Form a Illinois LLC with StartGlobal
$399 state fee included
EIN, operating agreement and first-year agent service included. Nothing else to buy.
Illinois LLC costs at a glance
| Cost | When | Applies in Illinois | With StartGlobal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization filing fee | Once, to form | Yes | Included in $399 |
| Registered agent | Every year | Yes, or be your own | Year one included, then $99/yr |
| Annual Report | Every year | Yes | Optional filing service, $299/yr |
| State tax or yearly charge | See below | Yes, see below | Paid to the state |
| EIN | Once | For a bank account or staff | Included in $399 |
| Operating agreement | Once | Recommended | Included in $399 |
| Local business licences | Varies | Depends on city, county and trade | Paid to the issuer |
Forming the LLC
Illinois LLCs are formed by filing a Articles of Organization with the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, which accepts filings online. The state charges a one-time fee to accept it; the fee is the same whether you file yourself or use a service, and StartGlobal includes it in the $399.
Keeping it active
Illinois LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month each year (the month it was formed).
Illinois follows the federal classification: an LLC taxed as a partnership files Form IL-1065 and pays Personal Property Replacement Income Tax on its Illinois net income; an LLC taxed as a corporation files IL-1120 (or IL-1120-ST for an S corporation); a single-member disregarded LLC has no separate Illinois return
You also need a registered agent in Illinois every year. Ours is included for the first year and $99 a year after; you can act as your own if you have a Illinois address and are there in business hours.
- A late filing penalty applies when the Annual Report is not filed before the first day of the anniversary month.
- An LLC providing services licensed by IDFPR must use "Professional Limited Liability Company", "PLLC" or "P.L.L.C." instead.
What a "$0" Illinois LLC costs over three years
Formation, a registered agent every year and an EIN, at each provider's published prices. The Illinois filing fee is added on top of theirs and included in ours.
| Three years | |
|---|---|
| ZenBusiness Starter Registered agent is a $199/yr add-on from day one. | $696 + Illinois filing fee |
| LegalZoom Basic Registered agent is $249/yr. | $826 + Illinois filing fee |
| Bizee Basic Registered agent free for year one, then $149/yr. | $368 + Illinois filing fee |
| StartGlobal State fee, first-year agent and EIN included. Agent $99/yr after. | $597, all in |
Over three years our price is lower than ZenBusiness or LegalZoom in every state. Bizee's first agent year is free, which can make it cheaper depending on the state fee. Filing yourself costs only the state fee.
Sources
Related
Frequently asked questions
How much does an LLC cost in Illinois?
Illinois charges a one-time fee to file the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399 with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. After that: Illinois LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month each year (the month it was formed).
What are the yearly costs of a Illinois LLC?
Illinois LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month each year (the month it was formed). Illinois follows the federal classification: an LLC taxed as a partnership files Form IL-1065 and pays Personal Property Replacement Income Tax on its Illinois net income; an LLC taxed as a corporation files IL-1120 (or IL-1120-ST for an S corporation); a single-member disregarded LLC has no separate Illinois return You also need a registered agent in Illinois every year, unless you act as your own.
Is there a cheaper way to form a Illinois LLC?
Yes: file the Articles of Organization yourself with the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, act as your own registered agent and get your EIN from the IRS for free. It costs only the state fee and your time.
Does a $0 LLC service cost nothing in Illinois?
No. The Illinois filing fee is charged on top of a "$0" formation, and registered agent service and the EIN are usually add-ons. Over three years our $399 all-in is lower than ZenBusiness or LegalZoom at their published prices.
