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Start an LLC in Illinois

Illinois LLC formation, filed for you from Chicago

You have the idea. The state wants paperwork. We handle the paperwork, serve as your registered agent and give you a real Chicago address, so the only thing left to do is the work you actually started this for.

★ 4.8 ratingBBB A+ ratedHelping entrepreneurs since 2015
  • One Launch package, one fee
  • Filing, EIN and a year of registered agent
  • Every document in your portal
Start my Illinois LLCBuild Your Plan
Lobi Guarantee. If we get something wrong, we fix it at our cost.

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

Business owner signing Illinois LLC Articles of Organization at Lobi Space
The package includes

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

Why form your Illinois LLC with Lobi Space

  1. 01

    We file it. You do not.

    You answer a few questions. Our filing partner checks the name and files the Articles as soon as your details are complete. No forms to decipher at midnight.

  2. 02

    We are your registered agent.

    Us, at our Chicago office. Your first year is included, then $125 a year. Anything served on your company is scanned the day it lands and you hear about it the same day.

  3. 03

    You get a real address.

    Add a Business Mailbox for $30 a month, or a Virtual Office from $50 a month, at our staffed office in Pilsen.

  4. 04

    One team answers the phone.

    Your filing, your agent, your mail and your meeting room all sit in one building with one bill. Call us and a person picks up.

One Launch package. Simple, like it should be.

One fee for everything below. State fees vary by state; ours doesn't change. Illinois filing fees are passed through at cost.
Launch package
Limited time · Save $100

$195$295one fee

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

Start my Illinois LLCLobi 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 →

Taxed as an S Corp? See how the S Corp election works. Raising money? Start a C Corp. Want the full list? See what Launch includes.

Three simple steps

  1. 01

    Answer a few questions

    One question per screen. Name, owners, what the business does. Ten minutes, and you can stop and come back.

  2. 02

    We check and file

    We confirm your name is available, prepare the Articles and submit them to the Secretary of State at your direction.

  3. 03

    You get your documents

    Stamped Articles, your EIN and the rest of your documents, delivered to your portal. Open the bank account and get to work.

Launch package
Limited time · Save $100

$195$295one time

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

Registered agent renews at $125/year

Business mailbox (Illinois): $30/month

Virtual Office (Illinois): from $50/month

See the Launch package

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

What is included

  • Your Illinois filing, with the name checked first
  • EIN, your federal tax ID
  • Your operating agreement
  • 1 year of registered agent, at our Chicago office. Then $125 a year
  • 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

All 50 states

Form in your state

Same packages, same team, any state. These are the guides founders ask us about most, with the state fee to file and the yearly cost to keep the company active.

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.

What is an LLC?

A limited liability company is a business you register with the Illinois Secretary of State. Most small Illinois businesses start as an LLC because the paperwork is lighter and the profits pass straight to your tax return.

Go deeper: How to Set Up an LLC in Illinois: The Complete Guide and How to Form a Corporation in Illinois.

LLC, S Corp or C Corp at a glance
LLCS CorpC Corp
What it isA business you register with the stateA federal tax election, not an entity typeA corporation, taxed on its own
TaxesProfits pass straight to your tax returnProfits pass through; owners who work take a salaryCorporate tax on profits, then tax on dividends
OwnersMembersUp to 100 shareholders, US citizens or residents, one class of stockShareholders, with room for outside investors
How you get itFile Articles of OrganizationForm an LLC or corporation, then file Form 2553File Articles of Incorporation

Step by step

How to start an LLC in Illinois

  1. 01

    Choose a name and run a name search

    Your name must be unique in Illinois and end in LLC. We check it with the Secretary of State before filing.

  2. 02

    Appoint an Illinois registered agent

    Someone with an Illinois street address must accept legal papers for your LLC. We can be that agent from our Chicago office.

  3. 03

    File Articles of Organization

    Form LLC-5.5 goes to the Illinois Secretary of State. We prepare it and file it at your direction.

  4. 04

    Write your operating agreement

    Illinois does not require one, but banks and partners often ask. It sets who owns what and who decides.

  5. 05

    Get an EIN and open a bank account

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

Before you pick a name, try an Illinois business search and read why your LLC name and your trademark are not the same thing. After filing, here is what you need to open a business bank account.

Costs

Illinois LLC cost breakdown

What you pay once, what repeats, and what is optional.

ItemCostHow often
Lobi Launch package$195 (regular $295, limited time)One time
Illinois state filing feePassed through at costOne time
24 hour expedited processingExtra state feeOptional
Illinois annual report$75Every year
Registered agentFirst year included, then $125 a yearEvery year
Chicago business addressVirtual office plansMonthly, optional

City and state fees

Know every fee before you file

The state charges $150 to file and $75 a year after that. Most Chicago businesses also need a city license, $500 every 2 years. See every state, county and city fee in one place.

