Step by step · Illinois
3 Best LLC Services in Illinois (2026), Explained
Summary
- Fee to file
- $150, one time
- Following years
- $75 once a year
- Registered agent
- Must be named
- Who we recommend
- IL Registered Agent.org, Illinois Registered Agent.co then Mainstay Filing
Services we would pick in Illinois
Order and weights are explained on how we pick.1. IL Registered Agent.org: best for a modest first-year bill
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, state fee extra
Our first recommendation is IL Registered Agent.org, because you pay $199 at the start with the first agent year included and $99 annually after that.
Its three-year cost is lower than Mainstay Filing's, which is the factor we weigh most.
Plan to file the Limited Liability Company Annual Report yourself.
Includes
- State filing done for you
- No agent charge in year one
Points in its favor
- Forms the LLC for $199
- Year-one agent service is included
- A modest renewal of $99
Where it falls short
- The Limited Liability Company Annual Report is not covered
- Applying for an EIN costs $99 extra
2. Illinois Registered Agent.co: best for a second local choice
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, state fee extra
In second place is Illinois Registered Agent.co, because you pay $199 at the start with the first agent year included and $99 annually after that.
Plan to file the Limited Liability Company Annual Report yourself.
It charges exactly what IL Registered Agent.org charges; either would serve you well.
Includes
- State filing done for you
- No agent charge in year one
Points in its favor
- Year-one agent service is included
- A modest renewal of $99
- Forms the LLC for $199
Where it falls short
- The Limited Liability Company Annual Report is not covered
- Applying for an EIN costs $99 extra
3. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who want the annual report handled
$199 per year ($349 at signup including the state fee)
Our third recommendation, Mainstay Filing, earns it since you pay $199 a year and get the formation, the registered agent and the annual report taken care of.
Three years cost $200 more here than at IL Registered Agent.org.
You skip the Limited Liability Company Annual Report yourself. Illinois still bills $75, which is charged at cost.
Includes
- Formation handled for you
- Registered agent all year long
- Annual report taken care of for you
- Help applying for an EIN
- Official fees at cost
Points in its favor
- A fixed $199 per year
- Costs $199 when it renews
- Takes care of the EIN application
Where it falls short
- Renews $100 higher than IL Registered Agent.org
The picks compared
| # | Company | Opening price | Year two on | Three-year total | Covers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IL Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | state filing done for you; no agent charge in year one | Open IL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Illinois Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | state filing done for you; no agent charge in year one | Open Illinois Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | formation handled for you; registered agent all year long; annual report taken care of for you | Open Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
What owners want to know
How much money should I set aside?
The state charges $150. A service adds $199 in the first year.
State fees for years one through three: $300. ilsos.gov · verified October 2026
What creates the LLC?
You submit one document, the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5), to the Illinois Secretary of State.
Authority: 805 ILCS 180/5-5. ilsos.gov · verified October 2026
Does the state insist on a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
An Illinois resident, or a business authorized to do business in Illinois. The LLC cannot act as its own agent.
ilga.gov · verified October 2026
Are there costs every year?
What recurs is the Limited Liability Company Annual Report: annual, $75. In the state's words it falls due before the first day of the entity's anniversary month, so keep an eye on it.
Filing late carries a $100 penalty.
ilsos.gov · verified October 2026
Am I allowed to file on my own?
You can. Without a service, you pay the state alone: $300 across three years.
Services charge $397 to $597 over three years for that work.
How did you order the services?
The deciding factor is what three years cost (34% of the weight), where IL Registered Agent.org is strongest.
What three years cost carries 34% and how much work the price handles carries 28%. Three smaller criteria decide close calls.
Picking IL Registered Agent.org leaves $200 in your pocket after three years compared with Mainstay Filing.
Illinois requirements checklist
| Item | Fee or rule | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Filing fee | $150 | ilsos.gov · verified October 2026 |
| Registered agent | Must be named | ilga.gov · verified October 2026 |
| Limited Liability Company Annual Report | $75 every year | ilsos.gov · verified October 2026 |
| What the state collects in three years | $300 | The rows above, added |
Further questions
Will they apply for my EIN?
Applying for an EIN costs $99 with IL Registered Agent.org or $99 with Illinois Registered Agent.co, and nothing extra with Mainstay Filing.
What if I miss the due date?
Illinois adds $100.
How do the picks compare over three years?
IL Registered Agent.org at $397, Illinois Registered Agent.co at $397, Mainstay Filing at $597, not counting state fees.
Where do the numbers come from?
State fees come from Illinois's official sources, cited by each figure. Service prices come from each company's own pricing page.
Is hiring anyone mandatory?
No. The state takes filings from owners directly; a service just saves time and covers the agent role.
Which LLC service do you recommend in Illinois?
IL Registered Agent.org is on top because three years add up to $397 with the $99 renewal; Illinois Registered Agent.co and Mainstay Filing follow.
Official sources and price pages
- Illinois Secretary of State, Department via ilsos.gov, as of August 2026
- Illinois Secretary of State, Department via ilsos.gov, as of August 2026
- 805 ILCS 180/5-5 via ilga.gov, as of August 2026
- Illinois formation fee: Filing fee via ilga.gov, as of October 2026
- Illinois formation fee: Filing fee via ilsos.gov, as of October 2026
- Illinois registered agent statute via ilga.gov, as of October 2026
- IL Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026
- Illinois Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing Illinois service page, read November 13, 2026