The 4 Best LLC Services in Illinois 2023
Find the Best Service for Your LLC in Illinois
Starting a limited liability company (LLC) is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to formally establish their businesses. To do so, companies must complete and submit the Articles of Organization with the Illinois Secretary of State. There are a number of steps involved in this process, but you do not have to do it yourself.
There are a number of business formation services that can help create your LLC in Illinois. Some stand out in terms of the cost and features they offer. To help you choose the right one, we've reviewed several and created a list of the best Illinois LLC services.
Recommended Illinois LLC Formation Service: Northwest
Best Illinois LLC Formation Services
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Best LLC Services |
|---|---|
Northwest 4.7/5 |
HIGHEST CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
|
TailorBrands 4.5/5 |
BEST PREMIUM, ALL-IN-ONE PACKAGE
|
ZenBusiness 4.2/5 |
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Incfile 4.0/5 |
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We reviewed and ranked the four best Illinois business formation services by actually forming separate LLCs with each provider.
In this business formation services review, we’ll look at some of the best Illinois LLC services in 2023 and share what makes them the top choice.
Best LLC Services in Illinois:
Best Illinois LLC Service: Northwest
We recommend Northwest as the overall best online business formation service because of its affordability and knowledgeable customer support.
($29 + State Fees)
1. Northwest
Northwest's incorporation service starts at just $29 plus state fees; it includes Illinois LLC filing, premium registered agent services, customer privacy protection, online document dashboard, free mail forwarding, and more.
Northwest is known for its top-notch customer service; they provide their clients with Corporate Guides, who are highly trained US-based support agents. Every customer gets a Corporate Guide assigned to their specific account, so you can talk to the same person if you have any questions or concerns.
Pros
- Positive customer reviews
- User-friendly online ordering process
- No hidden fees or “free trials” that cost money later on
- Professional US-based customer service representatives
Cons
- You’ll need to pay extra fees for important Illinois LLC formation features such as an EIN. Another option is to get an EIN for free on your own.
Read our full Northwest Registered Agent review to learn more.
Northwest
Northwest provides personalized, knowledgeable customer service at an affordable price.
($29 plus state fees)
2. Tailor Brands
Tailor Brands is a one-stop-shop for company formation, branding, and website building. While Tailor offers three LLC formation packages, it’s their Elite package with its incredible features that we most recommend.
At $199 (plus state fees), the Tailor Brands Elite package is an all-inclusive plan with everything you need to create a website, form your venture, and build a brand. With a highly functional logo creator, social media marketing graphics, and digital business cards, this package includes everything you need to make your company stand out online.
Pros
- One of the most comprehensive business formation packages available
- AI-powered tools help, including exclusive logo creator and graphics
- Set-up is easy and efficient
Cons
- Other options may be more budget-friendly
Read our full Tailor Brands review to learn more.
Tailor Brands
Tailor Brands provides the best premium, one-stop shop package for entrepreneurs to form a company and build their online presence.
($199 + state fees)
3. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness offers business formation services, including securing a registered agent and filing LLC documents with the state. Customers will have access to a user-friendly dashboard where they can input their business details. ZenBusiness will then get started filing this information with the appropriate channels to legally form your company.
ZenBusiness’s initial Starter plan is free, costing $0 for the service with customers only paying the required state filing fees. ZenBusiness also offers a Pro plan at $199/year with features like expedited filing and worry-free compliance, while its Premium plan at $299/year includes additional options such as a customizable website.
Pros
- Free plan includes filing, and expense and deduction tracking
- Straightforward LLC formation packages
Cons
- Slower turnaround time than some competitors
Read our full ZenBusiness review to learn more.
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness provides essential LLC services to help get your venture up and running.
($0 + State Fees)
4. Incfile
Incfile has earned a reputation as a dependable and affordable service provider that offers great features. All plans come with the benefit of a year of free registered agent services.
Incfile’s services come in three plans: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. At $0 plus state filing fees, its Silver plan can't be any more cost-effective. At $149/year plus state fees, the Gold package includes corporate documents, an EIN, banking resolution, and more. The Platinum plan at $299 plus state fees will work best for those who require next-day filing, a domain name, and email address.
Pros
- Unlimited phone/email support
- Free one year registered agent service included in every package
Cons
- Customer service response may be delayed until the next day
Read our full Incfile review to learn more.
Incfile
Incfile is one of the best LLC services if you are working with a limited budget, and want a lot of added features.
($0 + State Fees)
How to Form an LLC in Illinois
You can start an LLC in Illinois on your own in five easy steps:
1. Name Your LLC
You won’t be able to form your company until you actually name it. Be sure to follow the LLC naming rules that are outlined in the Illinois naming requirements.
Then, make sure the name you want isn't already taken by doing an Illinois LLC Search on the Secretary of State's Cyberdrive Illinois website.
We also recommend using our LLC Name Generator tool to help secure a domain name for your company in Illinois.
2. Choose a Registered Agent
You are required to designate a registered agent for your Illinois LLC, which is an individual or business entity in charge of receiving legal documents, government correspondence, and more on behalf of your company.
If you form your LLC online at the Illinois Secretary of State website, your registered agent’s name and contact information will be requested when you file the Articles of Organization.
If you form your company by mail, download the Articles of Organization form, and you’ll be asked to provide your registered agent’s information under the number 3 on page 1.
Learn more by reading our guide on Illinois registered agents.
3. File the Illinois Articles of Organization
To register your Illinois LLC, you will need to file Form LLC-5.5 - Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. It can be filed online or by mail, and the filing fee is $150.
Learn more with our Illinois Articles of Organization guide.
4. Create an Operating Agreement
An operating agreement is a legal document that outlines the ownership structure and operating procedures of your LLC in Illinois.
Although an operating agreement is not required, it’s recommended. According to Illinois Business Statutes Section 805 ILCS 180, every LLC may adopt an operating agreement to govern the company’s operating procedures.
You can read more about Illinois LLC operating agreements in our full guide.
5. Get an EIN
You can think of an Employer Identification Number as a Social Security number for your Illinois company. Get one for free through the IRS website.
FAQs
How much does it cost to start an Illinois LLC?
It costs $150 to start an LLC in Illinois.
How do I file an Illinois LLC annual report?
For a $75 fee, you can file your annual report through the Secretary of State website or file form LLC-50.1 by mail. Illinois LLC annual reports are due before the first day of your company's anniversary month (i.e., the month when you initially formed your venture with the state).
What are some local resources to help me form a company in Illinois?
To help you start your venture, we have identified the best resources across the state: