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Plain CharterLLC questions, short answers.

Short answers · Illinois

3 Best LLC Services in Illinois (2026), Plainly Answered

Our 2026 answer for Illinois: Mainstay Filing ($199), Illinois Registered Agent.co ($199) and IL Registered Agent.org ($199), best first. The state's filing fee is $150 no matter who files. Service fees over three years: $397 to $597.

By the Plain Charter editorial team ·

Short version

State filing fee
$150, once, up front
After year one
$75 yearly
Registered agent
Yes, required
Our order
Mainstay Filing, Illinois Registered Agent.co then IL Registered Agent.org

Illinois: our picks

Our order, explained on how we choose.
1First choice

1. Mainstay Filing: best for hands-off owners

Annual price $199, renewal price $199, state fee extra

Mainstay Filing leads our list: it is the only pick here that files the annual report for you, inside $199 a year.

Illinois Registered Agent.co is $200 less over three years, but leaves more filings with you.

It files the Limited Liability Company Annual Report for you and passes on the $75 state fee at cost.

The price covers

  • Formation, done for you
  • Registered agent all year
  • Annual report handled each time
  • EIN application
  • Official fee, no markup

Upsides

  • Renews at $199
  • One yearly price of $199
  • Handles the EIN application

What to weigh

  • $100 a year more than Illinois Registered Agent.co from year two
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Illinois only

2. Illinois Registered Agent.co: best for a lean start

$199 plus state fees; renewal $99

Illinois Registered Agent.co ranks second, because formation costs $199 and the yearly agent renewal is $99.

You will file the Limited Liability Company Annual Report on your own.

The price covers

  • State filing handled
  • Agent included, year one

Upsides

  • $99 a year from year two
  • Agent service, year one
  • $199 to form

What to weigh

  • No help with the Limited Liability Company Annual Report
  • EIN not included ($99)
Visit Illinois Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Illinois only

3. IL Registered Agent.org: best for another local option

$199 plus state fees; renewal $99

IL Registered Agent.org ranks third, because formation costs $199 and the yearly agent renewal is $99.

You will file the Limited Liability Company Annual Report on your own.

Its prices match Illinois Registered Agent.co exactly, so either is a sound choice.

The price covers

  • State filing handled
  • Agent included, year one

Upsides

  • $99 a year from year two
  • $199 to form
  • Agent service, year one

What to weigh

  • No help with the Limited Liability Company Annual Report
  • EIN not included ($99)
Visit IL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Prices together

#ServiceTo startEach year afterBy year threeIncludes
1Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597Formation, done for you; registered agent all year; annual report handled each timeVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Illinois Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397state filing handled; agent included, year oneVisit Illinois Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3IL Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397state filing handled; agent included, year oneVisit IL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Prices as published on November 12, 2026. The state's own fees are listed in the requirements below.

What owners ask

How much should I budget to form it?

The state takes $150; a service adds $199 in year one.

Over three years the state collects $300 in total, filing fee included. from ilsos.gov · October 2026

What do I file, and where?

The LLC starts life when the Illinois Secretary of State accepts the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5).

Legal basis: 805 ILCS 180/5-5. from ilsos.gov · October 2026

Must the LLC name 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.

from ilga.gov · October 2026

What comes due after the LLC exists?

Keep the Limited Liability Company Annual Report current, every year, for $75. When: before the first day of the entity's anniversary month.

A late report costs $100 extra.

from ilsos.gov · October 2026

Can I handle it on my own?

Yes. Filing yourself leaves only the state's fees, $300 over three years.

What you pay a service ($397 to $597 over three years) buys the paperwork and the agent role.

What put the first pick first?

Because of what the price takes off your plate: Mainstay Filing does best there, and it counts for 30%.

Three-year cost counts for 35% and what the price takes off your plate for 30%; the other three criteria are smaller.

Put plainly: you never have to remember the Limited Liability Company Annual Report, and that is worth more to us than a smaller bill.

Read our criteria

Requirements, cited

RequirementWhat it isSource
Formation fee$150from ilsos.gov · October 2026
Registered agentYes, requiredfrom ilga.gov · October 2026
Limited Liability Company Annual Report$75 every yearfrom ilsos.gov · October 2026
Three-year state total$300Added up from the above
We add the filing, two years of reports and any minimum tax for the three-year line. Publication and other variable costs are excluded.

People also ask

Do they apply for the EIN?

With Mainstay Filing it is part of the price; Illinois Registered Agent.co bills $99 and IL Registered Agent.org bills $99.

Is there a late fee?

$100 on top of the report fee.

Over three years, what does each charge?

Mainstay Filing $597, Illinois Registered Agent.co $397 and IL Registered Agent.org $397 (service fees only).

Are the fees official?

Official schedules for state fees, company pricing for service fees, all dated on this page.

Do I need to hire a service?

Not required. Services charge for doing the paperwork for you.

Who comes first in Illinois?

We rank Mainstay Filing first on what the price takes off your plate, with Illinois Registered Agent.co and IL Registered Agent.org behind it.

Where these answers come from

  1. August 2026: Illinois Secretary of State, Department, ilsos.gov
  2. August 2026: Illinois Secretary of State, Department, ilsos.gov
  3. August 2026: 805 ILCS 180/5-5, ilga.gov
  4. October 2026: Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, ilga.gov
  5. October 2026: Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, ilsos.gov
  6. October 2026: Illinois registered agent statute, ilga.gov
  7. Mainstay Filing Illinois service page (prices on November 12, 2026)
  8. Illinois Registered Agent.co pricing page (prices on November 12, 2026)
  9. IL Registered Agent.org pricing page (prices on November 12, 2026)