Register your Illinois LLC Online
Complete the form below in 2–3 minutes. Your LLC and EIN come at no extra cost — you only pay Illinois’s own $153.38 state fee.
- Enter your desired LLC name
- Choose your state
- Receive your LLC and free EIN by email
Trusted by Thousands Nationwide
What is an LLC in Illinois?
Before you file anything, Illinois asks what kind of company you're forming. Most people choose an LLC because it keeps the business separate from your personal name and lets you add or remove owners later without starting over.
That separation goes further than the name. If the business owes money or gets sued, your house, car, and personal bank accounts are generally off-limits — as long as you run the LLC properly. It doesn't protect you from something you personally did wrong.
A sole proprietorship skips all of that — you're doing business under your own name or a DBA. That's fine if it'll only ever be you. The moment you want to bring on a partner, sell the business, or have it read as a real company instead of a side gig, that's the moment an LLC earns its keep.
A corporation does the same separation an LLC does, but it's built for a different job: issuing stock and bringing in outside investors. Illinois charges the exact same $153.38 to file either one — the choice comes down to how you want to run it, not what it costs to start.
Benefits of an LLC in Illinois
- Add partners or co-owners whenever you're ready
- Transfer ownership if you sell the business
- “Illinois Company, LLC” shows you’re a real business
- Shows you’re registered (Illinois Secretary of State)
- Get a matching domain like IllinoisCompanyLLC.com
- Simpler upkeep than forming a corporation
What's different about an Illinois LLC
Illinois currently approves online filings in about 10 business days. Need it faster? $100 on top of the base fee buys 24-hour service — online or in person only; it's never available by mail.
Illinois's corporate franchise tax has never applied to LLCs at all — that's a corporation-only cost. Illinois also doesn't require a newspaper notice to form the LLC.
Cost to start an LLC in Illinois
$153.38 to the Illinois Secretary of State — that's it. We don't charge a filing fee on top of it. An Illinois corporation runs $153.38 through the same process — the identical amount, since Illinois charges both entity types the same flat fee.
| What you get |  | Others |
|---|---|---|
| EIN (Tax ID) | Free | up to $99 |
| Registered agent | Freefirst year | up to $249per year |
| Name check | Free | usually free |
| Illinois state filing feespaid to the state — same for everyone | $153.38 | $153.38 |
Free EIN with your Illinois LLC
Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) is what opens a business bank account and identifies your company to the IRS — it's like a Social Security Number for your LLC. It's included at no extra cost, right alongside your LLC.
LLC vs Corporation in Illinois
An LLC is simpler to run and easier to keep up every year. A corporation (sometimes taxed as an S corp or a C corp) is built for a company that plans to issue stock or bring in investors — more paperwork, more formality, and a board structure most new businesses don't need yet. If that's not your situation, an LLC does the job. You can always change how it's taxed later without changing the company itself.
What is a Sole Proprietor in Illinois?
A sole proprietorship is the default if you do nothing — there's no filing, no fee, and everything is tied to your own name. It works fine for testing an idea. The trade-off: you can't add a partner or a co-owner to it, and if you ever want to sell the business or bring someone else on, you'll need to become an LLC anyway. Most people who are serious about the business start with the LLC and skip the switch later.
File a DBA Under Your LLC
A DBA (Doing Business As) lets one LLC operate under more than one business name.
A DBA isn't required if you're fine using your LLC's own name.
Example: Illinois Company, LLC dba Illinois Auto Brokers.
DBA vs LLC in Illinois
A DBA only gives you another name to use. The LLC is the actual business entity that owns the DBA name and holds all legal rights.
Common Questions
Why start an LLC in Illinois?
It separates the business from your own name, lets you add or remove owners as the business grows, and reads as a real, established company — to customers, banks, and anyone you do business with.
Does an Illinois LLC pay franchise tax?
No. Illinois's franchise tax has only ever applied to corporations, never to LLCs. An Illinois LLC's only ongoing state cost is the $75 annual report.
How long does it take to get an Illinois LLC?
Filing takes a few minutes on this page. Illinois currently approves online filings in about 10 business days; a paid 24-hour option exists for faster service.
Do I need an EIN for my Illinois LLC?
Yes, for a business bank account and for the IRS to recognize your company. It's included free when you file here.
What's a registered agent, and do I need one?
A registered agent is the Illinois address the state sends legal mail to. Every LLC needs one, and it's included free for your first year when you file here.
Do I need an operating agreement?
Illinois doesn't require one to file, but a bank often asks for one to open your business account. You can add it when you file, or write your own later.
Still deciding on a name?
Try the free name generator — type a word you like, get real available options back, then come straight here to file.
Page updates (1)
- January 1, 2025 — Illinois raised its corporate franchise tax exemption to $10,000, zeroing out the tax for most small corporations (this never applied to LLCs). 805 ILCS 5/15.35 →
Sources (5)
Every fact on this page was checked directly against Illinois's own filing agency and statutes — verified September 20, 2026.
- Illinois Secretary of State — Forming an LLC Online — the $150 filing fee, $100 expedite fee, 10-day processing
- Illinois Secretary of State — LLC Fee Schedule — the $75 annual report fee
- 805 ILCS 180/50-15 — the $100 late penalty, compounding by year
- 805 ILCS 5/15.35 — confirms franchise tax applies only to corporations, never LLCs
- Illinois Secretary of State — LLC e-filing portal