Start a Business in Illinois
Illinois LLC Cost
We’ve compiled the most common fees so you know exactly what to expect when starting your Illinois LLC.
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FAQs on how to determine Illinois LLC costs
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Before you form your Illinois LLC, let’s walk you through the most common filing fees you’ll encounter. Nervous about getting started? Don’t worry. We’ve done this for more than 500,000 businesses.
If you want our help, we can form your Illinois LLC for only $0 plus state fees. Just click the “Start My LLC” button.
We’ll break down the LLC cost in Illinois and then show you how to start your LLC
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Here’s what it costs to start an LLC in Illinois:
Illinois LLC Filing Fee
$153: The Illinois LLC filing fee is$153. You’ll pay this fee when you file your Articles of Organization.Annual Report Fee
$75: You’re responsible for filing an annual report in Illinois and paying the associated $75 fee for every year your LLC is in business.
Registered Agent Fee
Free (if you serve as your own): Every Illinois LLC is required to have a registered agent. You can act as your own registered agent for free, or you can appoint someone else to serve as your registered agent (with their permission). You can also use a commercial registered agent service like ours for a fee.
Our registered agent services make it easy for you. We’ll serve as your registered agent and handle any requirements without any work from you.
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You paid your Illinois LLC filing fee requirement. What other fees could you be responsible for? Let’s take a look:
Illinois Certificate of Good Standing
You get this document from the Illinois Secretary of State. It costs $25, and it shows that your Illinois business is in compliance with state law.
You don’t need to get an Illinois Certificate of Good Standing as part of the LLC formation process, but you might need one if you want to expand your LLC to another state. Some banks also require one to open a business bank account or to get a loan.
DBA Name in Illinois
Want to go by a different name than your legal LLC name? To do so, you’re required to submit a “Doing Business As” (DBA) name, known in Illinois as an “assumed name.”
LLCs sometimes use a DBA when they want to open a new store or launch a new product line but don’t want to create another business for it.
The Illinois DBA fee structure is a bit complicated and depends on the year you’re requesting it. For each year ending in a 0 or 5, you must pay a $150 filing fee; $120 for years ending in 1 or 6; $90 for years ending in 2 or 7; $60 for years ending in 3 or 8; or $30 for years ending in 4 or 9.
Foreign LLC
If you already have an LLC in another state but want to expand your business to Illinois, then you need to file as a foreign LLC. You’ll do this by completing an Application for Admission to Transact Business.
The fee is the same as a domestic LLC filing, $150, and an extra $100 if you want it expedited.
Business Licenses and Permits
Your type of business may need federal, state, or local licenses and permits to legally open your doors in Illinois. Although Illinois doesn’t require a general business license to operate, you may need other licenses and/or permits depending on factors like your location and industry.
The fees for these licenses and permits will vary, as will the costs for renewing them.
Starting at just $0 plus state fees, we can form your Illinois LLC for you in just minutes. No LegalZoom promo code required: Pay just $0 plus filing fees for fast LLC formation in Illinois.
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Yes. For example, the state can charge you $100 if you fail to pay your annual report fee within 60 days of the deadline. Failing to pay some fees at all could result in the state dissolving your LLC.
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If you can’t pay your filing fee for the Articles of Organization, the Illinois Secretary of State won’t file your documents.
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You’ll pay the LLC formation fees to the Illinois Secretary of State.
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The Illinois filing fees you pay will depend on things like your industry and location. At a bare minimum, you’ll have to pay the
$153filing fee to form the LLC. -
If you’re filing online, you can pay online by credit card with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. Your card will be charged at the time you submit the Articles of Organization. If the Articles are rejected, the charge will be reversed.
If you’re filing by mail, you’ll need to pay with a certified check, money order, or check from an Illinois attorney or certified public accountant payable to the Illinois Secretary of State.
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The main benefit of LLCs over business entity options like sole proprietorships and general partnerships is that LLCs offer liability protection. Your personal assets are separate from your business assets, so they usually can’t be touched if someone sues the business or the business goes into debt.
Corporations also offer personal liability protection for the owners, but they have a more rigid structure, more paperwork, and “double taxation.” Profits for a corporation are taxed both at the business level and again when they’re distributed to the individual shareholders. By default, LLC profits are usually only taxed at the individual level.
How do I form my LLC in Illinois?
1. Name your LLC
It’s time to introduce yourself! All Illinois limited liability companies (LLCs) need a unique name within the state. Naming your Illinois LLC is one of the first things you’ll need to do.
Business Name Rules in Illinois
Already have the perfect business name? Keep a few things in mind:
- Your business name needs to be available in Illinois.
- It has to meet Illinois naming requirements.
- You may want to choose a name you can pair with an available website domain.
Regardless of the business entity you create, your new company needs to meet these requirements. Luckily, we’re here to help.
Check available Illinois business names
First, perform a name search to see if your desired LLC name is available in Illinois. If it’s available, you can either reserve it now or plan to use it when you file for your Illinois LLC. The state charges $25 to reserve a name.
If you want to see what domain names are available, run your business name through our domain name checker.
Becoming a business owner is an exciting time, and securing the perfect LLC name is a great way to start.
Name your LLC
Enter your desired business name to get started
2. Choose a registered agent
All Illinois LLCs need to have a registered agent. Your registered agent is your LLC’s point of contact with the state it’s registered in.
What is a registered agent?
Most importantly, the registered agent has to be available during normal business hours because they’re responsible for accepting legal notices (such as notices of your company being sued).
If a registered agent is used for an Illinois LLC, the person needs to be an Illinois resident or have a physical Illinois address (not a P.O. box).
Registered Agent Options
You can serve as your own registered agent as long as you have a physical street address in Illinois, but it might be a good idea to have someone else represent your company.
Being your own registered agent requires you to always be present at the office during normal business hours. Plus, being served with a lawsuit in front of clients is never a good look.
Hire a registered agent
For a small fee, a registered agent service will guarantee that they’re available and at the given address to handle any requirements for you. It’s one less thing for you to worry about as a business owner.
3. File your Articles of Organization
Before legally operating an Illinois LLC, you need to file Articles of Organization with the Illinois Secretary of State, along with the one-time filing fee of $150. You already know that part.
File your LLC with us
Illinois accepts filings online, by postal mail, or in person. You can check your LLC’s status at the Illinois Secretary of State’s website by submitting your Packet Number.
4. Create an operating agreement
Even though it’s not technically required by law, it’s a really good idea to have an operating agreement for your LLC. Below are some reasons:
Operating Agreement Benefits
An operating agreement:
- Is a legally binding document providing clear definitions of all ownership terms and rules as well as management structure.
- Outlines ownership percentages, responsibilities, voting power, and a succession plan if an owner decides to leave the business.
- Can prevent any miscommunication and resolve conflicts between members.
Using an operating agreement template can help you create this critical document, establishing the rules for your LLC and setting you up for success.
5. Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) officially registers your company with the federal government. Also known as Federal Tax ID Numbers, EINs are typically required to open a business bank account, get business credit cards, and hire employees.
Apply for an EIN on the IRS website or use our EIN service when you form your LLC, and we’ll handle that for you, too.
Check Illinois annual requirements
You’re all set! You’ve successfully formed your Illinois LLC with the state. So you’re done, right? Almost.
Illinois Annual Report
As we mentioned above, every year you must submit an Illinois annual report for your LLC and pay a $75 fee.
In Illinois, annual reports are due by the end of the month prior to the one in which the business was formed. If you registered your LLC on September 7, the annual report would be due by August 31 each year.
The state can charge you $100 if you fail to pay your annual report fee within 60 days of the deadline.
Avoid fees
To avoid costly fees, use our Annual Report Service to receive important notifications and help to file your annual report.
Stay legally compliant
You might need to make certain changes to your business over time. For example, you may get a new registered agent or change your business address. Illinois needs to be aware of these changes to your LLC.
LLC Amendments
Some changes require an amendment with the state. Learn more about Illinois LLC amendments. If you need to amend your LLC’s Articles of Organization, you’ll pay a $50 fee.
Staying in Compliance
We offer a Worry-Free Compliance Service, which includes two amendments every year, to help your business stay compliant with Illinois law.
We can help!
Running a legal business entity in Illinois doesn’t have to be complicated. We’re here to guide you. We’ll help you launch, run, and grow your new LLC.
Our experts will help you file and avoid costly mistakes and penalties. We also offer plenty of business resources to help your LLC succeed in Illinois.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only, and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
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