Start Your LLC in Illinois

Select your filing state to get started:

Is this your first time forming an LLC?

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Have you started doing business?

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How It Works

How it works:

1.Choose your state of formation
2.Fill out the online application
3.Pay state fees
4.Receive your formation documents

The Process of LLC Application

The LLC has been the most popular small-business structure in Illinois for years, and the reason is pretty straightforward. It gives you legal liability protection without forcing you into the formality of a corporation. You can run the business loosely, taxes flow through to your personal return by default, and you still get the legal wall between your personal assets and the company.

Forming one in Illinois is an administrative process, not a legal proceeding. You file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5) with Illinois Secretary of State, you list a registered agent with a real Illinois address, and you cover the state filing fee. From there, the agency processes the filing on its standard timeline. We handle that whole sequence for you when you complete our online application.

After the state approves your formation, you can apply for an EIN, open a business bank account, sign your Operating Agreement, and get any licenses your industry requires. Illinois also has its own ongoing compliance rules that you'll want on your calendar from day one.

Illinois LLC FAQs

Get answers to common questions about LLC formation

An LLC, or Limited Liability Company, is a business structure that separates you personally from your business. Owners are called members, and an LLC can have one member or many. Most small business owners pick it because it's simpler to run than a corporation while still giving you legal separation between you and the business.

The main reason people form an LLC is liability protection. If your business runs into debt or gets sued, your personal assets, including your home, savings, and car, are generally separate from the business. Only what's inside the LLC is on the line. The protection isn't bulletproof (you still have to keep business and personal finances separate and file properly), but it's a meaningful legal wall you don't get as a sole proprietor.

By default, an LLC is taxed as a pass-through entity. The business itself doesn't pay federal income tax. Profits and losses pass through to the members and show up on their personal returns, which avoids the double taxation a C-corp can face. LLCs can also elect S-corporation tax treatment if it fits the owners' situation. Talk to your tax advisor about which option works best for you.

Your total depends on Illinois's state filing fee plus the processing speed you choose. Before you pay, you'll see the full breakdown of state fee, our service, and any add-ons you select, so there are no surprise charges.

The core of the process is the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5) submitted to Illinois Secretary of State. You'll need a unique business name, a registered agent with a Illinois street address, and your business details. We collect everything we need through one online form and file it with the state on your behalf.

You'll spend about 5 to 10 minutes filling out our online form. We file with Illinois Secretary of State the same business day, usually within hours of your order. From there, the timeline is on the state's clock, and Illinois's processing time can vary depending on their current workload.

Yes, every Illinois LLC needs one. The registered agent must have a physical street address inside Illinois (P.O. boxes don't qualify), and that address can't be the same as your LLC's principal business address. The agent has to be available during normal business hours to accept legal mail. We can be your registered agent if you don't have a qualifying address.

Living in Illinois isn't a requirement. You can form a Illinois LLC from anywhere. What matters is that your LLC has a registered agent with a physical address inside Illinois. We can fill that role for owners who don't have one.

Once Illinois approves your filing, you'll receive a filed copy of your Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5), the official record that your LLC exists. You can also have us file your EIN with the IRS at the same time, so you're ready to open a business bank account as soon as your filing is approved.

Illinois requires LLCs to file an annual report before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month each year; the report can be filed up to 60 days early and is not required in the year of formation. We can handle that filing for you so it doesn't slip through the cracks. We'll remind you when it's due and submit it on your behalf.

Illinois doesn't legally require one, but every LLC should have an Operating Agreement. It defines ownership percentages, profit splits, management, and what happens when members leave or join. Most banks will ask for it when you open a business account. We offer a Illinois-tailored Operating Agreement that covers all of this. You can add it to your filing.

There's a short list of things most new owners handle next. You'll likely want an EIN from the IRS so you can open a business bank account and hire employees. Some banks ask for a certified copy of your Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5), which is different from the standard filed copy you'll receive from the state. The federal Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report isn't required right now, but the rule keeps changing, and we can file it on your behalf now if you'd rather get it out of the way. Every year, Illinois requires an annual report to keep your LLC in good standing. We can help with all of these.

FormationHub provides document preparation and filing services for business formations. We are not a law firm, accounting firm, or government agency, and we do not offer legal, tax, or financial advice. The information on this site is for general informational purposes only. Our service handles the preparation and submission of your LLC formation documents to the appropriate state authority on your behalf. FormationHub operates independently and is not endorsed by, affiliated with, or connected to any Secretary of State office or government body. We strongly recommend consulting a qualified attorney or tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.