Chauncey grew up on a farm in rural northern California. At 18 he ran away and saw the world with a backpack and a credit card, discovering that the true value of any point or mile is the experience it facilitates. He remains most at home on a tracto.
Chauncey Crail ContributorChauncey grew up on a farm in rural northern California. At 18 he ran away and saw the world with a backpack and a credit card, discovering that the true value of any point or mile is the experience it facilitates. He remains most at home on a tracto.
Written By Chauncey Crail ContributorChauncey grew up on a farm in rural northern California. At 18 he ran away and saw the world with a backpack and a credit card, discovering that the true value of any point or mile is the experience it facilitates. He remains most at home on a tracto.
Chauncey Crail ContributorChauncey grew up on a farm in rural northern California. At 18 he ran away and saw the world with a backpack and a credit card, discovering that the true value of any point or mile is the experience it facilitates. He remains most at home on a tracto.
Contributor Kelly Main Staff ReviewerKelly Main is a Marketing Editor and Writer specializing in digital marketing, online advertising and web design and development. Before joining the team, she was a Content Producer at Fit Small Business where she served as an editor and strategist c.
Kelly Main Staff ReviewerKelly Main is a Marketing Editor and Writer specializing in digital marketing, online advertising and web design and development. Before joining the team, she was a Content Producer at Fit Small Business where she served as an editor and strategist c.
Written By Kelly Main Staff ReviewerKelly Main is a Marketing Editor and Writer specializing in digital marketing, online advertising and web design and development. Before joining the team, she was a Content Producer at Fit Small Business where she served as an editor and strategist c.
Kelly Main Staff ReviewerKelly Main is a Marketing Editor and Writer specializing in digital marketing, online advertising and web design and development. Before joining the team, she was a Content Producer at Fit Small Business where she served as an editor and strategist c.
Staff Reviewer Jane Haskins, J.D. contributorJane Haskins practiced law for 20 years, representing small businesses in startup, dissolution, business transactions and litigation. She has written hundreds of articles on legal, intellectual property and tax issues affecting small businesses.
Jane Haskins, J.D. contributorJane Haskins practiced law for 20 years, representing small businesses in startup, dissolution, business transactions and litigation. She has written hundreds of articles on legal, intellectual property and tax issues affecting small businesses.
Jane Haskins, J.D. contributorJane Haskins practiced law for 20 years, representing small businesses in startup, dissolution, business transactions and litigation. She has written hundreds of articles on legal, intellectual property and tax issues affecting small businesses.
Jane Haskins, J.D. contributorJane Haskins practiced law for 20 years, representing small businesses in startup, dissolution, business transactions and litigation. She has written hundreds of articles on legal, intellectual property and tax issues affecting small businesses.
Updated: Aug 19, 2024, 3:32pm
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If you want to know how to get a limited liability company (LLC) in Illinois, you are not alone. LLCs are popular business entities. Formation of LLCs skyrocketed in the late 1990s after the IRS changed its rules, allowing LLC owners to choose how they’re taxed.
Establishing an LLC can feel complicated if you’re new to the process and do not know all the steps. LLCs in Illinois are governed by the Limited Liability Company Act. We’ve done the research and put together this simple guide to forming an LLC in Illinois.
You’ll want to take care of a few crucial details before you move forward with forming your LLC. These steps will help you avoid unnecessary delays or wasting money.
Illinois requires your LLC name to be distinguishable from every other LLC or corporation name registered or reserved in the state. To avoid having your formation paperwork rejected, be sure to research business name availability using the Department of Business Services search engine. It is also possible to reach out by phone regarding LLC name availability by dialing 217-524-8008.
You should prepare alternative business names just in case your first choice is not available.
Reserve Your LLC Name (Optional)
To hold a name for business use, you must file Form LLC-1.15, the Application to Reserve a Name. The form also lets you transfer or cancel a name reservation. The filing fee to apply for a business name is $25; if you wish to cancel your reservation, the price is only $5.
This form will hold your desired LLC name for up to 90 days; filing this form is not the same as forming an LLC. It is also not mandatory. If you aren’t ready to file your formation paperwork yet, this is an excellent first step in ensuring your preferred name will be available for use once you establish your Illinois business entity.
Illinois LLC Naming Requirements and Exceptions
When naming your business entity, you must by law include “Limited Liability Company” or the abbreviations “LLC” or “L.L.C.” However, in Illinois, any business entity providing professional services licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation must use “Professional Limited Liability Company” or abbreviate it to “PLLC” or “P.L.L.C.”
Likewise, a worker cooperative must use the term “Limited Worker Cooperative Association” or abbreviations “LWCA” or “L.W.C.A.”
Illinois requires you to appoint a registered agent service to receive legal documents on behalf of your business. An agent can be an Illinois resident or a company authorized to do business in Illinois. The agent must have a street address in the state, known as the registered office.
You or one of your employees can act as a registered agent as long as you meet the requirements. LLCs and corporations are not legally able to act as their own registered agents in Illinois. You can also appoint a registered agent to act on your behalf. You can spend as much as $300 or as little as $49 per year; it usually comes down to the quality of service, so be sure to ask questions and read reviews.
