Illinois LLC Formation

Start an LLC in Illinois — Simple, Fast, Done Right

Illinois is home to Chicago — one of the top business cities in the US — and offers a strong legal framework for LLCs. Whether you're launching a startup, freelancing, or protecting a side business, forming an Illinois LLC gives you liability protection and tax flexibility. Brendat handles your Articles of Organization, EIN, registered agent, and compliance so you can focus on your business.

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Step-by-step guide

How to Form an LLC in Illinois

Six clear steps to get your Illinois LLC legally formed — Brendat handles the filing while you focus on your business.

Choose a Name for Your Illinois LLC

Your LLC name must be unique among all businesses registered in Illinois and must include a required designator at the end.

Illinois Naming Rules:

Must include: "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
Cannot use: Words that imply a government agency (e.g., "FBI," "State Department")
Restricted words: "Bank," "Insurance," "Corporation," "University" require additional state approval
Must be distinguishable: From any existing Illinois business name on record

Name Reservation Available

You can reserve your Illinois LLC name for 90 days by filing a Name Reservation with the Illinois Secretary of State for $25. This is useful if you're not ready to file your Articles of Organization yet but want to lock in the name.

Appoint an Illinois Registered Agent

Every Illinois LLC must designate a registered agent — an individual or company with a physical Illinois street address — to receive legal notices, lawsuits, and state correspondence during normal business hours.

Who can serve as your registered agent?

Yourself: Must have a physical Illinois address and be available during business hours
A trusted individual: Any adult with an Illinois physical address
A professional service: Like Brendat — keeps your personal address off public records

Brendat provides registered agent service in Illinois

Our Illinois address is listed on your Articles of Organization, keeping your home address private. Included in Standard and Premium packages.

File Articles of Organization with the Illinois Secretary of State

The Articles of Organization is the document that officially creates your Illinois LLC. It is filed with the Illinois Secretary of State — online or by mail.

Method	Fee	Processing Time
Online (recommended)	$150	~10 business days
By Mail	$150	3–4 weeks
Expedited (online)	$150 + $100	24 hours

What's included in the Articles of Organization?

LLC name and principal address
Registered agent name and Illinois address
Purpose of the LLC
Management structure (member-managed or manager-managed)
Organizer's name and signature

Note on Illinois Filing Fee

Illinois has one of the higher state LLC filing fees at $150. However, ongoing annual costs are reasonable — the annual report fee is just $75/year, keeping your total maintenance costs competitive.

Create an Operating Agreement

Illinois law requires all LLCs to have an operating agreement — making it one of the few states where this document is legally mandatory. It does not need to be filed with the state, but it must exist.

What your operating agreement should cover:

Ownership structure: Membership percentages and capital contributions
Management: Who makes decisions and how voting works
Profit distribution: How and when profits are divided among members
Membership changes: Rules for adding or removing members
Dissolution: What happens if the LLC is closed

Illinois requires this — Brendat provides it

An operating agreement is included in Brendat's Standard and Premium packages. It's drafted to meet Illinois LLC Act requirements and is ready to sign alongside your formation documents.

Get Your EIN (Employer Identification Number)

An EIN is your LLC's federal tax identification number — required to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. You apply for it through the IRS at no cost.

US residents: Apply free online at IRS.gov — instant approval
Non-US residents: Apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4 — takes 4–6 weeks
Brendat handles this: EIN filing is included in Standard and Premium packages

Open a business bank account after getting your EIN

With your EIN and approved Articles of Organization, you can open a dedicated business bank account. This separates your personal and business finances — which is critical for maintaining your LLC's liability protection.

File Your Illinois Annual Report

Illinois LLCs must file an annual report every year with the Illinois Secretary of State to stay in good standing. Unlike some states, Illinois does not have a fixed annual report due date — it is due on the first day of the anniversary month of your LLC's formation.

Annual report fee: $75/year
Due date: First day of your LLC's anniversary month each year
Filing method: Online via the Illinois Secretary of State website
Penalty for late filing: $100 penalty + possible dissolution

Your Illinois LLC is ready!

Once your Articles of Organization are approved and your EIN is in hand, your Illinois LLC is fully operational. Brendat sends annual report reminders so you never miss a deadline.

Transparent pricing

How Much Does an Illinois LLC Cost?

A full breakdown of every cost involved in forming and maintaining an Illinois LLC — no hidden fees.

State Filing Fee

$150

One-time fee paid to the Illinois Secretary of State to file your Articles of Organization

Expedited Processing

+$100

Optional. Reduces processing time from ~10 business days to 24 hours

Annual Report

$75

Filed every year with the Illinois SOS. Due on the first day of your LLC's anniversary month

Registered Agent

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages. Every Illinois LLC is required to maintain one

EIN (Federal Tax ID)

Free from the IRS directly. Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages

Operating Agreement

Required by Illinois law. Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages

Total with Brendat Standard Plan

$149 + $150 state fee

$149 Brendat service fee + $150 Illinois state fee · Annual report ($75) due in year 2

Choose your plan

Illinois LLC Formation Packages

All packages include accurate, state-specific filing. Pick what fits your needs.

Basic

Brendat service fee

+ $150 Illinois state fee

Get Started Free

Articles of Organization filed
Name availability check
Email support
Digital copy of filed documents

Standard

$149

Brendat service fee

+ $150 Illinois state fee

Start for $149 →

Everything in Basic
EIN / Federal Tax ID
Operating Agreement (IL required)
Registered Agent (1 year)
Annual report reminders
Priority processing

Premium

$299

Brendat service fee

+ $150 Illinois state fee

Get Premium

Everything in Standard
Business bank account setup
Compliance calendar & reminders
Annual report filing (year 1)
Dedicated account manager
Phone & priority support

State Comparison

Is Illinois the Right State for Your LLC?

Illinois is best if you live or operate there. Here's how it compares to other popular LLC states.

Feature	Illinois	Wyoming	Delaware	Florida
State Filing Fee	$150	$100	$90	$125
Annual Report Fee	$75/yr	$60/yr	$300/yr	$138.75/yr
Operating Agreement	Required by law	Recommended	Recommended	Recommended
Annual Franchise Tax	None	None	$300 min	None
Processing Time	~10 days	~5 days	~1 week	~5 days
Best For	IL businesses	Non-residents	Investors/VC	FL businesses

Foreign LLC Reminder

If you form an LLC in Wyoming or Delaware but operate your business in Illinois, you'll still need to register as a foreign LLC in Illinois — paying both states' fees. For most Illinois-based businesses, forming directly in Illinois is simpler and more cost-effective.

Why choose us

Why 10,000+ Entrepreneurs Choose Brendat

Fast Filing

We submit your Illinois Articles of Organization within 1 business day of your order. Standard processing takes ~10 business days — expedited in 24 hours.

100% Accuracy Guarantee

Every filing is reviewed before submission. If the Illinois SOS rejects your documents due to our error, we fix it at no charge.

Privacy First

Your home address stays off public records. We list our Illinois registered agent address on all your formation documents.

Annual Report Reminders

Never miss your Illinois annual report deadline. We track your anniversary month and send reminders well in advance — avoiding the $100 late penalty.

Non-US Residents Welcome

No citizenship or US residency required to form an Illinois LLC. We assist international entrepreneurs with the full formation process including EIN.

Real Support

Reach our team at (303) 246-8693 or by email. We answer questions in plain English — no legal jargon, no runaround.

Our reviews

What Our Illinois LLC Customers Say

Common questions

Illinois LLC — Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about forming and running an LLC in Illinois.

Still have questions?

(303) 246-8693

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

The Illinois state filing fee is $150 paid to the Illinois Secretary of State. Expedited 24-hour processing costs an additional $100. Brendat's service fee starts at $0 (Basic) or $149 (Standard, which includes EIN, operating agreement, and registered agent). Your total first-year cost with Brendat Standard is $299 — the $75 annual report fee is not due until year two.

How long does it take to form an LLC in Illinois?

Standard online processing with the Illinois Secretary of State takes approximately 10 business days. Expedited processing (an additional $100) reduces this to 24 hours. Mail filings take 3–4 weeks. Brendat submits your filing within 1 business day of your order.

Does Illinois require an operating agreement for an LLC?

Yes — Illinois is one of the few states that legally requires LLCs to have an operating agreement under the Illinois Limited Liability Company Act. It does not need to be filed with the state, but it must exist and be signed by all members. Brendat includes a professionally drafted operating agreement in the Standard and Premium packages.

Does Illinois require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. Illinois LLCs must file an annual report with the Illinois Secretary of State every year. The fee is $75. Unlike most states, Illinois annual reports are due on the first day of your LLC's anniversary month — the same month your LLC was originally formed. Late filing results in a $100 penalty and can eventually lead to administrative dissolution.

Can a non-US resident form an Illinois LLC?

Yes. There is no US citizenship or residency requirement to own an Illinois LLC. Non-residents need a registered agent with a physical Illinois address (Brendat provides this) and must apply for an EIN by fax using IRS Form SS-4, since the online IRS application requires a US Social Security Number. Brendat assists non-residents with the full process.

What is a registered agent in Illinois?

An Illinois registered agent is a person or company with a physical Illinois street address who is authorized to receive legal documents, state notices, and official correspondence on behalf of your LLC during normal business hours. Every Illinois LLC must maintain a registered agent at all times — failure to do so can result in the loss of good standing.

Does Illinois have a franchise tax for LLCs?

No — Illinois does not impose a franchise tax on LLCs (unlike California's $800 minimum). Your primary ongoing costs are the $75 annual report fee and any applicable state income taxes on your LLC's earnings. This makes Illinois more affordable for ongoing maintenance compared to states like California or Delaware.

Ready to Start Your Illinois LLC?

Let Brendat handle your Articles of Organization, EIN, operating agreement, and registered agent — so you can launch your Illinois business with confidence.

Form My Illinois LLC

$149 + $150 IL state fee · 100% accuracy guarantee