Updated 2026-04-30 · Verified against Illinois Secretary of State
The registered agent designation in Illinois is governed by 805 ILCS 180/1-35, which applies to LLCs, corporations, and most other formal business entities. An acceptable registered agent in Illinois maintains a physical street address within the state and is available during regular business hours; post office boxes do not satisfy the statute. The agent’s name and street address are filed with the Illinois Secretary of State and become part of the public business record.
In practice, the registered agent designation sits within a wider compliance cycle: a $150 formation filing with the Illinois Secretary of State, an annual report at $75 annually before the first day of the anniversary month, and a $25 Statement of Change whenever the agent changes. Illinois reduced its LLC formation fee from $500 to $150 in 2017 to align with neighboring states, but the annual report remains $75.
| # | Service | Price/yr | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwest Registered Agent | $125 | privacy-focused customers |
| 2 | ZenBusiness | $199 | new businesses bundling formation |
| 3 | LegalZoom | $249 | customers wanting brand-name support |
| 4 | Mainstay Filing | $99 | balanced value |
Illinois-specific option: Illinois Registered Agent.co operates exclusively in Illinois and specializes in same-state filings. Best for businesses that want a state-focused provider with local-only operations.
| Physical address required | Yes — must be a street address in Illinois |
|---|---|
| P.O. box allowed | No |
| Business hours availability | Required during normal business hours |
| Resident requirement | Must be a Illinois resident OR a business entity authorized to do business in Illinois |
| Listed in public record | Yes — name and address are publicly searchable via Illinois Secretary of State |
| Statute reference | 805 ILCS 180/1-35 |
| Filing Type | Fee | Renewal | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC formation (Articles of Organization) | $150 | annually before the first day of the anniversary month | $75 |
| DBA / Fictitious Name | $5 | Every 5 years | $5 |
| Registered Agent change | $25 | — | — |
| Annual Report | $75 | annually before the first day of the anniversary month | $75 |
Yes — if you are a Illinois resident with a physical street address and are available during business hours.
Yes. Illinois law requires every LLC to maintain a Illinois-based registered agent regardless of where the owner lives.
The Illinois Secretary of State can administratively dissolve your business after approximately 60 days of non-compliance.
Yes — file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the Illinois Secretary of State for $25.
$50–$150 per year for commercial services; free if you self-serve.
Yes. The agent's name and address are searchable via the Illinois Secretary of State business records.
Same-day with most commercial services; same-business-day filing if submitted online before the daily cutoff.
This page provides general information about Illinois registered agent requirements, not legal advice. Filing fees and procedures may change; verify current details with the Illinois Secretary of State before filing. We may receive compensation from services listed in our comparisons; this does not influence our editorial selections.