Foreign registration price index · Illinois
3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Illinois (2026): Price Index
Index basis: Index of five columns: three-year cost (38%), coverage per dollar (32%), renewal step, crossover year and price transparency. Basis explained
Illinois in figures
Illinois lines, indexed
1. IL Registered Agent.org: best for adding a single state
Highest valueIL Registered Agent.org takes line one of the Illinois index: $199 on top of the state fee, agent included for year one, $99/yr afterward.
It beats Mainstay Filing on the three-year column, the largest weight in the index.
Line includes
- The filing made on your behalf
- Agent service in year one
Credits
- No agent charge in year one
- A $99 renewal
- $199 added to the state fee
Debits
- Nothing outside this state
2. Mainstay Filing: best for a second state or a fifth
Covers the most itemsMainstay Filing is line 2: a $199 service charge in any state, first agent year thrown in.
Three years total $100 more than IL Registered Agent.org.
Year two brings $149 for the agent, in every state.
Line includes
- State registration handled
- Registered agent free for the first year
- One fee in every state
Credits
- $199 added to Illinois's fee
- One price anywhere
- No agent charge the first year
Debits
- A higher agent renewal ($149)
3. Illinois Registered Agent.co: best for a nearby filer
Single-state planNext on the ledger: Illinois Registered Agent.co, with $199 on top of the state fee, agent included for year one, $99/yr afterward.
It matches IL Registered Agent.org to the dollar.
Line includes
- The filing made on your behalf
- Agent service in year one
Credits
- $199 added to the state fee
- No agent charge in year one
- A $99 renewal
Debits
- Nothing outside this state
Cumulative ledger
| Line | Provider | Total, year 1 | Total, year 2 | Total, year 3 | Total, year 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IL Registered Agent.org | $199 | $298 | $397 | $595 | Visit IL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $348 | $497 | $795 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Illinois Registered Agent.co | $199 | $298 | $397 | $595 | Visit Illinois Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Subtotal calculator
State fees, with citations
| Entry | Amount | Cited from |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign registration fee | $150 | ilsos.gov (read October 2026) per the state |
| Annual report | $75 | ilga.gov (read October 2026) per the state |
| Paid to the state by year 3 | $300 | Total of the above |
Index notes
The deciding column for Illinois was three-year cost index (38% of the index), where IL Registered Agent.org led.
IL Registered Agent.org takes the cost column with $397 over three years, where Mainstay Filing needs $100 more.
Official Illinois foreign LLC registration fee and rules
An LLC from another state registers in Illinois before doing business there; the filing is the Application for Admission to Transact Business (Form LLC-45.5), delivered to the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, Limited Liability Division with $150. Add certificate of Good Standing or Existence issued inside the last 60 days.
Ignoring the rule risks it cannot sue in Illinois until it registers (805 ILCS 180/45-45(a)); back fees for the unregistered period.
Quoted from: ilga.gov (read October 2026) per the state
Skipping the service
Government fees alone total $300 for three years, which is the floor. The ledger shows what each service adds ($397 to $497).
FAQ
What does Illinois charge an out-of-state LLC to register?
$150 at the state, and our lines add $199 for the service.
What is the three-year subtotal for these services?
$397 to $497 across the lines, before state fees.
Which document does the registering?
The registering document is Application for Admission to Transact Business (Form LLC-45.5), and the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, Limited Liability Division is the office that takes it.
Does Illinois want a paper from the LLC's home state?
Yes, no more than 60 days old: certificate of Good Standing or Existence.
What recurring filing comes after registration?
Next comes the annual report, billed at $75.
When does one line pass another in total cost?
The lines do not cross in the first ten years.
Which foreign registration service indexes best in Illinois?
IL Registered Agent.org indexes first. Mainstay Filing and Illinois Registered Agent.co follow.
Source lines
- August 2026 confirmation of Illinois Secretary of State, Department at ilsos.gov.
- August 2026 confirmation of Illinois Secretary of State, Department at ilsos.gov.
- August 2026 confirmation of 805 ILCS 180/5-5 at ilga.gov.
- October 2026 confirmation of Illinois formation fee: Filing fee at ilga.gov.
- October 2026 confirmation of Illinois formation fee: Filing fee at ilsos.gov.
- October 2026 confirmation of Illinois registered agent statute at ilga.gov.
- October 2026 confirmation of Form LLC-45.5, Application for Admission at ilsos.gov.
- October 2026 confirmation of Form LLC-45.40, Application for Withdrawal at ilsos.gov.
- October 2026 confirmation of 805 ILCS 180/45-45, consequences of at ilga.gov.
- October 2026 confirmation of 805 ILCS 180/45-47, activities that at ilga.gov.
- November 2026 confirmation of 805 ILCS 180/45-45 at ilga.gov.
- IL Registered Agent.org pricing page (read November 13, 2026)
- Mainstay Filing Illinois service page (read November 13, 2026)
- Illinois Registered Agent.co pricing page (read November 13, 2026)