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Short reply · Illinois

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Illinois (2026), Ranked

The 2026 order for foreign registration services in Illinois is Mainstay Filing ($199), IL Registered Agent.org ($199) and Illinois Registered Agent.co ($199). State fee: $150. Services over three years: $397 to $497.

LLC Q and A editorial team ·

At a glance

Fee to the state
$150
Home-state certificate?
Yes (60 day age limit)
After registering
$75, annual report
Pick
Mainstay Filing, IL Registered Agent.org then Illinois Registered Agent.co

Best in Illinois, in order

Prices come from each company's own page. See the method.
1#1 pick

1. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in several states

Register for $199; agent renews at $149

Mainstay Filing ranks first since $199 in every state, with the first registered agent year included.

IL Registered Agent.org saves $100 over three years if the LLC never leaves Illinois.

Registered agent: free in year one, $149 a year after, in any state.

Price covers

  • Registration filing
  • Registered agent, free first year
  • One fee for all fifty states

For

  • All fifty states
  • No registered agent fee in year one
  • $199 plus Illinois's fee

Against

  • $50/yr more for the agent
Mainstay Filing sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Illinois only

2. IL Registered Agent.org: best for registering in just this state

Register for $199; agent renews at $99

Second: IL Registered Agent.org, because registration is $199 over the state fee, agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.

Price covers

  • Illinois registration filing
  • Agent for year one

For

  • Agent free at the start
  • Service fee $199
  • Agent renews at $99

Against

  • Home state needs a separate agent
IL Registered Agent.org sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Illinois only

3. Illinois Registered Agent.co: best for one more state only

Register for $199; agent renews at $99

Third: Illinois Registered Agent.co, because registration is $199 over the state fee, agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.

Same published prices as IL Registered Agent.org, so the order between them is close.

Price covers

  • Illinois registration filing
  • Agent for year one

For

  • Agent renews at $99
  • Service fee $199
  • Agent free at the start

Against

  • Home state needs a separate agent
Illinois Registered Agent.co sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Comparison

#CompanyYear 1RenewalTotal, 3 yearsCovers
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497registration filing; registered agent, free first year; one fee for all fifty statesMainstay Filing sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2IL Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397illinois registration filing; agent for year oneIL Registered Agent.org sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Illinois Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397illinois registration filing; agent for year oneIllinois Registered Agent.co sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read November 13, 2026; three years = year one + two renewals.

Questions and replies

When must an out-of-state LLC register?

Register with the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, Limited Liability Division first; do business in Illinois second.

Unregistered, an LLC may face it loses the right to sue as plaintiff (805 ILCS 180/45-45(a)); back fees for the unregistered period.

ilga.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

What does registering cost?

$150 to the state, plus $199 for a service.

State fees reach $300 over three years, counting any recurring report. ilsos.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

Which form, filed where?

Registration goes through the Application for Admission to Transact Business (Form LLC-45.5), handled by the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, Limited Liability Division.

Include certificate of Good Standing or Existence no more than 60 days.

What is due after registering?

The annual report: $75.

Deadline per the state: Within the 60 days before your anniversary month.

What decided #1?

Mainstay Filing scores best on chores removed from your list, which is 26% of the total.

62% of the total is three-year price plus chores removed from your list.

An out-of-state LLC works in two states; the first pick serves both.

The five criteria

Illinois: registration requirements, sourced

ItemDetailSource
Registration fee$150ilsos.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Home-state certificateYes, 60 daysilga.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Annual report$75ilga.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Three-year state total$300Sum of the rows above
The last row adds the filing, two reports and any minimum tax. Variable costs are explained in the text and left out of the sum.

Also asked

Is an agent needed at home too?

Yes. Each state has its own rule. Mainstay Filing serves both from one account.

What do the picks cost over three years?

Mainstay Filing will run $497, IL Registered Agent.org will run $397, Illinois Registered Agent.co will run $397, with state fees on top.

Are the fees official?

State fees come from Illinois's official documents. Service prices come from each company's price page. Both are dated here.

Do I have to hire one?

Not required. The state takes filings from owners.

Does a service file it?

Yes, every pick files it, and the state fee is the same for all.

Best foreign registration service in Illinois?

Rank Mainstay Filing ahead of IL Registered Agent.org and Illinois Registered Agent.co.

Sources

  1. Reference line for Illinois Secretary of State, Department, drawn from ilsos.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  2. Reference line for Illinois Secretary of State, Department, drawn from ilsos.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  3. Reference line for 805 ILCS 180/5-5, drawn from ilga.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  4. Reference line for Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, drawn from ilga.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  5. Reference line for Illinois formation fee: Filing fee, drawn from ilsos.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  6. Reference line for Illinois registered agent statute, drawn from ilga.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  7. Reference line for Form LLC-45.5, Application for Admission, drawn from ilsos.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  8. Reference line for Form LLC-45.40, Application for Withdrawal, drawn from ilsos.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  9. Reference line for 805 ILCS 180/45-45, consequences of, drawn from ilga.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  10. Reference line for 805 ILCS 180/45-47, activities that, drawn from ilga.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  11. Reference line for 805 ILCS 180/45-45, drawn from ilga.gov and confirmed November 2026, as noted by our editors
  12. Mainstay Filing Illinois service page, read November 13, 2026
  13. IL Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026
  14. Illinois Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026