Illinois business entity search and name check
Search business records
Check an Illinois name in the Secretary of State's Business Entity Search, run by the Department of Business Services; we link you there rather than searching it ourselves. An Illinois LLC costs $150 to form ($400 if it is a series LLC), and its $75 annual report is due before the first day of the month it was formed in. Illinois names are stricter than most: an LLC name can't include words like "Inc.", "Co." or "Ltd.".
- Official search
- Business Entity Search
- How we search Illinois
- Official site only (we hand you off). Illinois's business search sits behind a bot-protection check that blocks automated requests, and we don't try to get around it. Search it yourself in your browser.
- What a result can tell you
- Searching the official site shows names on record. Illinois decides acceptance when you file.
- State fee to form an LLC
- $150 (Articles of Organization)
- Ongoing LLC filing
- Annual Report, $75. Due before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month (the month it was formed). A series LLC pays an extra $50 for each series
What the Illinois search covers
Corporations (business and not-for-profit), LLCs and out-of-state entities registered with the Secretary of State, plus assumed names filed there by LLCs and corporations. Assumed names used by sole proprietors and partnerships are filed with county clerks (805 ILCS 405/1) and aren't in this search.
Each record has a File Number. Search by number on the Business Entity Search.
How to read Illinois results
Illinois uses its own status labels. We always show the official wording; here is what the common ones mean according to the state:
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Not in good standing | The LLC didn't file its annual report and pay the fee before the first day of its anniversary month, or didn't keep a registered agent. The Secretary of State won't accept its other filings until this is fixed. Source: ilga.gov |
A status describes the registry filing only. It isn’t evidence of a license, tax compliance or reputation, and a record with the same name as a company you know may be a different business. More on statuses.
Illinois business name rules
An LLC name must include one of: limited liability company
, L.L.C.
, LLC
, L3C (low-profit LLCs only)
. A corporation uses one of: Corporation
, Corp.
, Incorporated
, Inc.
, Company
, Co.
, Limited
, Ltd.
.
An Illinois LLC name must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State's records from other LLCs, out-of-state LLCs registered here, reserved names, LLC assumed names, and corporate names and assumed names. The Secretary of State makes the call. (805 ILCS 180/1-10(d),(f)) Source: ilga.gov
When comparing names, Illinois disregards: the words limited, liability and company and their abbreviations; articles (a, an, the); conjunctions (and, or); contractions; abbreviations; different tenses or singular and plural of the same word. Our name check applies these same rules.
Words that need approval or are restricted
| Words | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Corporation, Corp., Incorporated, Inc., Ltd., Co., Limited Partnership, L.P. | Not allowed in an LLC name. Source: ilga.gov |
| trust, trustee, fiduciary | Allowed only after meeting Section 1-9 of the Corporate Fiduciary Act, which is administered by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Source: ilga.gov |
Using a similar name with consent
Illinois's LLC law has no consent option. The only way to use a name that isn't distinguishable is to file a certified court decree establishing your prior right to it (805 ILCS 180/1-10(e)).
Reserving a name in Illinois
Illinois lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $25, held for 90 days.
Apply to the Secretary of State on its designated form. A reservation can be transferred to someone else by filing a notice ($25). Reserving a corporate name also costs $25 (805 ILCS 5/15.10(f)).
Illinois name reservation Source: ilga.gov
Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only Department of Business Services can.
Forming an LLC in Illinois
- Document
- Articles of Organization
- State filing fee
- $150
$150 for a standard LLC. An LLC that has series, or can create them, pays $400 (805 ILCS 180/50-10(b)(1)). - Out-of-state LLC registering here
- $150 (Application for Admission to Transact Business)
Fees change. Confirm them on the official Illinois fee schedule before you file.
File it yourself or use a service
File directly with Illinois
$150 state fee
You fill in the Articles of Organization yourself and pay only the state. You’ll need a registered agent with a Illinois street address; that can be you if you have one.
Use a formation service
A service prepares and files the paperwork, and most can act as your registered agent and send compliance reminders. You still pay the state fee on top of their price, and the state still decides whether to accept your name.
- Bizee: $0 plus the state fee (Basic); Standard $199, Premium $299, plus state fee
- LegalZoom: $0 plus state fees (Basic); Managed Service $249 plus state fees
- Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee
- ZenBusiness: $0 plus the state fee (Starter); Pro $199 plus state fee, renews $199/yr
We don’t currently earn commissions from these providers. Prices from each provider’s site on Oct 30, 2026. We never send them your proposed name. Compare what each includes · Disclosure
An EIN (federal tax ID) is free from the IRS; you don’t need to pay anyone for one.
Keeping a Illinois LLC in good standing
Annual Report: $75. Due before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month (the month it was formed). A series LLC pays an extra $50 for each series. Late fee: $100. Source: ilga.gov
Corporations, but not LLCs, pay an annual franchise tax with their annual report, based on paid-in capital. Since January 1, 2025 the first $10,000 of franchise tax is exempt (805 ILCS 5/15.35(d)). (Source: https://www.ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/080500050K15.35.htm)
If the LLC's report isn't filed before the first day of the second month after its anniversary month, the penalty is $100, plus $100 for each additional year it stays overdue (805 ILCS 180/50-15). Corporations pay a $75 annual report fee (805 ILCS 5/15.10(o)) plus franchise tax.
Proof of status: Certificate of Good Standing ($25). Source: ilga.gov
Assumed names (DBAs)
LLCs file assumed names with the Secretary of State. The fee is prorated to a five-year renewal cycle: $150 in years ending in 0 or 5, down to $30 in years ending in 4 or 9, and $150 to renew (805 ILCS 180/50-10(b)(9)). Individuals and partnerships file with their county clerk instead and must publish a notice in a newspaper once a week for three weeks in a row (805 ILCS 405/1). Source: ilga.gov
Good to know about Illinois
- An Illinois LLC name can't contain "Corporation", "Inc.", "Ltd.", "Co." or "L.P.", even though many states allow some of these. Source: ilga.gov
- A series LLC pays $400 to form instead of $150, and $50 per series on top of the $75 annual report fee. Source: ilga.gov
- The annual report is due before the first day of your anniversary month. Once it's late, the penalty is $100 and grows by $100 for each further year. Source: ilga.gov
- Name reservations last only 90 days. Source: ilga.gov
- A sole proprietor's assumed name is filed with the county clerk and must be published in a newspaper for three consecutive weeks. Source: ilga.gov
- Reinstating a dissolved LLC costs $200. Source: ilga.gov
Sources and accuracy
We checked this page against official Illinois sources on . Our monitor rechecks the official search, filing portal and fee pages daily and flags changes for review.
Items we couldn’t confirm on an official page (8)
- We couldn't confirm which search options the official search offers, how it matches names, which record details it shows, or its full list of status labels.
- We couldn't confirm the format of an Illinois file number.
- We couldn't confirm the department's phone number or contact page.
- We couldn't confirm whether Illinois publishes or sells bulk LLC data; the official rules we found cover corporations, nonprofits and assumed names.
- We couldn't confirm Illinois's registered agent requirements on an official page.
- We couldn't confirm online filing surcharges, expedite fees, the online filing address or processing times.
- We couldn't confirm naming rules for professional LLCs and corporations.
- The $25 good standing certificate fee is our reading of the general certificate fee in 805 ILCS 180/50-10; it isn't listed as a certificate of good standing fee by name.
See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only Department of Business Services can change an official record.