LLC Startup Cost › Illinois
Illinois LLC startup cost (2026)
Starting a Illinois LLC costs $150 to file. With Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, the first-year total is $349, with the agent, EIN application and report filing included. The first report later costs $75.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
Illinois budget, line by line
| Line | What it is | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee | Articles of Organization (LLC-5.5), Illinois Secretary of State | $150 |
| Registered agent | Required; the company cannot be its own agent | $149 with Mainstay Filing |
| EIN | Issued by the IRS online | $0 |
| State total | Filing fee plus quantified extras | $150 |
| With Mainstay Filing | State total plus the first-year price (agent, EIN application, report filing) | $349 |
Mainstay Filing
Our rating: 4.9 out of 5
$199 / year, same at renewal
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
Questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Illinois?
The state filing fee is $150. With Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, the first-year total is $349.
Does Illinois charge anything besides the filing fee?
Not in the sources we checked. The first Limited Liability Company Annual Report is a later cost: $75.
Can I be my own registered agent in Illinois?
An Illinois resident, or a business authorized to do business in Illinois. The LLC cannot act as its own agent.
Sources
- 805 ILCS 180/5-5 (articles of organization); 805 ILCS 180/5-1 (filing with Secretary of State) (multira state research spine): www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=080501800K5-5, checked August 12, 2026
- Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=080501800K50-10, checked October 1, 2026
- Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: www.ilsos.gov/publications/business-services/llc.html, checked October 1, 2026
- Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, Limited Liability Division (multira state research spine): www.ilsos.gov/departments/business-services/annual-reports/llc-instructions.html, checked August 12, 2026
- Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, Limited Liability Division (multira state research spine): www.ilsos.gov/departments/business-services/annual-reports.html, checked August 12, 2026
- Illinois registered agent statute (805 ILCS 180/1-35): www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=080501800K1-35, checked October 20, 2026
- Illinois Secretary of State: www.ilsos.gov/, checked October 20, 2026
- IRS: Get an employer identification number: www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number, checked October 21, 2026