Step 1: Choose a name Illinois will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. It also has to differ from the names already on the Illinois Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Illinois against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $25, for 90 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Illinois who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Illinois companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Illinois Secretary of State. The fee is $150. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. 10 business days. Faster service: 24-hour service for $100 more ($250 to form an LLC). (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Illinois doesn't require one (805 ILCS 180/15-5(a)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Illinois LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Illinois has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Illinois LLC annual report
Fee: $75; $100 late-filing penalty if not filed within 60 days of due date. Due: Before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month each year. (Source: ilsos.gov.)
| After formation | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $75 each year |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, $25 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Illinois certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Illinois
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $150 |
| First year, state fees | $150 |
| Each year after | $75 |
Over five years, Illinois's state fees come to $450. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Limited Liability Company Publications and Forms, ilsos.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Business searches, ilsos.gov, checked 2026-10-07
LLC instructions, ilsos.gov, checked 2026-10-07
805 ILCS 180/1-10, ilga.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Entire part, ilga.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Ilcs3, ilga.gov, checked 2026-10-07
LLC instructions, ilsos.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Illinois
- Choose a name Illinois will accept and check it against the Illinois Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Illinois.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Illinois Secretary of State ($150).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Illinois?
$150 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $150 in the first year and $75 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Illinois?
The Illinois Secretary of State gives 10 business days. Faster service: 24-hour service for $100 more ($250 to form an LLC).
Do I need an operating agreement in Illinois?
Illinois doesn't require one (805 ILCS 180/15-5(a)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Illinois online?
Yes. The Illinois Secretary of State takes the Articles of Organization online, for $150.
When is the Illinois LLC annual report due?
Before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month each year.
Does Illinois require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Illinois' recurring filing: $75 each year.