How much does an LLC cost in Illinois?
Forming an LLC in Illinois costs $150 in state filing fees, then $75/year to maintain. With File.Business, that's your total cost in year 1: we charge $0 service fee and registered agent is free year 1.
Illinois LLC cost summary
| Year 1 with File.Business | $225 (state only, RA free) |
|---|---|
| Year 1 with LegalZoom (typical) | $474 ($249 LZ Basic) |
| 3-year cost with File.Business | $573 (RA free year 1, $99/yr after) |
| 3-year cost with LegalZoom | $1140 (their RA ~$159/yr) |
Illinois LLC cost breakdown
| Item | Illinois cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee (Articles of Organization) | $150 | Once at formation |
| Annual report fee | $75 | Every year |
| Registered agent service | $0 year 1, then $99/yr | Annual |
| Expedited filing (optional) | +$100 | Once |
| Federal EIN | $0 (IRS direct) | Once |
| BOI report filing | $0 federal + $249 our service | Once + updates |
| Operating agreement template | $0 free | Once |
| Privacy / identity protection (optional) | $25-$125 | Annual |
| File.Business service fee | $0 | Always |
Hidden costs to watch for
- Service-fee markups. Competitors often charge $99 to $499 to "form" your LLC on top of the Illinois state fee. We don't.
- Registered agent renewal jumps. Year 1 is often advertised as "free" then jumps to $159 to $300/year. Our renewal is $99/year, locked.
- Annual report reminders sold as add-ons. Tracking the Illinois annual deadline is included free with Pro.
- Document storage fees. Document vault is free on Pro plan.
- "Premium" tiers for things that should be free. Operating agreement, EIN, BOI report are not premium services; we include them.
Form your Illinois LLC for $150 total
State filing fee only. $0 service fee. Free registered agent year 1. Free operating agreement. Free EIN filing. BOI Report ($249 one-time). Start my Illinois LLC
Illinois LLC cost FAQ
What is the minimum cost to start an LLC in Illinois?
$150 in Illinois state filing fees. Nothing else is required at formation.
What is the annual cost to maintain an LLC in Illinois?
$75/year for the Illinois annual report. Plus $99/year for registered agent (free in year 1).
Are there hidden fees?
Not with File.Business. We pass through state fees at cost. No service fees, no upsells disguised as required services.
How much does LegalZoom charge to form an Illinois LLC?
LegalZoom's "Basic" plan is typically $249-$299 on top of the $150 state fee, totaling $399-$449. We charge $150 total.
What it actually costs to form your business
Pick your state. We show our service price, the state's filing fee, and your year-one total. No hidden costs.
On the $129/yr Compliance Annual Filings plan, we cover state late fees.
When you autofile your annual report through the $129/yr plan and we miss the deadline, we pay the state's late fee. The guarantee applies to that specific plan and the filings it includes. Other File.Business services are billed at the prices on this page.