your Illinois LLC
Your LLC name in Illinois must include one of the LLC suffixes (Limited Liability Company, LLC, or L.L.C.) and must not duplicate or closely resemble any existing business entity. Check availability with Illinois Secretary of State's online business entity database prior to order business cards or buy a domain.
Names cannot suggest a bank, insurance company, or governmental body unless you carry the proper license. Most filings are simpler if you just avoid those terms.
2. Select Your Registered Agent
The state requires each LLC to maintain a appointed agent with a physical in-state address who can receive court papers across business hours. Illinois Secretary of State records the agent's name and address in its public entity database — these details aren't private.
We provide that Illinois address and the staffing behind it for $99/year. Our team and address handle the public-facing side so your address stays private.
3. Lodge Your Articles of Organization at Illinois Secretary of State
This step formally establishes the LLC: file the Articles of Organization with Illinois Secretary of State along with a $150 filing fee. The document includes the LLC name, the principal business address, agent identity and address, manager- or member-managed designation, and the organizers.
File online via the state's filing portal. Paper filings still work but add days to processing time.
The state usually returns approval within about a week. Faster turnaround can shorten that further for an additional charge.
4. Draft an Operating Agreement
Illinois doesn't require an operating agreement to be filed with the state, but having one is fundamental to running the LLC properly. An operating agreement nails down ownership, profit allocation, decision rights, and the procedures for adding or removing members. If no agreement exists, Illinois's statutory defaults govern. Those defaults aren't designed for your specific business.
5. Get an EIN from the IRS
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) operates as your LLC's federal tax ID. Used for business banking, hiring employees, and filing federal returns. The IRS issues EINs for free at IRS.gov. The application is fast — under ten minutes and you'll have the number.
Avoid paying any service for an EIN. The IRS issues EINs at zero cost via a quick form.
6. Keep Up With Ongoing Obligations
After formation, keeping the LLC active comes down to a small list of recurring tasks:
- Sustain an agent on record at an Illinois street address at all times
- Get in the yearly annual report by the state's yearly cutoff
- Keep a strict divide between the LLC's money and yours personally (distinct bank accounts and bookkeeping)
- Stay current with federal tax filings as well as state requirements on schedule
Missed obligations can lead to dissolution at Illinois Secretary of State's discretion — at which point the liability shield is gone until you reinstate.
Want us to handle it? One $199 payment and we file the Illinois LLC for you.
The Registered Agent Requirement
The agent requirement extends to every LLC in Illinois — no exceptions, no workarounds. The agent has to:
- Keep a brick-and-mortar address in Illinois (P.O. Boxes don't count on their own)
- Be reachable throughout the standard business day to handle legal service
- Forward legal mail and state notices fast enough that the LLC can respond before deadlines
LLC owners who serve as their own agent expose their home addresses. Servers of process, marketers, and anybody interested can pull it up at will.
$99 per year covers our RA service in Illinois. We're the address on the public filing; you keep yours private.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Illinois?
Forming the LLC runs $150 in state fees. That's above the national midpoint. Beyond formation, the annual report comes to $75/year.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Illinois?
The state generally returns approval inside about a week.
Does Illinois require an annual report?
Yes, annually. The fee is $75/year.
Do I need a registered agent for my Illinois LLC?
Yes. Illinois LLCs must designate a designated agent at a Illinois physical address every day the LLC is active.
Can I form an LLC in Illinois if I live in another state?
Yes. Illinois doesn't restrict LLC ownership to residents. (what you still need is the Illinois agent piece; our RA service at $99/year is the answer.)
File Your Illinois LLC Today
The DIY path is open through Illinois Secretary of State using the state's filing portal. $150 is what Illinois Secretary of State charges, a appointed agent must still be on record.
Our RA service can be listed on your formation paperwork from day one. For Just $99/year, covers the public address, fast forwarding of documents, and due-date reminders for upcoming filings.
Just the agent, no formation? The agent-only registered agent plan costs $99/year.
Have more questions about Illinois LLC formation or about the agent service? Visit our FAQ page or reach out any weekday.
Ready to get started?
Begin coverage today — the annual rate funds office address, scanning, and reminders. No extras tacked on.