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Reviewed
In the state of Illinois, it is a legal requirement to appoint a registered agent for your business. If you are looking for a registered agent service, it is crucial to choose an agent to handle important notices and manage legal obligations on your behalf efficiently. In this article, we explore some of the best Illinois registered agent services of 2024, highlighting their key features and benefits to help you make an informed decision for your business.
Featured Partners
1
ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
2
LegalZoom
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
3
Northwest Registered Agent
$39 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to bringing you unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content and guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.
We reviewed 15 registered agent services using a detailed methodology to help you find the seven best Illinois registered agent services for small businesses. Our ratings consider factors such as pricing, user experiences, expert opinions and key features including multistate support and limited liability company (LLC) filing services. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
| Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Starting Fee | Free LLC Filing | Multistate Support | LEARN MORE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket Lawyer |  |
4.5 |  |
$124.99 with membership or $249.99 per year | Only with Membership | Yes | Learn More | On Rocket Lawyer's Website | |
| Northwest Registered Agent |  |
4.5 | |
$125 per year | Only with DIY service | Yes | Learn More | On Northwest Registered Agent's Website | |
| ZenBusiness |  |
4.1 |  |
$199 per year | Yes | Yes | Learn More | On ZenBusiness's Website | |
| LegalZoom |  |
4.4 | |
$249 per year | Yes | Yes | Learn More | On Legal Zoom's Website | |
| Bizee |  |
4.3 | |
$0 to $119 per year | Yes | Yes | Learn More | On Bizee's Website | |
| Harbor Compliance |  |
4.3 | |
$99 per year | No | Yes | Learn More | On Harbor Compliance's Website | |
| Inc Authority |  |
4.2 | |
$0 for the first year | Yes | Yes | Learn More | On Inc Authority's Webiste |
A registered agent is an entity or individual designated to receive official mail and legal documents on behalf of a business, such as a corporation or LLC. While sole proprietors and partnerships are not required to have a registered agent, it is required for other business entities.
The primary responsibility of a registered agent is to be available during regular business hours, typically Monday through Friday from 9 a.m to 5p.m This availability ensures that the business entity receives important documents promptly, including legal notices, tax forms and other official correspondence. It is also mandatory for the registered agent to have a physical address where the business is registered, serving as the contact point for mail delivery.
Since registered agent information is publicly listed, privacy concerns may arise for some individuals. To address this, commercial registered agent services are available as an alternative.
In addition to receiving and forwarding legal documents, registered agent services offer various benefits. These may include assistance with business formation, ensuring compliance with legal requirements, forwarding basic mail and providing digital mail forwarding. Many of these services provide users with an online dashboard, allowing easy access and management of important information, such as printing, downloading and viewing documents.
In Illinois, every corporation is mandated by the Business Corporation Act of 1983 to appoint and maintain a registered agent and registered office. The purpose of this requirement is to establish a public record that provides the name and address of an individual or entity upon whom all legal processes of the corporation can be served. Additionally, the Department of Business Services forwards official correspondence to the registered agent at the registered office.
The registered agent in Illinois must meet certain criteria. It can either be a person who resides in Illinois or a corporation that is authorized by its articles of incorporation to act as a registered agent and has an office within the state. It is important to note that a corporation should only designate someone as its registered agent after obtaining their consent to act in that capacity. The registered agent can be an incorporator, director, officer or employee of the corporation unless the articles of incorporation or bylaws stipulate otherwise.
The registered office in Illinois must fulfill specific requirements. It must be physically located within the state and have a street address, road address or rural route and box number. Furthermore, the registered office must be the same as the business office of the registered agent.
These regulations, outlined in Illinois Statutes (805 ILCS 5/5.05 for corporations and 805 ILCS 180/1-35 for LLCs), ensure that corporations and LLCs in Illinois have a designated point of contact for legal processes and official correspondence. By maintaining a registered agent and registered office, businesses fulfill their legal obligations and maintain transparency in their operations.
Featured Partners
1
ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
2
LegalZoom
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
3
Northwest Registered Agent
$39 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
When choosing a registered agent service for your business, there are a few important factors to keep in mind:
Cost:
Registered agent services can range from $99 to $300 per year, depending on the specific services offered. Evaluate the services provided by each provider in relation to their price. Some providers may offer additional services such as business formation assistance or compliance support, affecting the overall cost. Prioritize the value and benefits provided, while taking into account reliability and reputation. Even though price matters, you’ll want to choose a provider that you can trust and rely on.
Privacy:
When it comes to privacy and confidentiality, choose a registered agent service that prioritizes safeguarding your business’s sensitive information. It’s important that the service provider offers a private business address and employs secure systems for document handling and storage. Remember, the registered agent service is the one who goes on record with the state, so if you’re sued, they will be served instead of you.
Availability:
Ensure that the registered agent service is always available during regular business hours and has a reliable system for receiving and forwarding important documents to your business. Many providers offer same-day electronic document delivery, mail forwarding and provide access to an online dashboard for document storage and retrieval. Additionally, consider providers that send alerts when they receive crucial information. Effective and prompt communication with your registered agent is essential.
Compliance Expertise:
It is essential to verify that the registered agent service has a strong understanding of the legal requirements and compliance regulations specific to Illinois. Be sure that they possess the necessary knowledge and experience to handle the regulations in accordance with your jurisdiction.
By carefully considering these factors, you can confidently select a registered agent provider that will ensure your business remains compliant and meets all necessary legal obligations.
Forbes Advisor conducted a thorough evaluation of 15 registered agent service providers in Illinois to determine the best options available in the market. The evaluation process considered factors such as multistate support, same-day document delivery, user experience, reputation, customer support and pricing. The purpose was to identify the most reliable, affordable and user-friendly services. Each criterion was given a weighted score, and the registered agent services with the highest scores were added to the final list. This evaluation confirms that the recommended service providers meet the necessary criteria and can effectively serve your business needs.
Pricing:
Research was conducted on the pricing of each registered agent service provider, evaluating their transparency and affordability. Providers that openly displayed their pricing plans received higher ratings. Additionally, consideration was given to companies that offered free registered agent services for the initial year when utilizing their business formation services. The pricing and affordability aspect accounted for 20% of the overall score in the evaluation.
Service and Support:
To assess the level of customer support, we considered the support options offered by each registered agent provider. This included assessing their availability of phone support, live chat, 24/7 customer care and access to online knowledge base resources. The quality of service and support contributed to 15% of the overall score.
General Features:
The general features offered by registered agent providers played a significant role in our scoring, making up 30% of the overall score. This category included a wide range of factors, such as the provider’s ability to handle multiple states, same-day document delivery, business formation filing and user-friendly features. We carefully took into consideration the overall value and functionality provided by each registered agent service.
Customer Reviews:
To determine the customer review score, we gathered ratings and feedback from various platforms such as Trustpilot, G2, Capterra and BBB. This portion contributed to 10% of the overall methodology score. Each registered agent service provider was given a score based on their customer reviews, ranging from 0 (lowest) to 5 (highest). This allowed us to evaluate customer satisfaction and user experiences.
Expert Score:
The expert score was determined by evaluating various factors such as standout features, value for money, ease of use and popularity among the public. We took into consideration security features, additional services, money-back guarantees and exceptional customer support when assigning this score. The expert score accounted for 25% of the overall rating, offering valuable insights into the overall quality and appeal of the service.
Through an in-depth evaluation of these criteria and the allocation of weighted scores, we have successfully identified the leading registered agent services in Illinois. These services excel in terms of reliability, affordability and user experience, making them the top choices in the market.
In Illinois, having a registered agent is a mandatory requirement when forming an LLC or corporation. Failure to appoint a registered agent may lead to the rejection of your document by the state. Therefore, it is vital to ensure you have a registered agent in place when establishing your business in Illinois.
To appoint a registered agent in Illinois choose, an eligible individual over the age of 18 years old, or a registered agent service with a physical address in Illinois. Obtain their consent and include their information in your business formation documents when filing with the Illinois Secretary of State.
To change your registered agent in Illinois, you have two options. The first is to hire a registered agent provider and they will handle the process of completing the change of agent form for you at no cost. Alternatively, you can choose to do it yourself by filing a Statement of Change of Registered Agent form directly with the Illinois Secretary of State.
If you meet the requirements, you can indeed act as your own registered agent in Illinois. However, there are specific criteria to fulfill. As an individual, you must be at least 18 years old and have your primary residence in Illinois. This means that you must physically live in Illinois to be eligible to serve as your own registered agent.
Hiring a registered agent service instead of acting as your own registered agent offers several benefits. These service providers are experts in managing legal documents and ensuring compliance with state regulations. By relying on a registered agent service, you can have peace of mind knowing that important notices will be handled promptly and with professionalism. This allows you to concentrate on other aspects of your business, confident that your legal obligations are being met effectively.
