Fee to file with the state
$150
From ilsos.gov, October 2026
LLC cost guide · Illinois
Starting an LLC in Illinois (2026): Official Costs and the 3 Best Services
For forming an LLC in Illinois in 2026, we recommend IL Registered Agent.org ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and Illinois Registered Agent.co ($199), in that order. Filing in Illinois costs $150, and the Limited Liability Company Annual Report adds $75 every year. Over three years that puts the state 33rd of 50.
Illinois: the figures
33rd
out of 50 states, measured over three years of state fees
Rank 1 charges the least, level with other states. Compare the other states
Limited Liability Company Annual Report
$75 / yr
The state sets the deadline as before the first day of the entity's anniversary month. From ilsos.gov, October 2026
Late-report charge
$100
From ilsos.gov, October 2026
State charges, years one to three
$300
The year-one filing together with years two and three
The Illinois picks
How the order came about: three-year service charges first, then coverage, renewal, Illinois fit and fee labeling (methodology).
1. IL Registered Agent.org: best for owners who never leave Illinois
$199 plus fees, then $99 each year
IL Registered Agent.org is our first choice because $199 to form in Illinois, agent service paid for in year one, then $99 yearly.
The three-year service bill is smaller than Mainstay Filing's, which is our heaviest criterion.
You, not the service, file the Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year.
What the price buys
- Articles drawn up and submitted
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- A $99 renewal
- The first agent year is already paid for
- $199 to form
Against it
- The owner keeps the Limited Liability Company Annual Report
- Charges $99 for the EIN application
2. Mainstay Filing: best for one bill for forming and keeping the LLC
$199 yearly, plus the state fee ($349 charged at checkout)
Our second pick, Mainstay Filing, earns its place since the Illinois formation, a registered agent and the annual report are all inside a $199 yearly price.
That $200 difference against IL Registered Agent.org across three years is what keeps it from first place.
The Limited Liability Company Annual Report is filed by Mainstay, with Illinois's $75 charge passed through unmarked.
What the price buys
- Your formation is prepared and filed
- Registered agent duties covered all year
- Your annual report is prepared and sent in
- Your EIN application goes in with the rest
- State charges come through at cost
In its favor
- Files the EIN application for you
- An all-in $199 a year
- Holds at $199 on renewal
Against it
- $100 a year more than IL Registered Agent.org's agent renewal
3. Illinois Registered Agent.co: best for a smaller agent renewal
$199 plus fees, then $99 each year
In third place we have Illinois Registered Agent.co, because $199 to form in Illinois, agent service paid for in year one, then $99 yearly.
You, not the service, file the Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year.
IL Registered Agent.org charges the same.
What the price buys
- Articles drawn up and submitted
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- A $99 renewal
- The first agent year is already paid for
- $199 to form
Against it
- The owner keeps the Limited Liability Company Annual Report
- Charges $99 for the EIN application
The 3 picks at a glance
| No. | Service | First-year fee | From year two | Service charges, three years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IL Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit IL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Illinois Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Illinois Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
We took these prices from the companies' sites on November 12, 2026. The state's $150 is not counted in the table.
State and service charges, by year
Pick a number of years and a service. The state portion follows the official schedule: $150 to form, then the Limited Liability Company Annual Report from year two.
Illinois next to the states ranked around it
| Place | State | Three-year state fees |
|---|---|---|
| 31st | South Dakota | $260 |
| 32nd | Connecticut | $280 |
| 33rd | Illinois | $300 |
| 33rd | New Hampshire | $300 |
| 33rd | Oregon | $300 |
LLC costs by state lists every state, least expensive first.
What Illinois charges to file in 2026
To create the LLC, submit the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5) to the Illinois Secretary of State along with a $150 payment (805 ILCS 180/5-5). It is billed at cost by every service below.
Illinois Limited Liability Company Annual Report: fee, deadline and late charge
Set aside $75 for the Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year; it must arrive before the first day of the entity's anniversary month. Missing the date adds $100.
Why IL Registered Agent.org is first
Of our five criteria, three-year service charge (34%) is what put IL Registered Agent.org above Mainstay Filing in Illinois.
IL Registered Agent.org's three-year total is $397, $200 beneath Mainstay Filing.
Illinois FAQ
How much does the state charge to start an LLC in Illinois?
Official filing fee: $150. Hiring a service adds $199.
What fee goes with the Illinois Limited Liability Company Annual Report?
$75 every year, filed before the first day of the entity's anniversary month. A late filing adds $100.
Where does Illinois stand on LLC fees?
Illinois is 33rd of 50 for three-year state fees, tied with other states, at $300; the smallest bill ranks first.
Does Illinois require a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which LLC services are recommended on this page?
IL Registered Agent.org ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and Illinois Registered Agent.co ($199), with the best one first.
Which service should file my LLC?
IL Registered Agent.org, Mainstay Filing and Illinois Registered Agent.co, in that sequence.
Sources for this chapter
- For Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, see ilsos.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, see ilsos.gov (opened August 2026)
- For 805 ILCS 180/5-5, see ilga.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see ilga.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see ilsos.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Illinois registered agent statute, see ilga.gov (opened October 2026)
- For SDCL 47-34A-203, see sdlegislature.gov (opened August 2026)
- For South Dakota formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see sdsos.gov (opened October 2026)
- For South Dakota formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see sdlegislature.gov (opened October 2026)
- For South Dakota Secretary of State, Business Services /, see sdsos.gov (opened August 2026)
- For South Dakota Secretary of State, Business Services /, see sosenterprise.sd.gov (opened August 2026)
- For South Dakota yearly filing: Annual report: fee and, see sdlegislature.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Conn, see cga.ct.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Connecticut formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see business.ct.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Connecticut formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see business.ct.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services Division, see business.ct.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services Division, see business.ct.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Connecticut yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source, see business.ct.gov (opened October 2026)
- For N.H, see gc.nh.gov (opened August 2026)
- For New Hampshire formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see sos.nh.gov (opened October 2026)
- For New Hampshire formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see gc.nh.gov (opened October 2026)
- For New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporations Division, see sos.nh.gov (opened August 2026)
- For ORS 63.044 and ORS 63.047, see oregonlegislature.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Oregon formation fee: Filing fee, official source, see sos.oregon.gov (opened October 2026)
- For Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division, see sos.oregon.gov (opened August 2026)
- For Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division, see sos.oregon.gov (opened August 2026)
- IL Registered Agent.org lists its pricing page; we copied it November 12, 2026
- Mainstay Filing lists its Illinois service page; we copied it November 12, 2026
- Illinois Registered Agent.co lists its pricing page; we copied it November 12, 2026