Comparison of the top registered agent services for Illinois LLCs and corporations · Updated 2026-04-30
When evaluating registered agent services in Illinois, the practical decision factors are pricing, privacy protection, and dependable handling of legal mail. 805 ILCS 180/1-35 requires that the agent maintain a physical street address within Illinois and accept service of process during regular business hours. Below, we rank the four registered agent services we evaluated for Illinois-based LLCs and corporations in 2026.
Northwest Registered Agent
Physical-address-only operations; mail forwarding; same-day filing.
ZenBusiness
Pairs RA with LLC formation packages.
LegalZoom
Largest brand; phone-based support; bundled legal services.
Mid-tier pricing with full feature parity; suitable for businesses focused on cost-efficiency.
Illinois-specific option: Illinois Registered Agent.co operates exclusively in Illinois and specializes in same-state filings. Best for businesses that want a state-focused provider with local-only operations.
| Filing | Cost | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation | $150 | annually before the first day of the anniversary month |
| Annual Report | $75 | annually before the first day of the anniversary month |
| DBA / Fictitious Name | $5 | Every 5 years |
| Change of Registered Agent | $25 | — |
Source: Illinois Secretary of State · Statute reference 805 ILCS 180/1-35
For most Illinois LLCs, Northwest Registered Agent ranks first on privacy and Mainstay Filing offers the best value at $99/year. State-specific options like Illinois Registered Agent.co specialize in same-state filings.
Commercial services range $50–$250 per year. Mainstay Filing is $99/yr; Northwest is $125/yr; ZenBusiness is $199/yr; LegalZoom is $249/yr.
Yes. File a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the Illinois Secretary of State for $25. Most commercial services handle the change paperwork for you.
National services like Mainstay Filing and Northwest operate across all 50 states with consistent pricing and online dashboards. State-specific providers (like Illinois Registered Agent.co) focus exclusively on one state and often handle same-state-only filings faster.
Yes — under 805 ILCS 180/1-35, every Illinois LLC must designate and maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in Illinois.
RA Ratings independently reviews registered agent services. We may earn a commission from sponsored links; this does not affect rankings or editorial selection. Verify all filing fees with the Illinois Secretary of State before submitting paperwork.