Plain and short · Illinois
3 Best LLC Services in Illinois (2026), Kept Simple
The short version
- Filing fee
- $150, paid once
- Afterward
- $75 yearly
- Registered agent
- Required: yes
- Ranked first
- Illinois Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing then IL Registered Agent.org
Ranked in Illinois
The order follows five checks. Three-year cost comes first, then what the price covers. See method.1. Illinois Registered Agent.co: best for a one-state LLC
Form for $199. Renew at $99
Illinois Registered Agent.co comes first because $199 forms the LLC, and the agent renews at $99.
Its three-year total is under Mainstay Filing's, which puts it first for a company that stays put.
The price leaves out the Limited Liability Company Annual Report.
Includes
- Illinois formation filing
- Agent for year one
Good
- The first agent year is included
- Agent renews at $99
- $199 to form the LLC
Against
- Your own task list gains the Limited Liability Company Annual Report
- EIN not included ($99)
2. Mainstay Filing: best for handing off upkeep
$199 a year. $150 to the state
Mainstay Filing ranks second. The annual report is filed within the $199 annual price, along with formation and the registered agent.
Illinois Registered Agent.co is $200 less over three years. That decides the order.
You do not file the Limited Liability Company Annual Report. Only the state's $75 is added.
Includes
- LLC formation, filed
- Registered agent for a year
- Annual report filed for you
- EIN application filed
- State fees at cost
Good
- $199 a year covers filing, agent and report
- EIN application included
- No jump at renewal ($199)
Against
- Illinois Registered Agent.co renews for $100 less
3. IL Registered Agent.org: best for single-state companies
Form for $199. Renew at $99
Third place: IL Registered Agent.org, since $199 forms the LLC, and the agent renews at $99.
The price leaves out the Limited Liability Company Annual Report.
Price for price, a tie with Illinois Registered Agent.co.
Includes
- Illinois formation filing
- Agent for year one
Good
- Agent renews at $99
- $199 to form the LLC
- The first agent year is included
Against
- Your own task list gains the Limited Liability Company Annual Report
- EIN not included ($99)
Prices
| # | Company | Start | Renewal | Three years | Includes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | illinois formation filing; agent for year one | Visit Illinois Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | LLC formation, filed; registered agent for a year; annual report filed for you | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | IL Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | illinois formation filing; agent for year one | Visit IL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
The facts
How much to start an LLC in this state?
Budget $150 for the filing and $199 for first-year service.
With the recurring report, state fees reach $300 in three years. from ilsos.gov, October 2026, kept short
Which form, and where?
The Illinois Secretary of State approves the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5). Then the LLC exists.
Law: 805 ILCS 180/5-5. from ilsos.gov, October 2026, kept short
Is a registered agent required?
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.
from ilga.gov, October 2026, kept short
What comes after formation?
Expect the Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year, $75. Its date, set by the state, reads before the first day of the entity's anniversary month, which you should keep in view.
A late filing adds $100.
from ilsos.gov, October 2026, kept short
Is a service required?
Yes. Your three-year bill is the state's $300.
Services charge $397 to $597 over three years for the paperwork and the agent.
Why this order?
On three-year cost (38%), Illinois Registered Agent.co leads.
Five checks: three-year cost (38%), work included (27%), readable pricing (13%), renewal steadiness (11%) and state coverage (11%).
Mainstay Filing runs $200 higher over three years than Illinois Registered Agent.co's $397.
What Illinois requires to form an LLC
| Requirement | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| LLC filing fee | $150 | from ilsos.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| Registered agent | Required: yes | from ilga.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| Limited Liability Company Annual Report | $75 every year | from ilsos.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| State fees, three years | $300 | Sum of the rows above |
Also asked
Is the EIN application included?
Only Mainstay Filing builds the EIN application into its price. Illinois Registered Agent.co bills $99 for it and IL Registered Agent.org bills $99 for it.
What if the report is late?
A late report costs $100 more.
What do the picks cost over three years?
Across three years: Illinois Registered Agent.co at $397, Mainstay Filing at $597, IL Registered Agent.org at $397, services only.
Where do the figures come from?
State fees come from Illinois's official documents. Service prices come from each company's price page. Both are dated here.
Does the law require one?
No. Owners may file directly. A service saves time and can act as agent.
What is the best LLC service in Illinois?
Illinois Registered Agent.co ranks first. It opens at $199, first agent year included, and renews at $99. After it, Mainstay Filing and IL Registered Agent.org.
Sources
- Entry for Illinois Secretary of State, Department: read at ilsos.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Illinois Secretary of State, Department: read at ilsos.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for 805 ILCS 180/5-5: read at ilga.gov, dated August 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Illinois formation fee: Filing fee: read at ilga.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Illinois formation fee: Filing fee: read at ilsos.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Entry for Illinois registered agent statute: read at ilga.gov, dated October 2026, kept short on purpose
- Illinois Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing Illinois service page, read November 13, 2026
- IL Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026