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In this lesson, we will walk you through filing your Articles of Organization with the Illinois Secretary of State. This is the document that officially forms your Illinois LLC.
You can file your Illinois LLC Articles of Organization by mail or online.
If you file by mail: The filing fee is $150 (one-time fee) and your LLC will be approved in 7-14 business days (plus mail time).
If you file online: The filing fees is $150 (one-time fee) and your LLC will be approved in 5-10 business days. If you want your LLC approved quicker, you can pay a $100 expedited fee ($250 total) and your LLC will be approved in 1-2 business days.
Note: Filing times may take longer due to government delays. For the most up-to-date LLC processing times, check how long does it take to get an LLC in Illinois.
Check out LLC Cost in Illinois to learn about all the fees you’ll pay.
The “LLC filing fee” (the fee to create an Illinois LLC) is the same thing as the “Articles of Organization fee”. The Articles of Organization is the document, that once approved by the Secretary of State’s office, creates your Illinois LLC.
Recommendation: We recommend forming your Illinois LLC online as it’s easier to complete and has a slightly faster approval time.
If you want to hire a company to form your LLC instead, check out Best LLC Services in Illinois.
Note: Before forming an LLC in Illinois, make sure you have read the two prior guides:
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
Note: Illinois requires that you send 2 copies of your Articles of Organization. An original signature (in black ink) is required on one copy.
1. Name
Enter your LLC name exactly as you would like it, including your preferred capitalization, as well as the designator “LLC” or “L.L.C.” (the abbreviation “LLC” is the most common).
You can use a comma in your LLC name or you can leave it out. Ex: “ABC Widgets, LLC” and “ABC Widgets LLC” are both acceptable.
2. Principal Place of Business
Enter your LLC’s place of business address. This must be a street address located in Illinois (PO boxes are not allowed). This address can be a home address, an office address, or the address of your Registered Agent.
3. Effective Date
The Effective Date is the date your LLC officially goes into existence. If you want your LLC to be effective immediately, check off the first box “the filing date”.
If you want your LLC to go into existence at a later date, check off the second box and enter that date (can’t be more than 60 days out).
Pro Tip: If you’re forming your LLC in October, November, or December, and you don’t need your business open during those months, forward date your filing to January 1st. This will save you the hassle of filing taxes for those 1-3 months. For more information, please see LLC effective date.
4. Illinois Registered Agent
Enter the name and address of your LLC’s Registered Agent. Your Registered Agent’s address must be a street address in Illinois (PO boxes are not allowed).
If your Registered Agent is a company, you can just write their name on the line above “First Name, Middle Name, Last Name”.
Note: If your Registered Agent is an individual, they must be a resident of Illinois. If your Registered Agent is a company, they must be authorized to do business in Illinois.
5. Purpose (optional)
You can briefly describe the purpose of your LLC in this section, or you can leave it blank if you prefer. If you leave it blank, you will be using the “general purpose” clause, which states that your Illinois LLC can be used for any and all lawful purposes.
Note: Professional LLCs must list the addresses where they will render their services (if different than the address listed in #2). Also, this lesson is not for Professional LLCs. The information is written for regular LLC formation.
6. Duration of Company
In this section, you need to let the Illinois Secretary of State know about the duration of your LLC (how long it will remain in existence).
If you prefer for your LLC to be “open-ended” (technically referred to as “perpetual”) with no set closure date, leave #6 blank.
If you prefer for your LLC to be automatically shut down on a specific date, then write down that specific date.
Most people form a perpetual LLC, so they leave #6 blank. This gives them the freedom to close their LLC at any time by filing dissolution paperwork.
7. Additional Provisions (optional)
This is where you can list any additional rules and regulations for your LLC (if applicable).
Most filers leave #7 blank.
8. At least one Member
#8 states that the LLC will have at least one LLC Member at the time the LLC goes into existence. There is nothing you need to change or enter here. It’s simply a default statement that you must agree to.
9. Names of Managers and/or Members:
(“Name(s) and business address(es) of the manager(s) and any member with the authority of manager”)
#9 may be confusing at first read, but hopefully we’ll help make things easier to understand.
A Member -managed LLC is where the LLC owners (called Members ) run the business and day-to-day operations. All of the LLC Members also have the ability to legally bind the LLC into contracts and agreements.
A Manager -managed LLC is where the LLC owners (called Members ) decide to elect one, or a few designated people (called Managers ). These Managers run the business and day-to-day operations and they are the only ones that have the ability to legally bind the LLC into contracts and agreements.
A Manager can be an “external person” (non-Member) that’s been hired by the Members, or a Manager can be an “internal person” – an existing Member – (where other Members decide not to be Managers and take on a passive/investor role). In a Manager -managed LLC, any LLC Member who chooses not to be a Manager cannot legally bind the LLC into contracts and agreements; but rather, only the Managers can.
A lot of information, huh? I know that was a lot to take in. We recommend reading over it a few times, as well as reading out our supporting documentation:
Why? If you’re curious about the “why” behind this confusing language, here it is: the state wants a way to disclose to the public who has the authority to legally bind the LLC into contracts and agreements. This helps in reducing fraudulent behavior when people attempt to act on behalf of an LLC (when they don’t have the actual authority).
Tips:
10. LLC Organizers
An LLC Organizer is the person filing the LLC documents with the state. This will most likely be you.
To the right of “Dated”, enter the month, day, and year.
Then sign your name, print your name, and enter your address to the right. You can leave the line above “Name if a Corporation or other Entity…” blank.
Note: Only one Organizer is required to sign this form. All of the members do not need to sign here. You will be officially listing all the members of your LLC in the next lesson, Illinois Operating Agreement.
Remember: Illinois requires that you send 2 copies of your Articles of Organization. An original signature (in black ink) is required on one copy.
Prepare Payment:
Prepare a money order or certified bank check made payable to the “Illinois Secretary of State”. The state will not accept personal checks, so you must use a money order or certified bank check.
Filing Fee:
$150
Mail Documents:
Send 2 copies of your Articles of Organization along with your filing fee to:
Secretary of State
Department of Business Services
Limited Liability Division
501 S 2nd Street, Room 351
Springfield, IL 62756
Wait 7-14 business days (plus mail time) for the state to process and approve your Illinois LLC. Once approved, you will receive back a stamped and approved copy of your Articles of Organization and a Welcome Letter (which includes your LLC’s File Number). The documents are returned by mail and sent to the Registered Agent’s address. We recommend keeping a few copies of these forms with your business records.
2. Select “standard”
Select the first option for “standard” LLCs and click “Continue”.
3. Agree to Provisions
Read over the terms and if you agree, click “Continue”.
4. Name
Enter your LLC name exactly as you would like it, including your preferred capitalization, as well as the designator “LLC” or “L.L.C.” (the abbreviation “LLC” is the most common).
You can use a comma in your LLC name or you can leave it out. Ex: “ABC Widgets, LLC” and “ABC Widgets LLC” are both acceptable.
5. Agree to terms again
Agree to the terms and click “Continue”.
These terms mention that the state may decline your filing if your LLC name is not distinguishable. Please make sure that you’ve searched your desired name in the Illinois LLC Name Lesson.
6. Principal Place of Business
Enter your LLC’s principal place of business. This must be a street address located in Illinois (PO boxes are not allowed). This address can be a home address, an office address, or the address of your Registered Agent.
7. Illinois Registered Agent & Registered Office
Enter the name and address of your LLC’s Registered Agent. Your Registered Agent’s address must be a street address located in Illinois (PO boxes are not allowed).
If your Registered Agent is an individual, they must be a resident of Illinois. If your Registered Agent is a company, they must be authorized to do business in Illinois.
8. Review Address
Review your Registered Agent’s address and click “Address is Correct”.
9. Names of Managers and/or Members:
(“Name(s) and business address(es) of the manager(s) and any member with the authority of manager”)
#9 may be confusing at first read, but hopefully we’ll help make things easier to understand.
A Member -managed LLC is where the LLC owners (called Members) run the business and day-to-day operations. All of the LLC Members also have the ability to legally bind the LLC into contracts and agreements.
A Manager -managed LLC is where the LLC owners (called Members) decide to elect one, or a few designated people (called Managers ). These Managers run the business and day-to-day operations and they are the only ones that have the ability to legally bind the LLC into contracts and agreements.
A Manager can be an “external person” (non-Member) that’s been hired by the Members, or a Manager can be an “internal person” – an existing Member – (where other Members decide not to be Managers and take on a passive/investor role). In a Manager -managed LLC, any LLC Member who chooses not to be a Manager cannot legally bind the LLC into contracts and agreements; but rather, only the Managers can.
A lot of information, huh? I know that was a lot to take in. We recommend reading over it a few times, as well as reading out our supporting documentation:
Why? If you’re curious about the “why” behind this confusing language, here it is: the state wants a way to disclose to the public who has the authority to legally bind the LLC into contracts and agreements. This helps in reducing fraudulent behavior when people attempt to act on behalf of an LLC (when they don’t have the actual authority).
Tips:10. Signature of LLC Organizer
An LLC Organizer is the person filing the LLC documents with the Illinois Secretary of State. This will most likely be you. If you are organizing your own LLC, you must do so under your full name (and not the name of an existing company). You must also be at least 18 years old.
If that’s the case, enter your full name and address, and then click “Continue”.
Note: Only one Organizer is required to sign this form. All of the members do not need to sign here. You will be officially listing all the members of your LLC in your Illinois Operating Agreement.
11. Review
Review your information for accuracy and check for typos. If you need to make any changes, click the “Edit” links. If everything looks good, click “Continue” at the bottom.
12. Billing Contact Information
Enter the name and address of the person paying (must match credit card info). Then enter your email address and click “Continue”.
13. Review your information and click “Pay Now” at the bottom.
14. Enter your credit card information (debit card may not work, so credit cards are preferred) and your phone number. Then click “Next” to submit your payment.
Congratulations! Your Illinois LLC has been filed for processing! Now you just need to wait for approval.
If you chose the regular filing option ($150 filing fee), your Illinois LLC will be approved in 5-10 business days.
If you chose the expedited filing option ($250 filing fee), your Illinois LLC will be approved in 1-2 business days.
Once approved, you will receive back a stamped and approved copy of your Articles of Organization, a Welcome Letter (which includes your LLC’s File Number), and a credit card receipt. The documents are sent to you by email. We recommend keeping a few copies of these forms with your business records.
If you have any questions, you can contact the Illinois Secretary of State at 217-782-6961. Dial extension 7736 for the Limited Liability Department.
If you can’t get through on the above number, just call 217-782-6875 and ask to be transferred to the Limited Liability Department.
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