See Chicago business fees

Members

What members say

4.8 RatingLOVED BY CHICAGO BUSINESS OWNERSRead all reviews on Google
I got Google verified in a week with the Lobi address after two failed attempts elsewhere. Mail gets scanned before lunch.
Danielle R. · Founder, Offbounds
We run the whole company from here: mailbox downstairs, meeting room upstairs. One bill, one building, no WeWork upsell calls.
Marcus T. · Profit Knocks
Registered agent plus notary in the same place saved me a courier run every month. Staff actually answer the phone.
Priya S. · Solo attorney
The virtual office gives us a staffed Chicago address, mail handling and a room when clients visit.
Andre W. · Owner, Halsted Freight
Mail forwarding to Arizona every Friday like clockwork. I have not missed an IRS notice since switching.
Jenna K. · Bookkeeper, Pilsen
Started on the mailbox plan, moved into a private office six months later. No renegotiation drama.
Tomas L. · Founder, Rivet Labs
Walk-in notary saved my closing twice. They stamped and scanned everything in under ten minutes.
Ruthie B. · Real estate broker
Same-day scans mean I see checks before the bank does. On-demand pickup is worth it alone.
Kwame A. · Ecommerce seller
The meeting rooms are properly kitted out and reception makes client days easy.
Sofia M. · Creative director
Registered agent for both entities plus one address on every filing. Renewal reminders actually arrive.
Derrick H. · Managing member, two LLCs

Rated 5 out of 5 on Google.

Sergey Bogomolov · Google review

Rated 5 out of 5 on Google.

Kasia Kaminski · Google review

Rated 5 out of 5 on Google.

Joseph Noel · Google review

Rated 5 out of 5 on Google.

Mandy Wilton · Google review

Rated 5 out of 5 on Google.

Cesar · Google review

Rated 4 out of 5 on Google.

Rhynhardt De Bruin · Google review

Guides

Read up before you file

Short, plain-English guides from the Lobi Space blog on forming and keeping an Illinois company.

A person signing a document at a desk, with the key points: From name to filing; What each step runs; The annual report.Registered Agent

How to Set Up an LLC in Illinois: The Complete Guide

The four steps to forming an Illinois LLC, what each one costs in 2026, and the annual filing that catches people in year two.

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

Ready to file in any state?

Our filing partner checks your name and files as soon as your details are complete. You pay our service fee at checkout, and the state fee is confirmed before we file.

Start my Illinois LLC

FAQ

Illinois LLC questions, answered

Already formed? Add registered agent service. Need the address first? See the virtual office in Chicago.

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Illinois?

Our fee is $195 (regular $295, limited time). Illinois Secretary of 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. A corporation also pays an initial franchise tax.

How long does the filing take?

Our filing partner files as soon as your details are complete. Standard Illinois processing usually takes about ten business days. Illinois offers 24 hour expedited processing for an extra $100 state fee if you need it sooner.

What is included for $195?

One Launch package: your Illinois filing with the name check, your EIN, an operating agreement, 1 year of registered agent, compliance tracking, state notice monitoring, your document portal and customer service from a real team. The registered agent renews at $125 a year. An EIN without an SSN or ITIN is $100 more.

Can I be my own registered agent in Illinois?

Yes. Illinois lets you serve as your own agent if you have a physical street address in the state, no P.O. Box, and you are there during business hours. That address becomes public record. Most founders would rather not publish their home address or wait at home for a process server.

Do I need a Chicago business address to form an Illinois LLC?

You need an Illinois address. Ours is a staffed office at 1655 S Blue Island Ave with a suite number, which banks, the city and Google all accept. You sign an agreement for the address, and your mail is scanned the day it arrives.

Should I form an LLC or a corporation?

Most small Illinois 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 LLC be taxed as an S Corp?

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

What is the Illinois annual report?

Every Illinois LLC files an annual report with the Secretary of State each year, currently $75 for an LLC. Miss it and the state can administratively dissolve your company. We send free reminders before yours is due.

What happens if my business name is taken?

We check availability with the Secretary of 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.

Can you form a business in another state?

Yes. Our filing partner files in every state at the same $195 (regular $295, limited time) price. In Illinois, we are your agent, at our Chicago office. In other states, our national registered agent partner is. Our business mailbox and virtual office are Illinois only for now.

How much is an LLC in Chicago?

The same as anywhere in Illinois to form: $150 to the Secretary of State for the Articles of Organization, then $75 a year for the annual report. Chicago adds a city business license for most trades, $500 for two years for the Limited Business License, after the LLC exists. Our fee for the filing is $195, with the EIN, operating agreement and a year of registered agent included.

Can I file an Illinois LLC by myself?

Yes. The Secretary of State accepts online filings from anyone, and the form takes about twenty minutes if you already have a name, a registered agent and an Illinois address. People hire us for the parts around the form: the name check, the registered agent, the operating agreement, the EIN and the reminders, and for an address that is not their home.

Can I get a free LLC in Illinois?

No. Illinois charges $150 to file and $75 a year after that, and no service can waive it. The "$0 LLC" offers cover their own fee for the first year and charge a registered agent renewal, usually $199 to $299, every year after. Our price is listed once and the registered agent renews at $125.

How is an LLC taxed in Illinois?

By default an Illinois LLC pays no tax of its own. Profit passes to the owners' personal returns, where Illinois taxes it at the flat individual rate, and the LLC also pays the state's 1.5% personal property replacement tax on net income. Owners can elect S corporation treatment with the IRS. We file; an accountant advises on which election fits.

What are the common mistakes when forming an Illinois LLC?

Using a home address on the public record, naming yourself registered agent and then moving, skipping the operating agreement, missing the annual report (the state adds a $100 penalty and can dissolve the company), and mixing personal and business money. Each one is cheap to avoid at filing and expensive to fix later.

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.

Your company can exist by this time next week

$195 (regular $295, limited time) plus the state filing fee. Your EIN, operating agreement and the registered agent's first year are included.

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

Start my Illinois LLC

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