What an LLC costs in Illinois
Illinois costs $150 to form and $75 for the annual report (cut from $250 in 2025). The LLC franchise tax was repealed, so there's no separate entity tax.
Every LLC has two kinds of cost: a one-time state filing fee to form it, and recurring costs to keep it in good standing — the annual or biennial report, any franchise/privilege tax, and a registered agent. The calculator above adds these up for your first year and over five years so you can compare Illinois honestly against other states.
How this is calculated
- Filing fee — the standard online Articles of Organization fee, charged once.
- Report fee — Illinois's annual or biennial report; biennial fees are shown as a per-year average.
- Franchise / privilege tax — any flat state tax an LLC owes each year regardless of income.
- Publication — a one-time newspaper-publication cost, which only New York, Arizona, and Nebraska require.
- Registered agent — $0 if you act as your own, or a yearly fee for a commercial service.
What it doesn't include: income-based taxes (e.g. gross-receipts or margin taxes that only apply above high revenue thresholds), business licenses specific to your industry, or professional fees. It's a clean baseline of the mandatory state costs.
Data as of July 2026. Illinois filing and report fees are from the state Secretary of State, cross-checked against LLC-cost datasets. Fees change — confirm on the state's own site before filing.
LLC cost in other states
Illinois LLC cost FAQ
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Illinois?
It costs $150 to file the Articles of Organization for a Illinois LLC (standard online). With first-year upkeep and acting as your own registered agent, budget roughly $225 for year one.
What are the annual LLC fees in Illinois?
Illinois requires a $75 annual report. Being your own registered agent keeps the agent cost at $0; a commercial agent adds about $125/yr.
Can I be my own registered agent in Illinois?
Yes, if you have a physical street address in Illinois (not a PO box) and are available during business hours to receive legal mail. That makes the registered-agent cost $0. Otherwise a commercial service runs about $100-$300 per year.
This calculator is an educational estimate, not legal or tax advice. State fees change frequently — verify with the Illinois Secretary of State before filing. Income-based and industry-specific costs are not included. Data as of July 2026.