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 Articles of Organization, Form LLC-5.5, for $150; the series form is $400. Prepare the LLC name, principal place of business, registered agent and office, purpose, duration if applicable, organizer details, and initial managers or members with manager authority. Optional expedited service adds $100. Check current processing and method-specific effective-date limits instead of relying on a fixed turnaround.
- 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 — provide the name and Illinois registered-office street address requested by current Form LLC-5.5. Confirm the appointment; a separate written-consent attachment is not listed here as a filing requirement.
- 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.
Prepare the Current Form Fields
Use current LLC-5.5 and the selected filing channel. The paper form permits a later effective date no more than 60 days after filing; standard online provisions may fix effectiveness to the filing date. A $150 ordinary filing and $400 series filing are different forms; expedited review, where available, costs an additional $100.
Illinois Articles of Organization — FAQ
Ahmad Adil is the founder and CEO of LLC School. For filing and ongoing compliance, confirm the requirements with the responsible state agency. This is educational information, not legal or tax advice.
About Ahmad Adil → Illinois LLC Overview →