Home › All states › Illinois LLC
Illinois LLC formation
Start your Illinois LLC, usually filed within 1 business hour
HourLLC usually prepares and files your Illinois Articles of Organization with the Illinois Secretary of State within one business hour of a complete order (Monday to Thursday 9 AM to 5 PM and Friday 9 AM to 12 PM Eastern; orders placed after hours are usually filed by 10 AM the next business day). You pay our $99 service fee plus Illinois's $150 state filing fee and its $10 state processing fee, passed through at cost, so your total is $259. An EIN from the IRS and an operating agreement are included.
- State fee at cost, shown up front
- EIN included
- Documents by email
At a glance
Illinois LLC: fees, speed and paperwork
Once we file, approval is up to the state. Illinois is one of the slower states: typical approval for a standard online filing is 5 to 10 business days. Illinois only sells faster review in person, so there is no rush option to add for online filings.
- State filing fee (paid to the state at cost)
- $150
- State processing fee (paid to the state)
- $10
- HourLLC service fee
- $99
- Your total
- $259
- We file
- usually within 1 business hour
- Typical state approval
- 5 to 10 business days
- Filing office
- Illinois Secretary of State
- Formation document
- Articles of Organization
- Certified copy (state cost only)
- $25
- Certificate of Good Standing (state cost only)
- LLC $25 / corporation $25 / LP $25 / LLP $25
State fees and processing times as researched in October 2026 and subject to change by Illinois. We confirm your exact state fee before we file. Certified copies and Good Standing certificates are optional and charged at checkout at the state's cost with no service fee.
Official Illinois fee source: official state fee page. Fees checked October 23, 2026; the price at checkout is what the state charges us, including any card or portal fee it adds.
How it works
Forming an LLC in Illinois with HourLLC
- Pick a name. Your Illinois LLC name must include an LLC designator such as "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company" and must not already be taken. We check availability before filing; give us a backup name on the form in case your first choice is taken.
- Fill out a 3 minute form. Members, an Illinois registered agent, and your business address. Illinois filings are public records, so a business address rather than a home address is a common choice.
- Review and pay. One total: $99 plus Illinois's state fee at cost. No upsells.
- We usually file within 1 business hour. We prepare and submit your Articles of Organization to the Illinois Secretary of State. When Illinois approves it, we email your filing receipt and stamped Articles of Organization as PDFs and keep them in Documents at My account. Then we get your EIN.
After your Illinois LLC is approved
Illinois LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State each year, due before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month.
Your EIN is included: we apply to the IRS for it together with your state filing, so you can open a business bank account and file taxes under the LLC.
Almost every state requires a registered agent with a street address in the state who accepts official mail and legal papers during business hours. You can be your own registered agent if you have an Illinois address, or use a commercial registered agent.
What every HourLLC order includes
- Name availability check before filing
- Articles of Organization usually filed with the state within 1 business hour
- EIN from the IRS (federal tax ID)
- Free operating agreement
- Filing receipt and stamped, approved Articles of Organization, emailed as PDFs
- Annual report reminders, free with every LLC
Choosing an Illinois LLC formation service
Compare the all-in price, not the starting price. Ask each service: is the EIN included, is an operating agreement included, when exactly do you file, and what renews every year? With HourLLC the answer is one price ($99 plus Illinois's fee at cost), EIN and operating agreement included, usually filed within 1 business hour, and no yearly fee for the LLC itself. See a side by side comparison.
Yearly cost after your Illinois LLC is formed
Illinois LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State each year, due before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month. We send free reminders before it is due.
Rules and costs
Illinois LLC requirements
On this page: Name rules · Registered agent · EIN · Cost breakdown
Illinois LLC name rules
An Illinois LLC name must include “limited liability company”, “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. It also has to be different from names already on file with the state. The name cannot use words that another Illinois law bans or restricts (for example, banking or insurance words) unless that law allows it.
You can reserve a name before you file for $25 (good for 90 days). Most people skip this: we check the name and file right away, and you can give us a backup name.
Illinois registered agent
The registered agent must be an Illinois resident or a business authorized to do business in Illinois, with a registered office in Illinois.
On our order form you name your registered agent and their Illinois street address. It can be you, if you have a street address in Illinois, or a commercial registered agent service.
Getting an EIN for your Illinois LLC
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your LLC's federal tax ID. It comes from the IRS, not from Illinois, and the IRS does not charge for it. You need it to open a business bank account, hire employees and file business taxes. Every HourLLC order includes it: we prepare and submit the EIN application together with your state filing and send you the IRS confirmation letter.
If your LLC will sell taxable goods or services or hire employees, you may also need to register for Illinois state tax accounts. That is a separate step with the state.
Illinois LLC cost breakdown
| State filing fee (one time) | $150 |
|---|---|
| State processing fee | $10 |
| Yearly report or tax (before your anniversary month) | $75 |
| Name reservation (optional) | $25 |
| Registered agent | $0 if you serve yourself; a commercial service charges its own yearly fee |
Add our $99 service fee once, at formation. There is no yearly HourLLC fee for the LLC itself.
Checked on official Illinois sources on November 5, 2026: name rules. Rules and fees can change; we confirm them before we file.
FAQ
Illinois LLC questions, answered
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Illinois?
Illinois charges a $150 state filing fee for a new LLC, plus a $10 state processing fee. HourLLC adds a flat $99 service fee, so your total is $259. That includes your EIN and an operating agreement. The state fee is passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
How long does it take to get an LLC in Illinois?
We usually file within 1 business hour of a complete order during business hours. After that, approval is up to the Illinois Secretary of State. Typical approval for a standard online filing is 5 to 10 business days. Some filings take longer; the state sets the pace, not us.
Can I rush my Illinois LLC?
Illinois only sells faster review in person, so there is no rush option to add for online filings.
Does an Illinois LLC have to file an annual report?
Illinois LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State each year, due before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month. We send free reminders with every LLC so you do not miss it.
What is the Illinois formation document called?
In Illinois the document that creates your LLC is the Articles of Organization, filed with the Illinois Secretary of State. We prepare it from your order, file it, and email you the stamped, approved copy as a PDF.
Do I need a registered agent in Illinois?
Yes, like almost every state, Illinois requires a registered agent with a street address in the state who can accept official mail and legal papers during business hours. You can be your own registered agent if you have an Illinois address, or use a commercial registered agent and give us that address when you order.
Is the EIN really included?
Yes. The IRS issues EINs for free, and we prepare and submit the application for you together with your state filing, at no extra charge. You will usually need the EIN to open a business bank account or hire employees.
What does an Illinois LLC name need to include?
An Illinois LLC name must include "limited liability company", "L.L.C." or "LLC", and it has to be different from names already on file with the state.
Who can be a registered agent in Illinois?
The registered agent must be an Illinois resident or a business authorized to do business in Illinois, with a registered office in Illinois.
How do I get an EIN for my Illinois LLC?
An EIN is a free federal tax ID from the IRS. Every HourLLC order includes it: we prepare and submit the EIN application together with your Illinois state filing and send you the IRS confirmation letter.
Other states
Forming an LLC somewhere else?
We file in all 50 states and DC at the same $99 service fee. Each state sets its own filing fee and speed.
Nearby states
Sources checked October 2026: Illinois filing requirements