LLC Formation in Illinois: Cost, Steps & How to File
Every Illinois business owner eventually asks the same three things about an LLC formation: who issues it, roughly what it costs, roughly how long it takes. The first one has an Illinois-specific answer and it's at the top of this page.
Depending on the state this recurring amount is called an annual report fee, a franchise tax, or a business privilege fee. It is the amount an LLC pays the state to stay in good standing.
What we verified for Illinois
Every figure in this box was found on the page linked underneath it, by machine, on 9 August 2026 — we publish no number we could not locate on the government page we cite. It is the part of this page that is actually about Illinois; the process, documents and ranges further down are the national pattern.
- Issuing office
- Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services
- Fee
- $150
- Renewal fee
- $75
Source
- Limited Liability Company Publications and Forms – Illinois Secretary of State: https://www.ilsos.gov/publications/business-services/llc.html (checked 9 August 2026)
Who issues an LLC Formation in Illinois
In Illinois, an LLC formation is issued by the office below. That is the office to confirm every figure with.
- Illinois — the state business-filing office (Secretary of State in most states) (registers business entities)
https://www.ilsos.gov
https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/business_services/home.html
Starting point for anything else in Illinois: the state business portal, https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/business_services/home.html. It is a starting point, not the issuer of this permit.
The general US process
This sequence is the shape the process takes across the US. It is not a list of Illinois requirements, and no step here should be read as one — the issuing office named above sets the actual requirements.
- Step 1: Pick a name and check it against the state's business-entity register — most states let you search this online for free.
- Step 2: Name a registered agent with a physical street address in the state; a PO box is generally not accepted.
- Step 3: File the formation document — usually called Articles of Organization or a Certificate of Formation — with the state's business-filing office.
- Step 4: Pay the state filing fee. This is the one figure on this page that we do hold per state, shown above.
- Step 5: Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free, online, and usually issued immediately.
- Step 6: Open a business bank account in the LLC's name using the EIN and the filed formation document.
- Step 7: Write an operating agreement. A handful of states require one; in the rest it is optional and still worth having.
What varies: the filing fee, the name of the form, how often the state wants a report, and whether the state adds its own publication or franchise-tax step. New York, for example, adds a newspaper publication requirement.
Documents usually asked for
A typical list, not an Illinois checklist.
- Government-issued ID
- Business name
- Registered agent info
- Member/manager list
Related permits in Illinois
LLC Formation in states bordering Illinois
Rules stop at the state line — same permit, each state bordering Illinois:
See LLC Formation in all 50 states & DC →
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Illinois?
Illinois's formation filing fee is $150. On top of that, the recurring amount to stay in good standing is $75 per year. Expedited processing, a registered agent service and a name reservation cost extra. Some states add their own steps with their own costs.
Does Illinois charge a recurring fee for an LLC?
Yes — $75 per year. Depending on the state this recurring amount is called an annual report fee, a franchise tax, or a business privilege fee. It is the amount an LLC pays the state to stay in good standing. Confirm the amount and the due date with the office linked above; due dates commonly key off your formation date.
Who issues an LLC filing in Illinois?
Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services. The state office named at the top of this page.
What is Illinois-specific on this page: the issuing office, the two Illinois fees, every figure in the verified Illinois box, each one located on the government page it cites. Everything else — the numbered process, the document list, the cost and timeline — is the general US pattern, not an Illinois rule, and is labelled that way above. Requirements, fees and deadlines are set by the issuing office; confirm with it before you file or pay.