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The Daily Insight

How to start a business in illinois

Author

James Bradley

Published Feb 09, 2026

How much does it cost to start a business in Illinois?

Illinois Corporation

Incorporation: $150 filing fee + franchise tax ($25 minimum) + optional $100 expedite fee. The expedite fee is required if you file online. Franchise tax is calculated as $1.50 per $1,000 on the paid-in capital represented in this state.

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Illinois?

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Illinois? The Illinois Secretary of State charges $150 to file the Articles of Organization. You can reserve your LLC name with the Illinois Secretary of State for $25.

How do I become an LLC in Illinois?

To form an LLC, you must fill out and file Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. The first year filing fee and the Annual Report fee for the LLC can be found on the official form. Forms can be found on the Illinois Secretary of State website.

How long does it take for an LLC to be approved in Illinois?

How long does it take to get an LLC in Illinois? It normally takes 3-4 weeks for the LLC paperwork to be approved in Illinois. Expedited processing (typically 1 business day) is also available for an additional fee.

Can you be your own agent in an LLC?

You can act as your own Registered Agent for a corporation or LLC as long as you have a physical street address in the state where your corporation or LLC is formed. The actual corporation or LLC being formed, however, cannot name itself as its own Registered Agent.

Is it smart to be your own registered agent?

The Bottom Line. For many small businesses, hiring a registered agent service just doesn’t make sense. They have a regular storefront, keep normal business hours, only operate in their home state, and they aren’t concerned about their privacy. If that’s you, you should do fine without a registered agent.

Is LegalZoom worth it for LLC?

LegalZoom may be a decent option to form an LLC if you: Want to work with an established brand to start your LLC. Are willing to pay extra for better premium services and features, such as an EIN and registered agent services.

Do you automatically get approval for the business name you’ve requested?

Q3 Do you automatically get approval for the business name you’ve requested? Your name reservation does not automatically get approved. If the Secretary of State determines that another business is already using that name, your request will be rejected and you will be directed to select another name.

How do I put my business name on a hold?

How to Reserve a Business Name. Once you have settled on a name for your California LLC or corporation, you can reserve the name by submitting a Name Reservation Request. This form can be mailed to the Secretary of State or delivered in-person. There is a $10 filing fee for all Name Reservation Requests.

How do I reserve a business name in Illinois?

If you decide you would like to reserve a corporate name, you will need to complete and submit a Name Reservation form. Alternatively, a preliminary check of corporate name availability may continue to be conducted via telephone by calling 217-782-9521.

How do you legally own a business name?

Registering a trademark for a company name is pretty straightforward. Many businesses can file an application online in less than 90 minutes, without a lawyer’s help. The simplest way to register is on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Web site,

How much does it cost to buy a business name?

The basic cost to trademark a business name ranges from $225 to $600 per trademark class. This is the cost to submit your trademark application to the USPTO. The easiest and least expensive way to register your trademark is online, through the USPTO’s Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS).