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Researched and written by the Launchwise Review editorial team
Launchwise Review

Rankings of registered agents, LLC formation and foreign registration services in all 50 states.

Launch guide · Illinois · registered agent

3 Best Registered Agents in Illinois (2026)

Researched and written by the Launchwise Review editorial team
For a 2026 launch in Illinois, Launchwise Review grades registered agents this way: Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), Illinois Registered Agent.co ($99 a year) and IL Registered Agent.org ($99 a year). Mainstay Filing earns the top grade here: one agent plan at $149 a year that works in every state, renewing at $149.
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Number one here

1. Mainstay Filing: best for all fifty states

$149 a year, flat

Our mark 9.5 out of 10

Top grade, Mainstay Filing: the price stays $149 a year if you stay put or expand, and your first three government letters each year are scanned free.

Launching a new company? The $199 yearly package also takes care of the Illinois filing and the annual report.

It runs $150 above Illinois Registered Agent.co across three years; the extra paperwork it handles is worth that to us.

In the price

  • A registered office street address in any state you need
  • Papers served on the company scanned and uploaded the same business day, no charge
  • Your first three government letters each year, scanned free
  • Compliance reminders

Pros

  • $149 a year and it does not rise
  • Works for LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits
  • Your first three government letters each year are scanned free
  • Papers served on the company are scanned the same business day, free

Less good

  • The agent plan alone costs $50 a year more than Illinois Registered Agent.co
  • Report filing belongs to the formation package, not the agent plan
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Mainstay Filing launch review
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Best for an Illinois-only company

2. Illinois Registered Agent.co: best for the smallest annual bill we rank here

$99 a year, flat

Our mark 9.3 out of 10

Next up is Illinois Registered Agent.co: a Illinois specialist at $99 a year, supplying an in-state street address for the registered office.

Your registered office becomes Illinois Registered Agent.co's street address in the state, and you read anything served on the company as a scan online.

In the price

  • A physical street address in the state on the public record
  • Scans of legal papers served on the company wait in your account

Pros

  • Beats Mainstay Filing on yearly cost
  • $99 annually with no renewal bump
  • Forms LLCs too, with a free first agent year

Less good

  • You still file the Limited Liability Company Annual Report
  • Made for Illinois; other states need their own agent
Visit Illinois Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Illinois Registered Agent.co launch review
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Illinois only

3. IL Registered Agent.org: best for Illinois specialists

$99 a year, flat

Our mark 9.0 out of 10

Rounding out the list is IL Registered Agent.org: a Illinois specialist at $99 a year, supplying an in-state street address for the registered office.

IL Registered Agent.org handles the registered office with a state street address and scans whatever is served there for you.

Illinois Registered Agent.co and IL Registered Agent.org post the same price and the same features, so you can choose either.

In the price

  • An in-state street address as the registered office
  • Served documents are scanned so you can read them online

Pros

  • $99 yearly, held steady at renewal
  • Mainstay Filing charges more each year
  • Also forms LLCs, first agent year free

Less good

  • You still file the Limited Liability Company Annual Report
  • Made for Illinois; other states need their own agent
Visit IL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the IL Registered Agent.org launch review

The 3 grades at a glance

Place Company Launch grade Per year At renewal Best fit Go
1 Mainstay Filing 9.5 $149 $149/yr An agent for every state you may enter Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Illinois Registered Agent.co 9.3 $99 $99/yr The lowest yearly price among the picks we rank here Visit Illinois Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 IL Registered Agent.org 9.0 $99 $99/yr The lowest yearly price among the picks we rank here Visit IL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Scores out of 10 are Launchwise Review's own editorial grades, set from the criteria on How we rank. Customers do not rate anything here.

Illinois registered agent cost in 2026: first year, renewals, three-year total

Company Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Three years, total Renewal price matches
Mainstay Filing $149 $149 $149 $447 Yes
Illinois Registered Agent.co $99 $99 $99 $297 Yes
IL Registered Agent.org $99 $99 $99 $297 Yes
Prices were copied from each company's own pages on November 12, 2026. Illinois's own fees do not change with your choice of agent.

What drove the grades

Two criteria weigh 26% each in these grades: cost to launch and stay and launch paperwork handled. Renewal behavior, state match and price transparency share 48%, and Illinois turned on launch paperwork handled.

Mainstay's plan covers more ground: papers served on the company are scanned the same business day at no charge, the price is the same in all fifty states, and three government letters a year are scanned free. Illinois Registered Agent.co costs less, and the grades are close.

Every criterion and weight is listed on How we rank.

Illinois registered agent rules, straight from Illinois Secretary of State

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a registered office in Illinois that matches the agent's business office. A P.O. box alone is not accepted. Law behind it: 805 ILCS 180/1-35.

Illinois Limited Liability Company Annual Report: date and fee

Put the Limited Liability Company Annual Report on your Illinois calendar every year. Count on a $75 state charge, with the deadline at before the first day of the entity's anniversary month. Miss it and $100 gets added. Your registered agent receives the state's notices about it.

Quick answers about Illinois registered agents

Do I have to line up a registered agent before launching an Illinois LLC?

Yes. Put a registered agent with a physical Illinois address on the paperwork, because the state will not accept an LLC without one.

What should I budget each year for a Illinois registered agent?

Expect $99 to $149 a year, and each company keeps its price at renewal.

Could I just serve as my own registered agent?

Often yes, if you meet the state's conditions. An Illinois resident, or a business authorized to do business in Illinois. The LLC cannot act as its own agent.

When does the Illinois Limited Liability Company Annual Report come due?

Put before the first day of the entity's anniversary month on your calendar. The state asks $75, and a late filing adds $100.

Which registered agents are graded on this page?

Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), Illinois Registered Agent.co ($99 a year) and IL Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), top grade first.

Which Illinois registered agent should a new company pick first?

Mainstay Filing, because $149 a year, still $149 at renewal, and papers served on the company are scanned the same business day at no charge.

See also

Sources and dates

  1. Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, Limited Liability Division, dated August 2026
  2. Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, Limited Liability Division, dated August 2026
  3. 805 ILCS 180/5-5, dated August 2026
  4. Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, official source, dated October 2026
  5. Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, official source, dated October 2026
  6. Illinois registered agent statute, dated October 2026
  7. From Mainstay Filing: Illinois service page, copied November 12, 2026
  8. From Illinois Registered Agent.co: pricing and service pages, copied November 12, 2026
  9. From IL Registered Agent.org: pricing and service pages, copied November 12, 2026