Illinois LLC Articles of Organization — Step 3 of 8
This is the filing that legally creates your Illinois LLC. Here's exactly what goes into Form LLC-5.5, what it costs, and how to avoid the mistakes that cause rejections.
File Illinois's Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5) with the Secretary of State's Department of Business Services for $150. You'll need your LLC's name, principal place of business, registered agent's name and Illinois street address, and the names and addresses of your initial managers or managing members. Processing typically takes 5–10 business days online; expedited service (+$100) speeds this to 1–2 business days. A Series LLC (Form LLC-5.5(S)) costs $400 instead.
- Filing fee
- $150
- Series LLC fee
- $400
- Filed with
- IL SOS Business Services
- Expedite fee
- +$100
- Organizer's signature
- Required
- OA filed with state?
- No
- Next step
- Step 4 →
What Goes Into the Articles of Organization
Form LLC-5.5 is straightforward, but every field matters for a smooth approval:
- LLC name — your exact legal name, including the required designator (LLC or L.L.C.).
- Principal place of business — the complete address of your main business location.
- Registered agent — name and Illinois street address of your registered agent, along with their written consent to serve.
- Initial managers or managing members — names and business addresses of everyone with management authority.
- Purpose statement — you can list a specific purpose or use a general catch-all statement covering any lawful business activity.
- Organizer's signature — the person filing must sign, with their name typed or printed below the signature.
Filing-Readiness Checklist
Check off each item as you gather it — the ring fills in as you go:
Filing Your Articles
- File online through the Illinois Secretary of State — the fastest option, typically processed in 5–10 business days.
- Or mail your filing — send Form LLC-5.5 with a check, cashier's check, money order, or attorney/CPA check made payable to "Secretary of State." Cash is not accepted for any Illinois filing.
- Expedited processing available — add $100 for 1–2 business day approval; note that expedited requests must be made in person, not by mail.
- Don't attach your operating agreement — it's not filed with the state; keep it as an internal document.
- Save your approved Articles — you'll need your approval date (your anniversary month) for your first Annual Report, and the document itself for opening a bank account.
You can delay your LLC's start dateIllinois lets you specify a future effective date for your LLC — up to 60 days after filing. This can be useful if you're filing near year-end and want your LLC's first tax year to start cleanly on January 1, rather than mid-December.
- ✓Forms your Illinois LLC for $39 + the $150 state fee
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Illinois Articles of Organization — FAQ
Ahmad Adil is the founder and CEO of LLC School. The guidance here — the $150/$400 fee structure, the required fields on Form LLC-5.5, and the delayed-effective-date option — reflects current Illinois Secretary of State guidance. This is educational information, not legal advice.
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