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Corporate compliance · Corporation · All 50 states

Start a C Corp, filed for you.

Raising money or issuing stock? Our filing partner checks your name and files your Articles of Incorporation in any of the 50 states. $195 (regular $295, limited time) includes your EIN, bylaws and your first year of registered agent service.

★ 4.8 ratingBBB A+ ratedHelping entrepreneurs since 2015Filing in all 50 states
Start my corporationSee what is included
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Lobi Space is not a law firm and does not give legal advice; we prepare and file documents at your direction.

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The corporation package includes

Name check · Articles of Incorporation filed · EIN · Bylaws · First year of registered agent

What is a C Corp?

A C corporation is a company owned by shareholders and run by a board of directors. It is taxed on its own profits, and shareholders pay tax again on dividends they receive.

See How to Form a Corporation in Illinois: What the Articles of Incorporation Actually Ask.

Most small businesses start as an LLC because the paperwork is lighter. A corporation makes sense when you plan to raise money from outside investors or issue stock. If you are unsure, tell us your plan and we will walk you through it.

C Corp, LLC or S Corp at a glance
C CorpLLCS Corp
What it isA corporation, taxed on its ownA business you register with the stateA federal tax election, not an entity type
TaxesCorporate tax on profits, then tax on dividendsProfits pass straight to your tax returnProfits pass through; owners who work take a salary
OwnersShareholders, with room for outside investorsMembersUp to 100 shareholders, US citizens or residents, one class of stock
How you get itFile Articles of IncorporationFile Articles of OrganizationForm an LLC or corporation, then file Form 2553

One Launch package. Simple, like it should be.

Same package for a corporation, with bylaws instead of an operating agreement. State fees vary by state, including any initial franchise tax. Our fee doesn't change.
Launch package
Limited time · Save $100

$195$295one fee

State fees vary by state. Our fee doesn't change.

Start my corporationLobi Guarantee. If we get something wrong, we fix it at our cost.Not sure what you need? Build Your Plan
  • Registered agent renews at $125 a year
  • No SSN or ITIN? The EIN is $100 more
  • LLC or corporation, same price

Included

  • State filing for your LLC or corporation
  • EIN, your federal tax ID
  • Operating agreement or bylaws
  • 1 year of registered agent service
  • Compliance tracking and annual report reminders
  • State notice monitoring, scanned the same day
  • Your portal to view every document
  • Customer service from a real team
  • Free fillable business document hub

Add what you need

Optional. Add one at checkout or any time after.

Business mailbox

Illinois only

$30/mo + $95 setup

A real street address for your business mail.

  • Mail scanned to your portal
  • Keeps your home address off your business mail
  • Our staffed Chicago office, with a PMB and pickup

Only in Illinois for now.

Get a business mailbox →

Virtual office

Illinois only

From $50/mo + $95 setup

A Chicago business address you can register your company with, plus a place to meet.

  • Signed agreement for your business address
  • Mail handling and your name on the building directory
  • Meeting rooms and member access on Pro and Premium
Starter $50/mo
Address agreement and directory listing
Pro $75/mo
Adds meeting room time and unlimited scans
Premium $150/mo
Adds package receiving and more room hours

Only in Illinois for now.

Get a virtual office →

Forming outside Illinois? Our filing partner files there too, for $195 (regular $295, limited time) plus state fees. Our national registered agent partner is your agent there. Our mailbox and virtual office plans are Illinois only for now.

Want the full list? See what Launch includes, or see every filing service and price.

All 50 states

Form your LLC or corporation in any of the 50 states.

Our filing partner files in every state, at the same clear price. Your registered agent is us in Illinois and our national partner everywhere else. State fees are passed through at cost and confirmed before filing.

Weighing privacy? Anonymous LLC in 2026: What Changed When FinCEN Dropped BOI Reporting.

Step by step

How to start a C Corp in 5 steps

  1. 01

    Choose a name and run a name search

    Your name must be unique in the state where you file. We check it with the state before filing.

  2. 02

    Appoint a registered agent

    Every state requires an agent with a street address in that state. In Illinois, we can be that agent from our Chicago office.

  3. 03

    File Articles of Incorporation

    They go to the state's business filing office. Our filing partner files them as soon as your details are complete.

  4. 04

    Adopt bylaws and set up the board

    Bylaws set how your corporation runs. The Launch package includes your corporate bylaws.

  5. 05

    Get an EIN and open a bank account

    The IRS issues your EIN for free, and the Launch package includes it. With it and your stamped Articles, you can open a business bank account.

Costs

What a corporation costs

What you pay once, what repeats, and what is optional. State fees are shown and charged at checkout.

The franchise tax repeats every year with your annual report: The Illinois Annual Report: Deadlines, Fees, and the Franchise Tax Nobody Explains.

ItemCostHow often
Lobi filing service$195One time
State filing feePassed through at cost. Illinois: $175, including the minimum initial franchise taxOne time
Expedited processingExtra state fee, where offeredOptional
Annual report and franchise taxSet by your stateEvery year
Registered agentFirst year included, then $125 a year per entity, per stateEvery year

FAQ

C Corp questions, answered

Read more on the Lobi Space blog or talk to our Chicago team.

