Illinois · Start a business

How to start a business in Illinois

Illinois registers most businesses with the Department of Revenue and sends assumed names to the county clerk.

As of 5 min readVermilion Vitez Team

See the checklist
STATE FILING FEE$150FILEDSECRETARY OF STATEEINANNIVOPENILLINOIS · 10 STEPSFrom structure to open door

Short answer

To start a business in Illinois, pick a structure and file with the Secretary of State: $150 for an LLC, $150 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes.

Last checked .

What do you file before you open in Illinois?

  1. Pick a structure

    Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See Illinois LLC guide, Illinois corporation guide, S corp or C corp in Illinois. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.

  2. Check and register the name

    Search the Secretary of State records before you pick a name: state name search. When a business name differs from the owner's full legal name, Illinois requires sole proprietorships and general partnerships to register the business name with the county clerk's office under the Assumed Name Act. 1 See Illinois name search guide.

  3. File with the state

    Illinois charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $150 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $150 3. See LLC cost.

  4. Name a registered agent

    Every Illinois corporation must keep a registered office and a registered agent in the state, and an individual agent must be an Illinois resident whose business office is the registered office. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See Illinois registered agent rules.

Which accounts do you open after you file in Illinois?

  1. Get an EIN

    An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. 5

  2. Open your state tax accounts

    The Illinois Department of Revenue requires a business to register if it conducts business in Illinois or with Illinois customers, and a new business can register online through MyTax Illinois. 6 See Sales tax permit.

  3. Register as an employer

    A new Illinois employer must register with the Illinois Department of Employment Security within 30 days of start-up, and can register online through MyTax Illinois. 7 The Illinois Department of Employment Security says employers must report each new employee to the state New Hire Directory within 20 days of the employee's first day on the payroll. 8 The Illinois Department of Insurance says an employer with even one part-time employee must provide workers' compensation insurance coverage. 9

What keeps your Illinois business in good standing?

  1. Check licenses and permits

    The Illinois Department of Revenue registers and licenses most Illinois businesses, and a business that plans to hire employees, buy or sell products wholesale or retail, or manufacture goods must register with it. 10

  2. Calendar the yearly filings

    Illinois annual report: $75, due the 1st day of your formation anniversary month. 11 See Illinois annual report.

  3. Use free local help

    Small business advising in Illinois runs through the Illinois Small Business Development Centers. 12 Illinois.gov runs a business page that links to state information for starting, running, expanding, relocating, or closing a business, including registration and licensing services. 13

What it costs to start a business in Illinois

$150to file an LLC 2
$150to file a corporation's articles 3
$75each year, annual report 11
190,311business applications filed in Illinois in 2025 14

Do you need a business license in Illinois?

It depends on the trade and the place. The U.S. Small Business Administration says most small businesses need a combination of licenses and permits from federal and state agencies, and that requirements and fees depend on the business activity and the issuing agency. 15 Illinois's own rule is in step 8. 10 Where to look up licenses: Illinois.gov Business.

How to register a business name in Illinois

QuestionIllinois
Where it is filedWith the county 1
OfficeCounty Clerk
What it is calledassumed name

Check that the name is free first: state name search.

Also in Illinois

  • Secure Choice retirement program. Under the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act, Illinois employers with at least five employees, in business for two or more years, that offer no qualified retirement plan must start one or enroll employees in Secure Choice. 16
  • Paid leave for all workers. The Illinois Department of Labor says the Paid Leave for All Workers Act applies to employers of all sizes, and employees can earn 1 hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked, up to 40 hours in a 12-month period. 17

More for Illinois

5.0 on Google 17 reviews Vinny and Ray (888) 419-0771 Filed right, or we fix it free
Ready to file?

Start your Illinois business

We file it, and the state fee shows before you pay.

Start my LLC
ORDER YOUR FILING

Form your Illinois LLC

We file it for $123.75 plus the state fee, with the total shown before you pay.

  1. 1State & name
  2. 2Ownership & agent
  3. 3Add-ons
  4. 4Review & pay

Where are you forming, and what is it called?

Your state and entity type set the filing fee. Your total updates the moment you pick them.

Entity type

No name yet? Generate a few, free, no email asked. · Compare what every state charges

Your total
Formation service fee$123.75
State filing feeSelect a state
Card processing fee—
TotalSelect a state to see your total

“Ray and Vinny explained LLC formation and asset protection in plain English. No pressure, just real guidance.”

James R. · January 2026

Founded 2023 · 5.0 on Google, 17 reviews · Stripe handles your card · If we make a filing error, we refile free

If we ever charge your card for something you did not choose, tell us within 60 days and we refund it in full.

Common questions

What are the steps to start a business in Illinois?

Pick a structure, file with the Secretary of State, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the Illinois Department of Revenue, then handle hiring, licenses, yearly filings and local help.

What does it cost to register a business in Illinois?

In Illinois, an LLC filing is $150 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $150. The annual report is $75 each year.

Can I start a business in Illinois with no money?

Illinois charges $150 to file an LLC, and the annual report is $75 each year. An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. The Illinois Small Business Development Centers work with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to give entrepreneurs no-cost confidential one-on-one advising and training.

Are there small business grants in Illinois?

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity lists a matching grant for recipients of federal Phase I SBIR/STTR awards and a venture capital program for Illinois startups among its small business programs.

What is the Illinois SBDC?

The Illinois Small Business Development Centers work with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to give entrepreneurs no-cost confidential one-on-one advising and training.

Sources 18 links, checked Nov 12, 2026
  1. DBA or trade name registration dceo.illinois.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  2. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings ilsos.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  3. Corporation filing ilga.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  4. Registered agent rule ilga.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  5. IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  6. State tax registration tax.illinois.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  7. Unemployment insurance registration ides.illinois.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  8. New hire reporting ides.illinois.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  9. Workers' compensation coverage idoi.illinois.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  10. General business license dceo.illinois.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  11. Illinois annual report ilsos.gov, checked Sep 1, 2026
  12. Small Business Development Center sbdc.illinois.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  13. State business portal illinois.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  14. US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  15. SBA: licenses and permits sba.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  16. Secure Choice retirement program tax.illinois.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  17. Paid leave for all workers labor.illinois.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  18. State small business funding dceo.illinois.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026

Last verified Nov 12, 2026.

This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.

Start my LLC