State Guide
Illinois Business Formation & Tax Guides
Formation, compliance, tax, and service-selection guides for building or running a business in Illinois.
Guides
Best LLC Service in IllinoisIn Illinois, the best LLC formation service depends on how much help you want beyond the $150.00 state filing. The real question is whether you need a bundle...Best Registered Agent in IllinoisIllinois requires a physical in-state address for registered-agent service. If you live in Illinois and have a stable address, you can serve as your own agen...Business License Requirements in IllinoisIllinois does not require a single statewide general business license. Instead, you must navigate multiple licensing authorities depending on your business t...Certificate of Good Standing in IllinoisThis page is rendered from the checked-in state profile so the filing office, business-search link, foreign-registration requirement, and compliance context ...Illinois Corporation CostsEvery Illinois corporation must file an annual report each year before the first day of its anniversary month (the month in which it was incorporated). The a...Illinois Corporation TaxesIllinois corporations can face both entity-level income tax and separate annual business taxes, depending on whether the company is treated as a C corporatio...How to File a DBA in IllinoisFiling location depends entirely on your business structure. **Sole proprietors file at the county level**: you submit your DBA application to the county cle...How to Form a Partnership in IllinoisIf you are forming a professional service firm (law, accounting, medicine), both **LLP** (Limited Liability Partnership) and **PLLC** (Professional Limited L...How to Incorporate in IllinoisIllinois requires every corporation to have at least one director. You must identify your director(s) before filing your Articles of Incorporation, and you m...How to Start a Nonprofit in IllinoisIllinois nonprofits operate under a distinct legal framework separate from for-profit business entities. Unlike LLCs or corporations formed under the Illinoi...How to Start an LLC in IllinoisIllinois offers a straightforward path to LLC formation under the Illinois Limited Liability Company Act (805 ILCS 180/). You'll file Articles of Organizatio...Illinois LLC Annual ReportYour annual report is due before the first day of your LLC's anniversary month each year. Your anniversary month is the month in which you originally organiz...Illinois LLC CostIllinois's **$150** formation fee is moderate among Midwest states. Your first-year total—**$225** (formation + first annual report)—is reasonable. The criti...Illinois LLC Name RulesYour Illinois LLC name must include one of three required designators: **Limited Liability Company**, **LLC**, or **L.L.C.** under 805 ILCS 180/1-10. This de...Illinois LLC Operating AgreementNo. Illinois does not legally require you to adopt a written operating agreement for your LLC. Under 805 ILCS 180/15-5, the Illinois Limited Liability Compan...Illinois LLC TaxesIllinois LLC owners usually deal with two layers of tax: the federal default treatment of the LLC and the state's own income, sales, and business-tax rules. ...Professional License Requirements in IllinoisProfessional licensing in Illinois is not the same thing as forming an LLC. Before you offer regulated services, verify the right licensing board or statewid...Illinois Registered AgentYour registered office must be located at a physical street address in Illinois under **805 ILCS 180/1-50**. You cannot use a post office box as your registe...How to Reinstate an LLC in IllinoisIf your LLC lost good standing or was administratively dissolved in Illinois, the reinstatement path is whatever the state currently requires to clear delinq...Illinois Sales Tax GuideYes. The current profile lists a statewide base sales tax rate of 6.25% in Illinois.How to Start a Sole Proprietorship in IllinoisYou must file a DBA (doing business as) with your county clerk or recorder if you operate under any name other than your legal name. This filing is mandatory...
Entity Comparisons
LLC vs C-Corporation in IllinoisLLC vs DBA in IllinoisLLC vs Limited Partnership in IllinoisLLC vs Nonprofit in IllinoisLLC vs General Partnership in IllinoisLLC vs PLLC in IllinoisLLC vs S-Corporation in IllinoisLLC vs Sole Proprietorship in IllinoisS-Corporation vs C-Corporation in IllinoisSingle-Member LLC vs Multi-Member LLC in Illinois