Start an Illinois LLC
Forming an Illinois LLC takes more than just filing Articles of Organization. You’ll need to appoint a registered agent, create an operating agreement, and register for taxes.
Your LLC formation service should do more too. That’s why our LLC service includes registered agent service for $49/year, a free domain name for one year, and a free phone number, email, and web hosting for 90 days.
Want to set up your LLC on your own? Skip to our Guide to Registering Your Illinois LLC.
Our LLC Formation Service
Get everything you need to start, maintain, and grow your business, including:
- Accurate, Fast LLC Registration
- Most Affordable IL Registered Agent ($49 per year)
- Same-Day Document Scans
- LLC Operating agreement, Initial Resolutions, & More
- Annual Report Renewal Service at No Upfront Cost
- Secure Online Account for Document Storage
- Free Domain Name for 1st Year
- Free Website, Email, & Phone Service for 90 days
- Option to Add DBA or Trademark Service
- Lifetime Customer Support from Real Illinoisans
“Most Amazing Company! The Customer service is Stellar!!! I love, Love, Love, this company. They make their clients feel like family. Anyone who has them as their Registered Agent has the Best of the Best of the Best!!!!“
-Joyce K., 5-Star Google Review
How to Register an LLC in Illinois
To start an LLC in Illinois, you need to file Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State and appoint a registered agent. We break down the steps you need to take.
- Select a name for your LLC
- Appoint a legal registered agent
- File Articles of Organization
- Create an operating agreement
- Obtain an EIN for your Illinois LLC
- Open a business bank account
- Stay compliant with licenses, taxes, and reports
1. Select a name for your LLC
Choose a name for your LLC that represents your company well and is unique among registered business names in Illinois. If your business name is too similar to one that’s already registered, your filing will be rejected.
To avoid rejection, look up your preferred name in the Department of Business Services database before filing.
What are Illinois’s LLC naming requirements?
You can check the full guidelines for naming an LLC in Illinois in the State Guide for Organizing Domestic LLCs, but the main takeaways are:
- The name must be unique, meaning it can’t be too similar to another registered business name in Illinois.
- It must include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.”
- It can’t include anything deemed “offensive to good taste.”
Plan to use an assumed business name? Check out our Illinois DBA guide.
2. Appoint a legal registered agent
Illinois law requires all LLCs to have a registered agent (805 ILCS 180/1-35). This is the person (or business entity) you authorize to accept your Secretary of State and legal notices and forward them quickly to you.
What are the requirements for IL registered agents?
Your Illinois registered agent must:
- Have an Illinois street address, which goes on the public record.
- Be present at this address during regular business hours to accept service of process in person.
- Be able to forward your state and legal notices quickly and confidentially.
Can I be my own registered agent in Illinois?
Yes, you can be the registered agent for your business, as long as you live in Illinois. However, you’ll need to make your address public and be present at that address during regular business hours. This isn’t convenient for business owners who run their business from home or during atypical hours, so many businesses hire a registered agent service instead.
When you hire Illinois Registered Office as your registered agent, we’ll scan your documents to your online account the same day they arrive, so you can view them immediately. You’ll also be able to store and review all your important business documents in one place, right from your client portal.
Get Reliable Registered Agent Service for Just $49/Year
3. File Articles of Organization
Once you’ve chosen a business name and appointed a local registered agent, you can file the Illinois Articles of Organization. The filing fee is $150 (paper) or $154 (online).
How do I submit my Articles of Organization?
You can submit the Articles of Organization online, in person, or by mail. Paper filings must be submitted in duplicate.
Where to submit by mail or in person:
Department of Business Services
Limited Liability Division
501 S. Second St., Rm. 351
Springfield, IL 62756
Where to submit online:
Articles of Organization filing options
| Filing Method | Approx. Processing Time | Filing Fee |
| Standard Paper | 30+ Days | $150 |
| Standard Online | 10 Business Days | $154 |
| Expedited Online or In Person | 1-2 Business Days | $256 |
What information is required on Articles of Organization?
Company Name
Make sure to include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC” or “L.L.C.”
Company Address
Must be a physical address. A P.O. Box or virtual address will be rejected.
Effective Date
The date your LLC will become active. Most companies choose the filing date, but you can choose a date up to 60 days in the future.
Registered Agent and Registered Office Information
The full legal name of the individual or commercial registered agent and their physical address in Illinois.
Business Purpose
This may be a generic business purpose such as “any legal business dealings,” or you may refine it to your industry such as “real estate.”
Business Duration
By default, all Illinois LLCs will be defined as “perpetual,” but if you need your business to be dissolved after a set date, you can list that date here.
Member(s) and/or Manager Names and Addresses
The members are the owners of an LLC. Addresses don’t need to be in Illinois but will be made public.
Organizer Name and Address
The Organizer is the person filing the articles. This person may be a member of the company or a hired third party.
4. Create an LLC operating agreement
An LLC operating agreement serves as a legally binding contract between the members of your LLC. It lays out the big-picture plan for how your company will function, such as:
- Ownership and membership rights
- Management structure
- Initial contributions
- How profits and losses will be distributed
- Voting procedure
- Process for dissolving the LLC
When you hire Illinois Registered Office to form your LLC, we automatically create a tailored operating agreement template that will be provided as soon as your LLC is approved by the state.
Are LLC operating agreements required in Illinois?
There is no legal requirement to have an operating agreement in Illinois, but you should still consider it a crucial document. Your operating agreement establishes ownership rights, distribution of profits and losses, and how changes can be made. Companies that don’t have one are more likely to face confusion or even legal trouble in the future.
A solid operating agreement can resolve disputes over ownership or changes within the company, which could help you avoid a lengthy court battle.
5. Obtain an EIN
Once your LLC is approved, you’re ready to apply for a tax ID called an Employer Identification Number (EIN) with the IRS. Most LLCs need an EIN to file taxes and apply for a bank account.
How do I apply for an EIN?
You can apply for an EIN for free directly from the IRS. If you have a social security number, you can apply online via the IRS website and receive your EIN within minutes. International applicants need to apply by mail, fax, or over the phone.
6. Open a business bank account
It’s important to open a bank account for your LLC to keep business and personal assets separate. If you mix LLC and personal finances, a court could rule that you are “piercing the corporate veil,” and your LLC could lose its limited liability protection.
What is required to open a business bank account?
To open a business bank account, you’ll most likely need to show:
- Photo ID, like a driver’s license or passport
- Articles of Organization
- LLC operating agreement
- EIN
- Resolution to Open a Bank Account, signed by all members
However, each bank will have slightly different requirements, so it’s good to call ahead and ask what documents you’ll need.
7. Stay in compliance with licenses, taxes, and reports
In order to keep your LLC in compliance, you may need one or more licenses or permits. You’ll also need to register for taxes and file an annual report with the state every year.
Licenses and Permits
Illinois doesn’t have a general state business license, but many cities and counties do require a business license. You may also need a zoning permit, home occupation permit, or another type of documentation. Reach out to your local city and county government to find out their requirements.
Certain industries also require professional licenses at the state level. For example, if you open a restaurant, employees will need to have a food handler’s card or be a Certified Food Protection Manager. You can learn more about state licensing requirements on the Illinois government website.
Business Taxes
By default, LLCs are taxed as “pass through entities,” which means the business itself doesn’t pay taxes. Instead, the tax responsibility passes through to the individual members who will file individual income taxes. Illinois has a flat personal income tax of 4.95%.
Most businesses in Illinois need to register for a sales tax permit. You can register online by creating an account with MyTaxIllinois or mail Form REG-1 to the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR).
IDOR mailing address:
Central Registration Division
Illinois Department of Revenue
PO Box 19030
Springfield, IL 62794-9030
Annual Report
LLCs are required to file the Illinois annual report with the Secretary of State each year. There’s a $75 filing fee. This report can be filed online via the Illinois Secretary of State website or by submitting Form LLC-50.1 by mail or in person.
When is the annual report due?
The annual report is due the month prior to the business’s anniversary month. So, if an LLC was formed on October 4th, their report would be due in September of the following year (and every year after that). If your annual report is more than 60 days late, you’ll be charged a $100 late fee. Companies that fail to file their annual report are eventually dissolved by the state.
To help prevent you from missing a report, we include enrollment in our Annual Report Renewal Service with LLC formation. You’ll receive reminders as the deadline nears and can choose to have us file for you or cancel and file on your own. Renewal Service is $100 plus the $75 state fee, charged only at the time of filing.
The Illinois Registered Office Difference
We believe an LLC filing company should offer EVERYTHING a new business needs to get established and start reaching customers. Here’s what makes Illinois Registered Office unique:
Stability & Expertise for Your LLC
We’re a team of local professionals who have been specializing in Illinois small business for almost a decade. After steady and consistent growth, we purchased our own building to be able to offer in-house mail scanning and virtual office services.
Most companies that offer virtual mail services simply rent out a P.O. box and outsource the mail sorting to third-party processing hubs. That’s not how we do things.
Whether you rely on us for legal registered agent mail or for a complete virtual office, you can rest assured that your important mail will be securely scanned by our local employees, right here at our Springfield office. Plus, we NEVER sell your data to third parties.
Committed Compliance Support
We’re committed to helping you not only form your company but maintain it for many years to come. That’s why we make it our goal to ensure that none of our clients miss their annual report deadline and risk being administratively dissolved by the state.
When you hire Illinois Registered Office for LLC registration, you’ll be enrolled in our Annual Report Renewal Service at no upfront cost. We’ll send real-time reminders before your annual report due date and then file on your behalf ahead of the deadline ($100 + state fee). If you prefer to file on your own, you can easily cancel the service in your account.
Services that Grow with Your Business
With Illinois Registered Office, you get personalized support from business experts at every stage of your business journey.
Want help connecting with customers? We’ll provide a website, domain, and phone number, with real human support when you need it.
Want to host an investor meeting in Springfield? Our conference rooms are available to rent.
Whether you’re starting your first LLC or your tenth, you deserve a formation service that does it all. From virtual office service to web hosting. From annual reports to trademarks. All for reasonable, transparent prices. All with support from real people who truly care.
Illinois Limited Liability Company FAQs
The filing fee for Articles of Organization, the document that forms your LLC, is $150 (plus a $4 credit card processing fee). Expedited processing is $100 extra.
Illinois does allow DBAs, also called assumed business names. Your DBA is any name your company uses to conduct business that is not listed on your Articles of Organization.
Assumed business name registrations are based on 5-year increments, so the cost will vary based on the year in which you apply. Check out the chart below for detailed pricing:
| Years Ending in… | State Fee |
| 0 or 5 | $150 |
| 1 or 6 | $120 |
| 2 or 7 | $90 |
| 3 or 8 | $60 |
| 4 or 9 | $30 |
The processing time for your LLC filing will vary based on how you file:
- Online or in person (non-expedited): Up to 10 business days.
- Online or in person (expedited): 24 hours, excluding weekends and holidays.
- By mail: Around 30 days.
If you choose the 24-hour expedited processing, you’ll need to pay a $100 expediting fee.
There isn’t a general state business license in Illinois, but some cities and counties require a local business license. For example, if you want to do business in Chicago, you’ll need a Chicago business license. Reach out to your city and county government office to learn about their business licensing requirements.
Illinois allows PLLCs (professional limited liability companies) for professions licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). If you’re providing professional services licensed by the IDFPR, you may be required to form a PLLC rather than a regular LLC.
A sole proprietorship is an informal business owned by one person that isn’t required to register with the Secretary of State.
An LLC is a formal business structure registered with the state. LLCs are legally separate from their owners, which protects the owners if the company is sued or goes into debt.
An LLC can be owned by one person or multiple people. An LLC owned by one person is called a single-member LLC.
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