Follow @lobispace

How much does it cost to form a corporation?

One package, Launch, $195 (regular $295, limited time), one time. An EIN without an SSN or ITIN is $100 more. State filing fees are separate and passed through at cost. They are shown and charged at checkout, plus 3% card processing on the state fee. In Illinois the state charges $175 for a corporation, including the minimum initial franchise tax.

Which states do you file in?

All 50, at the same price. Our filing partner files in every state as soon as your details are complete. Questions go to our Chicago team.

Should I form an LLC or a corporation?

Most small businesses start as an LLC because the paperwork is lighter and the profits pass straight to your tax return. A corporation makes sense when you plan to raise money from outside investors or issue stock. We file both. If you are unsure, tell us your plan and we will walk you through it.

Can my corporation be taxed as an S Corp?

Yes, if it qualifies. S Corp is a tax election, not an entity type. We can prepare Form 2553 so the IRS treats your corporation as an S Corp. Ask your accountant whether it is worth it at your income level.

What is included for a corporation?

The filing with a name check, your EIN, corporate bylaws, annual report reminders, and state notices scanned to your portal. The registered agent's first year is included, then $125 a year. In Illinois that is us; elsewhere, our national registered agent partner.

Do I need a registered agent?

Every state requires one with a street address in that state. It does not have to be us. Our registered agent service is $95 for the first year (limited time, regular $125), then $125 a year, per entity, per state, and the Launch package includes the first year. In states other than Illinois, a trusted Lobi Space partner serves as your registered agent.

What happens if my business name is taken?

We check availability with the state before anything is filed. If your first choice is taken, we use the second name you gave us or come back to you with options. Nothing gets filed under a name you did not approve.

How do I incorporate in Chicago?

Incorporating in Chicago means incorporating in Illinois: the Secretary of State files the Articles of Incorporation ($175, including the minimum initial franchise tax), then the corporation files an annual report each year. After the state filing, most trades need a City of Chicago business license, and the city asks for a business address. Our Chicago office files the state side and can be that address.

Should I incorporate in Chicago or in Delaware?

If the business operates in Illinois and is not raising venture money, incorporate in Illinois. A Delaware corporation that works in Chicago still has to register in Illinois as a foreign corporation, pay both states and keep two registered agents. Delaware makes sense when investors require it.

What does a corporation cost each year in Illinois?

The Illinois annual report is $75 plus franchise tax on paid-in capital, with a $100 penalty if it is late. Add the registered agent renewal and the city business license renewal. We send the reminders and can file the report for you.

Is Lobi Space a law firm?

No. Lobi Space is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We prepare and file documents at your direction.

We are not attorneys

Lobi Space is not a law firm, and no one on our staff, including our notary public, is an attorney licensed to practice law in Illinois. We prepare and file formation documents only at your direction, using the information you give us. We cannot give legal or tax advice, tell you which entity type to choose, or review your situation the way a lawyer would. For those decisions, talk to an Illinois attorney or a CPA.

Notice from our notary public (Illinois law, 5 ILCS 312/3-103)

I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN ILLINOIS. I AM NOT ALLOWED TO DRAFT LEGAL DOCUMENTS OR RECORDS, NOR MAY I GIVE LEGAL ADVICE ON ANY MATTER, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, MATTERS OF IMMIGRATION, OR ACCEPT OR CHARGE FEES FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.

Guides

Read before you incorporate.

Plain guides on forming a corporation and keeping it current. All guides
A handshake over signed papers, with the key points: What the articles ask; A tax decision too; The two clocks.Registered Agent

How to Form a Corporation in Illinois: What the Articles of Incorporation Actually Ask

Filing articles of incorporation in Illinois takes about twenty minutes. The form asks eight things, and one is a tax decision disguised as a paperwork question.

Sep 2026Read articleA furnished private office at Lobi Space, with the key points: Your anniversary month; Computed to the dollar; What reinstatement costs.Registered Agent

The Illinois Annual Report: Deadlines, Fees, and the Franchise Tax Nobody Explains

Plenty of Illinois companies killed by the Secretary of State were not failing. One report went unfiled, a notice went to an address nobody checks, and months later the state dissolved them. The filing costs $75.

Sep 2026Read articleA business handshake, with the key points: Why required: The state must reach you; Being served: What it looks like; The cost: What it should run.Registered Agent

Registered Agent Service: What It Is and Who Needs One

Every LLC needs one. Here is what a registered agent actually does, what it costs, and why using your home address is a bad trade.

Dec 2025Read article
Two business partners shaking hands over a signed agreement on a round office table

Start your corporation with a person, not a form.

$195 plus the state filing fee. Your EIN, bylaws and first year of registered agent service are included.

Start my corporation See filing prices

Lobi Space is not a law firm and does not give legal advice; we prepare and file documents at your direction.

Home base for your Chicago business.

Address, mail, filing and space in one staffed building. Talk to a person or build your plan in a minute.

Build Your Plan(312) 248-7020