Do this first
Cost to file
$150, once, up front
Ongoing
$75 annually
Registered agent
Yes, name one
Our shortlist
Mainstay Filing, Illinois Registered Agent.co then IL Registered Agent.org
Recommended in Illinois
The scoring is laid out on this page .
#1
Recommended first
1. Mainstay Filing: best for knowing next year's bill early
$199 a year, with the $150 state fee added
Rank Mainstay Filing first, as a single price of $199 a year includes the formation, the registered agent and each annual report.
Compare the price before you commit: Illinois Registered Agent.co is $200 less over three years, and the gap pays for more of the paperwork.
It takes care of each Limited Liability Company Annual Report, adding only the $75 the state sets.
Checklist: what is included
Articles prepared and filed Registered agent for the whole year Annual report prepared and submitted EIN taken care of No markup on state fees
What works
No jump at renewal ($199) Covers filing, agent and report for $199 a year Takes care of the EIN step
Gaps
A $100 annual premium compared with Illinois Registered Agent.co
#2
Illinois only
2. Illinois Registered Agent.co: best for tight budgets
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, state fee extra
Why Illinois Registered Agent.co second? Because forming costs $199, the agent is covered in year one, and then $99 a year.
Put the Limited Liability Company Annual Report on your own calendar.
Checklist: what is included
State filing completed First-year agent
What works
A free agent year at the start $99 a year from year two Only $199 to form
Gaps
Not included: the Limited Liability Company Annual Report They charge $99 to apply for your EIN
#3
Illinois only
3. IL Registered Agent.org: best for another local choice
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, state fee extra
Why IL Registered Agent.org third? Because forming costs $199, the agent is covered in year one, and then $99 a year.
Put the Limited Liability Company Annual Report on your own calendar.
Illinois Registered Agent.co charges the same, so this is nearly a tie.
Checklist: what is included
State filing completed First-year agent
What works
$99 a year from year two A free agent year at the start Only $199 to form
Gaps
Not included: the Limited Liability Company Annual Report They charge $99 to apply for your EIN
The table
These are service fees only, taken from each company's prices on November 13, 2026. State fees stay the same with every pick.
Step by step
What does the state charge, and what does a service add?
Plan on $150 to the state and $199 to a service in the first year.
Counting the recurring report, the state's own fees reach $300 by year three. verify at ilsos.gov , as of October 2026
Who receives the filing?
Submit the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5) to the Illinois Secretary of State and wait for approval.
Statute: 805 ILCS 180/5-5. verify at ilsos.gov , as of October 2026
Does this state require 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.
verify at ilga.gov , as of October 2026
What do I do after the LLC is formed?
Put the Limited Liability Company Annual Report on your calendar ($75, annual). Be ready for the state's deadline: before the first day of the entity's anniversary month; calendar it now.
A late report costs $100 more.
verify at ilsos.gov , as of October 2026
Is it possible to do this without a service?
Sure. Skip the service and you pay the state $300 over three years.
Hiring a service adds $397 to $597 over three years, and Mainstay Filing includes the reports in that price, in return for doing the filings.
What decided the ranking?
Mainstay Filing leads on filing jobs included, which carries 27% of our score.
Five checks set the order: total for three years (37%), filing jobs included (27%), clear price information (13%), year-two price (12%) and state coverage (11%).
One detail decides it: the Limited Liability Company Annual Report is in the first pick's price, while Illinois Registered Agent.co leaves it to you.
How we rank
Illinois formation rules at a glance
Last row = filing fee + report in year two + report in year three + minimum tax, if any. Variable costs are described in the text, not added.
Terms to know for this guide
Registered agent The in-state contact you name to accept legal papers and government notices for the LLC.
Annual report A routine report to the state, most often due once a year.
FAQ
Do they apply for the EIN?
Only Mainstay Filing covers it at no added cost. At the others you pay $99 (Illinois Registered Agent.co) and $99 (IL Registered Agent.org).
What if the report is late?
The state charges $100 if you are late.
Over three years, what does each charge?
Three-year costs: Mainstay Filing, $597; Illinois Registered Agent.co, $397; IL Registered Agent.org, $397, and state fees are separate.
Where do you get the fees?
State-set fees come from Illinois's publications; what services charge comes from the prices they post.
Must I hire anyone?
Nothing requires a service. Consider it a paid convenience.
Which one do you recommend in Illinois?
Choose Mainstay Filing first, then compare Illinois Registered Agent.co and IL Registered Agent.org.
References
ilsos.gov (Illinois Secretary of State, Department), verified August 2026ilsos.gov (Illinois Secretary of State, Department), verified August 2026ilga.gov (805 ILCS 180/5-5), verified August 2026ilga.gov (Illinois formation fee: Filing fee), verified October 2026ilsos.gov (Illinois formation fee: Filing fee), verified October 2026ilga.gov (Illinois registered agent statute), verified October 2026Mainstay Filing, Illinois service page: prices as of November 13, 2026
Illinois Registered Agent.co, pricing page: prices as of November 13, 2026
IL Registered Agent.org, pricing page: prices as of November 13, 2026