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Starting an LLC in Illinois: step by step (2026)

To start an LLC in Illinois, file the Articles of Organization (LLC-5.5) with the Illinois Secretary of State and pay the $150 state fee. Illinois LLCs file a Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year, due before the first day of the entity's anniversary month, for $75. Every Illinois LLC must keep a registered agent with an Illinois street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

How to form an LLC in Illinois

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the Illinois Secretary of State business records.
  2. Name a registered agent: an Illinois resident, or a business authorized to do business in Illinois. The LLC cannot act as its own agent.
  3. File the Articles of Organization (LLC-5.5) with the Illinois Secretary of State and pay $150.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. Illinois LLCs file a Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year, due before the first day of the entity's anniversary month, for $75.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus Illinois’s fees.

Illinois LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$150
Formation document
Articles of Organization (LLC-5.5)
Yearly filing
Limited Liability Company Annual Report, every year, $75
Due
Before the first day of the entity's anniversary month each year
Registered agent
Required. An Illinois resident, or a business authorized to do business in Illinois. The LLC cannot act as its own agent.
Agent address
The address has to be a registered office in Illinois that matches the agent's business office. A P.O. box alone is not accepted.
Filing fee rank
37th lowest of 50 (36 states charge less, 11 charge more)
Best overall for a Illinois LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus Illinois’s $150 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

Illinois compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
Illinois$150$75 / yr
Indiana$95$32 / 2 yrs
Iowa$50$30 / 2 yrs
Kentucky$40$15 / yr
Missouri$50None
Wisconsin$130$25 / yr

All 50 states

Illinois LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Illinois?

$150 to the state to file. Illinois LLCs file a Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year, due before the first day of the entity's anniversary month, for $75. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does Illinois require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. Illinois LLCs file a Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year, due before the first day of the entity's anniversary month, for $75.

Do I need a registered agent in Illinois?

Yes. An Illinois resident, or a business authorized to do business in Illinois. The LLC cannot act as its own agent.

Can I form a Illinois LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Articles of Organization (LLC-5.5) directly with the Illinois Secretary of State and pay the $150 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources