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IllinoisIllinois LLC operating agreement template - free, customizable, attorney-reviewed structure.
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Illinois · State-specific
Operating agreement template for Illinois LLCs

Illinois LLC operating agreement template.

Free customizable operating agreement designed for Illinois LLCs. Includes state-specific provisions, customize bracketed fields, and download in seconds. In Illinois, an operating agreement is not legally required by statute, but is strongly recommended.

Free
Template
for your state
State-specific
Provisions
required clauses included
Editable
PDF + Word
download
LLC
Single + Multi-member
both supported
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Illinois LLC quick facts

Key state filing details.

Filing fee
$150

Cost to file Articles of Organization with the Illinois Secretary of State.

Processing time
7-10 business days

Typical Illinois state filing turnaround for new LLC formation.

Annual report
$75 · Before 1st day of anniversary month

Ongoing state compliance filing required to maintain good standing.

State authority
ilsos.gov

Where Illinois LLC filings are submitted and stored.

Tax treatment
Illinois

state income tax + LLC annual fee.

What goes in an Illinois operating agreement

Standard sections.

01

Formation

States that the LLC is formed under Illinois law. References the Articles of Organization filed with the Illinois Secretary of State.

02

Purpose

Business purpose. Most Illinois LLCs use broad "any lawful business" language.

03

Members and ownership

Lists each member by name, address, ownership percentage, and capital contribution.

04

Management

Member-managed or manager-managed. Illinois default rules apply absent operating agreement.

05

Distributions and allocations

How profits and losses are allocated; when distributions are made; tax distributions.

06

Voting

Decision thresholds for ordinary business vs major decisions (admit members, sale, dissolution).

07

Transfer restrictions

Right of first refusal on member transfers. Drag-along and tag-along rights.

08

Buy-sell on departure

What happens on death, disability, divorce, bankruptcy, or voluntary withdrawal.

09

Dissolution

Events triggering dissolution. Wind-up procedures under Illinois law.

10

Governing law

Illinois law governs the operating agreement.

Customize your Illinois operating agreement.Interactive form builder: fill in fields, see live preview, download .txt or print PDF.
FAQ

Illinois operating agreement questions.

Is an operating agreement required in Illinois?
In Illinois, an LLC operating agreement is not legally required by statute, but is strongly recommended. Banks, lenders, and counterparties typically expect to see one regardless of state requirements.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Illinois?
The Illinois LLC filing fee is $150. Annual report (where required) is $75.
How long does Illinois LLC formation take?
Illinois state processing is typically 7-10 business days.
Where do I file the operating agreement?
Nowhere. The operating agreement is an internal document not filed with the Illinois Secretary of State. Only Articles of Organization are filed publicly.
Can I use this template if I plan to elect S-Corp tax status?
Yes. The template is compatible with S-Corp election. Update the tax classification provision when you file Form 2553.
What if I have multiple members?
Use the multi-member template instead. It covers ownership splits, voting, buy-sell, and transfer restrictions for Illinois LLCs with two or more members.
Does this need to be notarized in Illinois?
Generally no. Illinois operating agreements are typically signed and stored without notarization. Some banks may request notarization for their records.
What if my LLC operates in multiple states?
Form in Illinois, then file foreign qualification in each other state. The operating agreement remains the same; the entity registers as a foreign LLC in each additional state.

Form your Illinois LLC.

$0 service fee. $150 Illinois state fee. EIN, BOI, and registered agent included.

Template is educational. Specific situations may require attorney review.

$129/yr Compliance Annual Filings · penalty-free

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.

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File.Business is a private business filing and compliance service. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with any Secretary of State office. You may file directly with the appropriate state agency. SOC 2 Type II audited. 220,000+ businesses formed since 2017.
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