Skip to content

Illinois Registered Agent for Your LLC

Every business entity formed in Illinois must appoint a person or business to act as a Registered Agent.

Start your LLC today for $0 + IL state fee.

Get your first year of Registered Agent service for free when you create your business with Bizee.

Enterprising Woman with technical skills

What is a Registered Agent?

A man with a title Registerd Agent in the background

On this page

Registered Agent

    An Illinois Registered Agent provides various services including accepting formal documents and correspondence from the Illinois Secretary of State (IL SOS).


    Your LLC is required to have a Registered Agent at all times. You appoint one when you first start your business, but you can also replace your existing Illinois Registered Agent at a later date, assuming the service is uninterrupted while switching between the old and new agents.

    Illinois Registered Agent Requirements

    • Every domestic and foreign corporation is required to maintain a Registered Agent with a registered office in the State of Illinois at all times.
    • The Registered Agent is allowed to be either a natural person, or a domestic or foreign (licensed to transact business in this State) artificial legal entity (Corporation, LLC, LP or LLP).
    • The registered office must be located at a street address in the State of Illinois, and a P.O. Box isn’t allowed.
    • If it’s a business, they are required to be able to conduct business in Illinois.
    • If it’s a person, they are required to reside in Illinois.
    • The Registered Agent is required to be available in person during normal business hours to sign for any correspondence.

    Note that the address for your Illinois agent doesn't need to be the same as your business address. In fact, you can use an Illinois virtual mailbox for your business address.


    Important: A virtual mailbox is not a substitute for a Registered Agent. They perform two different functions and per state law, you must have a Registered Agent.

    What an Illinois Registered Agent Does

    The Registered Agent’s main function is to accept official documents and correspondence.

    This includes:

    • Official communication from the IL SOS
    • Process notice service (if your LLC is required to appear in court or sued)
    • Official correspondence and notifications from the state or federal government
    • Tax forms and requests to complete permits, company filings and reports

    Bizee Provides Free Illinois Registered Agent Service for the First Year

    Bizee offers complete Illinois Registered Agent service for any LLC that’s formed in the state. Even better, if you start your business through us, your Registered Agent is free for the first year, and only $119 a year after that.


    Bizee can legally act as your Registered Agent and is authorized to conduct business in Illinois. Here’s what you’ll get from the our Registered Agent service:

    • An Illinois Registered Agent always available to receive correspondence, documents and legal proceedings on your behalf
    • A real-time dashboard where you can access, store and retrieve any information we’ve received on your behalf
    • Email notification when we receive documents for your business
    • Automatic forwarding of all information directly to you, such as legal correspondence and documentation
    Get Our Trusted Registered Agent Service

    Appointing a Registered Agent for Your LLC

    Illinois requires you to appoint a Registered Agent when you first form your LLC, but you can change it at any point after that. Here’s how to go about it.

    Assign a Registered Agent When You Form Your LLC

    Your business is required to have a Registered Agent when it’s formed, and you have two opportunities to do this:

    01

    When You File Articles of Organization with the IL SOS

    Include details of your Registered Agent on the form you file with the Secretary of State.

    02

    When You Form Your LLC Through Bizee

    If you start your business through us, you’ll get a free year of our Registered Agent Service, and we’ll use the information you provide to complete and file your Articles of Organization for you.

    Start Your Business Through Bizee

    Assign a Different Registered Agent After Formation

    You can always change your Illinois Registered Agent after you’ve formed your LLC. There are two ways to do this.

    01

    Choose a Registered Agent Service and File a Form with the IL SOS

    Once you’ve chosen a new Registered Agent, you can complete the Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office form available on the IL SOS website. Once you’ve filled it out, send it to the Secretary of State with the required $25 filing fee.

    02

    We’ll File the Change on Your Behalf

    When you use our Registered Agent service, we fill and file the forms for you. We’ll ask you all the important details about your business, complete the form with that information, and then send it to the IL SOS. We’ll let you know once we are officially your Registered Agent.

    Order Bizee’s Registered Agent Service

    Illinois Registered Agent Search

    You may need to know the name of the Registered Agent that represents another LLC in Illinois. You can usually find this information in the state's business database.


    You can also request it through the Secretary of State's office if you can’t find the Registered Agent’s information online.

    What Happens If You Don’t Have a Registered Agent?

    If you don’t provide details of a Registered Agent to the IL SOS, there could be consequences, such as:

    • Not finding out about getting served or sued. You could lose to a default judgment in your absence if your LLC is served with a lawsuit.
    • Losing your good standing with the IL SOS. If you don’t respond to certain correspondence (like the request for your annual report), the state may take away your right to do business.
    • Losing your status as an LLC in Illinois. A Registered Agent shows the state that your business exists, and without it, your LLC may be dissolved.

    Acting as Your Own Registered Agent

    You can be the Registered Agent for your Illinois LLC if you have an address in the state, but there can be disadvantages:

    • The Registered Agent must reside at a physical street address in Illinois, so if you’re forming an LLC outside the state you’ll need to use a Registered Agent that resides in-state.
    • You must always have someone on hand during business hours at the listed Illinois address to accept important documents.
    • The Registered Agent’s name and address are part of the public record and are available through the IL SOS website. You should choose a Registered Agent service if you prefer your name and address aren’t published.
    • If you change your business address or move out of state, you must file additional documentation with the Secretary of State for the new address—a step made unnecessary by using a Registered Agent service.

    Other Useful Resources

    FAQs About Illinois Registered Agents

    01

    Do I Need to Appoint an Illinois Registered Agent?

    Yes. The state mandates all LLCs in Illinois have a Registered Agent. You'll find more details above.

    02

    When Should I Assign a Registered Agent?

    When you create your Illinois business with the IL SOS, you assign your Registered Agent, but you can change your agent afterward by filing a form. If you create your business through Bizee, we’ll do all the paperwork for you. You'll find more information above.

    03

    Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Illinois?

    Yes, but we don’t recommend it for the reasons listed above.

    04

    Does the Registered Agent for My Illinois-Based LLC Need to Have an Address in Illinois?

    Yes. Additionally, they must be legally able to conduct business in your state. You'll find more information above.

    incorporate now

    Launch your business with bizee

    No Contracts. No Surprises. Only $0 + State Fee to Launch Your Business.