Guide

How to fill out the Illinois LLC form, step by step

To start an LLC in Illinois, you fill out one form, make two copies, and pay $150. This page walks you through the form one box at a time. You do not need a lawyer to read it.

General information only, not legal or tax advice. I am not a lawyer, a CPA or an accountant. Flipfiled does not prepare tax returns or give legal advice. This page explains what the Illinois Secretary of State’s own guide says, in simpler words. If you are unsure about your situation, ask an Illinois attorney.

The short version

1. Pick a name that ends in “LLC” and check that it is free.
2. Pick who will receive legal mail for the company (the registered agent).
3. Fill out Form LLC-5.5, which has 9 short parts called “Articles.”
4. Sign it. Make one copy.
5. Send both copies with $150 to the Secretary of State.
6. When it comes back stamped, your LLC exists. Then get your EIN.

The form is called the Articles of Organization. The Illinois form number is LLC-5.5.

Before you start: gather these

• Two or three name ideas.
• The address where your business is based. It can be your home.
• The name and Illinois street address of your registered agent. This can be you if you live in Illinois.
• The full names and addresses of the people who will run the company.
• A way to pay $150 (see what to send).
• A black pen, or a printer. The state says to type or print clearly.

Ask a few questions before you start. Do you want other owners? If yes, read operating agreements first. Do you need a special license for what you sell? See starting a business in Chicago for the order of all the steps.

Fill out the form, one Article at a time

Article 1: The company name

What to write: Your company name, ending in LLC. You can also write “L.L.C.” or “Limited Liability Company.”

Example: Sample Vintage Finds LLC

Rules to check:

• It must be different from other companies on file with the state.
• Do not use “Corporation,” “Corp.,” “Inc.,” “Incorporated,” “Ltd.,” “Co.,” “Limited Partnership” or “LP.”
• Do not use words like “bank,” “insurance,” “trust” or “fiduciary.” They need special permission.
• Use only English letters, numbers and normal symbols.
• Nothing offensive.

How to check if a name is free: Call the Department of Business Services at 217-524-8008, or use the name search on the Secretary of State’s website. A name check is only a preview. The name is not yours until the state accepts your form.

Want to hold a name first? You can reserve it for 90 days for $25 using Form LLC-1.15. This is optional. The $25 does not count toward the $150. More about names: picking an LLC name.

Watch out: The state does not check trademarks or whether your name is too close to another business’s brand. Search for that yourself.

Article 2: Where the business is based

What to write: The main address of the business. It can be your home. It does not have to be in Illinois.

Good to know: The company must keep certain records at this address. Examples are a list of owners, tax returns for the last 3 years, and the operating agreement. The owners can ask to see them.

Article 3: The start date

What to write: Usually, “the date this is filed.” Your LLC then starts the day the state files your form.

Other option: You can pick a later start date, up to 60 days after filing. Most people do not need this.

Article 4: The registered agent

The registered agent is the person or company that receives legal papers and state mail for your LLC. Every Illinois LLC needs one.

What to write: The agent’s name and their Illinois street address. The registered office must be the same address as the agent’s business address.

Who can be your agent:

• A person who lives in Illinois (this can be you), or
• A company that is allowed to do business in Illinois.

Address rules: It must be in Illinois. It must be a street or road address, or a rural route with a box number. A P.O. box alone is not accepted.

Watch out: Only name someone who has agreed to do it. If an LLC does not keep a registered agent and office, the state can end the company. More detail: agent, address and managers explained.

Article 5: What the company does

What to write: One short line about the business.

Example: To buy and resell goods, and to do any other lawful business.

Good to know: Illinois lets an LLC be formed for any lawful purpose. The state returns forms when the purpose is too broad, or sounds like banking or insurance. If you plan a licensed profession such as medicine or law, you need a special certificate first, so ask an attorney.

Article 6: How long the company lasts

What to write: “Perpetual.” That means it has no end date. The state says that is the default unless you write something else.

Article 7: Optional extras

What to write: Nothing. This is the only part you can skip. The state says every other part must be filled in.

Article 8: Who runs the company

An Illinois LLC is run by its owners (called members) unless your operating agreement says otherwise. This part asks for the names and business addresses of the managers, or of any owner with the power of a manager.

What to write: If you are the only owner, write your name and business address. If you have partners, list each person who can make decisions for the company.

Article 9: Signature

The “organizer” is the person who files the form. It can be you.

• An organizer must be 18 or older, or a business.
• Sign your name.
• Under it, print your name and address.
• If a business is the organizer, write the business’s exact name, then the name and job title of the person who signs for it.

What to send

Why forms get sent back

The state returns forms for simple reasons. Check these before you mail:

• A blank part, or an unreadable signature.
• The wrong amount, an unsigned check, or a check not made out to the Secretary of State.
• Only one copy, not two.
• The name is too much like an existing one, or it does not end in LLC.
• The name uses a restricted word, such as “trust” or “bank.”
• A P.O. box as the registered office.
• A purpose that sounds like banking or insurance.
• You sent a different form by mistake.

After you file

1. Keep your stamped copy. Your LLC exists as of the date on it.
2. Write an operating agreement. Illinois does not require one, but it helps. See operating agreements.
3. Get your EIN from the IRS, free, after the LLC exists. See how to get an EIN.
4. Open a business bank account. See business bank account.
5. Register for sales tax before you sell. See sales tax registration.
6. Put the annual report on your calendar. It costs $75 and is due every year before the first day of the month you formed the LLC. If you formed on September 15, it is due before September 1 each year. Filing more than 60 days late adds a $100 penalty. The state can dissolve an LLC that stays delinquent for 120 days. See annual report and reinstatement.

Chicago and other cities may also need licenses. See do you need a Chicago business license?

Is a series LLC different?

Yes. A series LLC uses Form LLC-5.5(S) instead of LLC-5.5, and the filing fee is $400. After that, each separate series needs a Certificate of Designation (Form LLC-37.40), which costs $50. Most new resellers do not need this. See LLPs and series LLCs.

Fees at a glance

The state says expedited fees are added on top of the regular fees.

Sources

Illinois Secretary of State, Guide for Organizing Domestic Limited Liability Companies (printed February 2024), including its fee list. Illinois Secretary of State rules: 14 Ill. Adm. Code Part 178 (opens in a new tab). Fees and rules can change, so check the form instructions on the Secretary of State’s website, or call 217-524-8008, before you file.

I am not a lawyer

This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. I explain what the state’s guide says in simpler words. I do not tell you what your company should say. For questions about your own situation, ask an Illinois attorney or CPA. Flipfiled does not prepare tax returns or give legal advice.