Foreign registration charge
$150
ilsos.gov (October 2026)
Foreign LLC guide · Illinois
Registering an Out-of-State LLC in Illinois (2026): Fees and the 3 Best Services
For registering a foreign LLC in Illinois in 2026, we recommend Mainstay Filing ($199), Illinois Registered Agent.co ($199) and IL Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. Illinois charges $150 for an out-of-state LLC to register, then $75 per yearly report. That is number 28th of 50.
Illinois state charges at a glance
28th
of 50 by what a foreign LLC pays the state
Rank 1 charges the least (equal totals). Fifty states in one table
Report, per cycle
$75
Annual report
Home-state certificate
60 days
The oldest a certificate may be
State charges, years one to three
$300
Only the state's charges across three years
Illinois: our recommendations
The order follows five published criteria. They are set out on the methodology page.
1. Mainstay Filing: best for an identical price in every state
$199 plus the state fee; the agent is $149 a year from year two
Mainstay Filing takes the top place, as $199 plus Illinois's own fee, then the agent at $149 a year from year two.
You pay $100 more than at Illinois Registered Agent.co across three years and, in return, more filings are done for you.
Once the first year is over, the agent costs $149 per year.
What the price buys
- Your registration is prepared and filed
- No charge for the registered agent in the first year
- Serves all fifty states
In its favor
- Works for your next state too
- No agent fee in year one
- $199 to register
Against it
- A renewal $50 higher than Illinois Registered Agent.co's
2. Illinois Registered Agent.co: best for a low yearly agent fee
$199 plus the state fee; the agent is $99 a year from year two
Illinois Registered Agent.co follows: $199 over the state fee to register, then $99 yearly.
What the price buys
- The foreign registration filing
- A year of agent service
In its favor
- A $199 service fee
- A $99 renewal
- You do not pay an agent fee during year one
Against it
- Single-state service
3. IL Registered Agent.org: best for a second Illinois choice
$199 plus the state fee; the agent is $99 a year from year two
IL Registered Agent.org follows: $199 over the state fee to register, then $99 yearly.
Price for price, it equals Illinois Registered Agent.co.
What the price buys
- The foreign registration filing
- A year of agent service
In its favor
- You do not pay an agent fee during year one
- A $99 renewal
- A $199 service fee
Against it
- Single-state service
The 3 picks at a glance
| No. | Service | First-year fee | From year two | Service charges, three years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Illinois Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Illinois Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | IL Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit IL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Every price was copied from its company's page on November 12, 2026. The state's $150 is not counted in the table.
Foreign LLC calculator
The registration fee is $150, with the $75 report from year two; the service's prices are added to it.
Illinois next to the states ranked around it
| Place | State | Three-year foreign LLC fees |
|---|---|---|
| 26th | Wyoming | $270 |
| 27th | Connecticut | $280 |
| 28th | Illinois | $300 |
| 28th | New Hampshire | $300 |
| 30th | Washington | $320 |
Foreign LLC fees by state lists every state, least expensive first.
How a foreign LLC registers in Illinois (2026)
The Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, Limited Liability Division accepts the Application for Admission to Transact Business (Form LLC-45.5) from foreign LLCs for $150. Attach certificate of Good Standing or Existence, not older than 60 days.
Then, each cycle, it files the annual report ($75), within the 60 days before your anniversary month.
Checklist
- Certificate of Good Standing or Existence, dated within 60 days.
- The home-state legal name and the date of formation.
- A registered agent within the state (included with every pick).
- A budget for the $150 filing fee.
The cost of not registering
An LLC that wants to sue in the state has to register first (805 ILCS 180/45-45(a)). Contracts it has already signed still stand (805 ILCS 180/45-45(b)). Back fees for the period before registering are added.
The reasoning behind the order
Mainstay Filing won by scoring higher on paperwork the price takes on, worth 26%, with Illinois Registered Agent.co close behind.
The company already has a home state; covering it and Illinois with one provider scored highest.
Frequently asked questions
What fee does a foreign LLC pay to register with Illinois?
$150 at the state office. Hiring one adds $199.
Which form does Illinois use to register a foreign LLC?
Application for Admission to Transact Business (Form LLC-45.5), submitted to the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, Limited Liability Division.
Does the home state have to issue a certificate?
Yes. certificate of Good Standing or Existence; it has to be dated within 60 days of the filing.
Does a foreign LLC owe anything every year?
Yes, the annual report, at $75.
What are the consequences of operating there without registering?
An LLC that wants to sue in the state has to register first (805 ILCS 180/45-45(a)). Contracts it has already signed still stand (805 ILCS 180/45-45(b)). Back fees for the period before registering are added.
Does Illinois require a registered agent of a foreign LLC?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Who should register my foreign LLC?
We would pick Mainstay Filing (registration costs $199 plus state fees, and the registered agent is free for the first year), followed by Illinois Registered Agent.co and IL Registered Agent.org.
Sources for this chapter
- Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services: ilsos.gov, with the page last opened August 2026.
- Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services: ilsos.gov, with the page last opened August 2026.
- 805 ILCS 180/5-5: ilga.gov, with the page last opened August 2026.
- Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, official source: ilga.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, official source: ilsos.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Illinois registered agent statute: ilga.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Form LLC-45.5, Application for Admission: ilsos.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Form LLC-45.40, Application for Withdrawal: ilsos.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- 805 ILCS 180/45-45, consequences of transacting business without: ilga.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- 805 ILCS 180/45-47, activities that are not transacting: ilga.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- 805 ILCS 180/45-45: ilga.gov, with the page last opened November 2026.
- Wyoming Secretary of State, foreign LLC application for: sos.wyo.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Wyoming Secretary of State, fee schedule: sos.wyo.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Wyoming Secretary of State, business FAQ: sos.wyo.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Certificate of Withdrawal, foreign LLC: sos.wyo.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Wyoming Statutes, Title 17: wyoleg.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Foreign LLC forms and fees, Business.CT.gov: business.ct.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Foreign Registration Statement form: business.ct.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Connecticut General Statutes, chapter 613a: cga.ct.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Foreign investigations penalties: business.ct.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Who can be an agent: business.ct.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Foreign annual report forms and fees: business.ct.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- New Hampshire Secretary of State, LLC forms and: sos.nh.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Form FLLC-1: sos.nh.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- RSA 304-C:174, activities that do not count: gc.nh.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- RSA 304-C:175, registration: gc.nh.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- RSA 304-C:191, fees: gc.nh.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Washington SOS, register a foreign LLC online: sos.wa.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Washington SOS, fee schedules and priority services: sos.wa.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- RCW 23.95.520, activities that are not doing business: app.leg.wa.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- RCW 23.95.505, consequences of not registering: app.leg.wa.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- RCW 23.95.510, foreign registration statement: app.leg.wa.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Washington SOS, registered agents: sos.wa.gov, with the page last opened October 2026.
- Mainstay Filing, Illinois service page: copied from the company site November 12, 2026
- Illinois Registered Agent.co, pricing page: copied from the company site November 12, 2026
- IL Registered Agent.org, pricing page: copied from the company site November 12, 2026