Illinois Articles of Organization

How to file your Illinois Articles of Organization

Filing your Articles of Organization in Illinois can be done online or in printed form. The form is different for foreign limited liability companies. Illinois offers a handy guide that addresses filling out the form in greater detail.

Before you start filling out your Article of Organization in Illinois, it’s best to gather the necessary information ahead of time. 

Step 1: Determine and submit the name of your LLC

Make sure that you adhere to all state naming guidelines when choosing your Illinois business name. The name you decide on must be distinguishable from other LLC or corporation names. The name must include the words Limited Liability Company or the abbreviations L.L.C. or LLC. It can’t contain the terms Corporation, Corp., Incorporated, Inc., Ltd., Co., Limited Partnership, or L.P. (these are limited to use by other types of business entities). 

The Secretary of State’s office reserves the right to make the final determination on the availability of limited liability company names, but you can make sure your chosen name is not already in use with our Business Name Checker. 

Step 2: Include your business’s principal address

This needs to be a physical address. A post office box number is not enough to satisfy the requirement. It can be listed as your mailing address. 

Step 3: Select Effective Date

You can choose to have your LLC come into existence on the filling date or at a later date (not to exceed 60 days after filing). You can also indicate a date on which your LLC will dissolve if you desire, but the default is for the LLC’s duration to be perpetual. 

Step 4:  Registered Agent information 

All limited liability companies in Illinois must have a registered agent to receive legal documents and other business correspondence. All correspondence initiated by the Secretary of State’s office will be mailed to the registered agent at the registered office address.

If you don’t have a Registered Agent, we can help you acquire one. 

Step 5: Complete Purpose Clause

The purpose clause states the character of the business objectives of your LLC. An Illinois LLC may be formed for any lawful purpose. You can generally use the general purpose statement on the form (“The transaction of any or all lawful business for which Limited Liability Companies may be organized under this Act.”) unless your LLC is a professional LLC, in which case you must state the specific professional services to be rendered.

Step 6: Manager and member information 

The Articles of Organization in Illinois must state the names and business addresses of all managers and members with manager-level authority. It is a good idea to determine what kind of management structure you want to have before determining this information. 

Step 7: Provide an Organizer signature

Articles of Organization in Illinois must be executed by one or more organizers. This does not have to be a member or manager of the company.

Where to file your Illinois Articles of Organization 

Submit your Articles of Organization online on the Secretary of State website for the fastest service. A hard-copy form is available. This form can be mailed or hand-delivered but requires a duplicate. Make sure to include the filing fee. 

What are the next steps?

Once you have submitted your Articles of Organization in Illinois, there is still more to do before opening your doors for business. 

Create an Operating Agreement

An Operating Agreement is not required for an Illinois LLC but is highly advisable. This internal document is used to outline the business’s operational procedures. Provisions include policies that define the rights and responsibilities of members and managers. We can help you create this document with our Operating Agreement Template.  

Apply for an EIN

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is necessary for any business that files taxes or has employees. It s obtained from the IRS. We can also take care of that for you. 

Open Business Accounts

After you have received your EIN, you can open business bank accounts and other business accounts. Taxes are hard enough as it is. Make sure to keep your business and personal accounts separate. 

Obtain Licenses and Permits

Illinois doesn’t have a statewide general business license. However, depending on where you do business, you may need a license or permit to operate. Your location, profession, and industry type are factors that impact what licenses and permits are required. These can be issued at any level of government, so it is essential to do your research. You could also use our Business License Report. 

We can help with your Articles of Organization in Illinois

There’s a lot to do when opening a business. Luckily, you don’t have to do it all yourself. After we’ve filed your Articles of Organization in Illinois, we can help you stay on track with our Worry-Free Compliance Service. 

Keep up to date with your Annual Report, file any necessary amendments, and stay in good standing with the state. We can even help you manage transactions with our ZB Money app!