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The Illinois Secretary of State keeps the state's company register through its Department of Business Services. The lookup tool is the Corporation/LLC Entity Database, reached through the Business Entity Search page. It covers corporations, not-for-profit corporations, limited partnerships, LLCs and limited liability partnerships. Opening a company's File Detail Report carries no listed charge. You only pay when you buy a certificate.
Eight ways to run an Illinois business search
The search page offers eight methods:
- Business Name for the usual lookup.
- Keyword and Partial Word when you only know part of the name.
- Registered Agent to see which companies use a given agent.
- President, Secretary and Manager to search by a person, entered as last name, first name and middle initial.
- File Number when you have the state's ID. Corporations get an 8-digit file number when their articles are filed.
If an exact name search finds nothing, switch to Keyword or Partial Word before you decide the company does not exist. A business that only trades under an assumed name may sit in the register under its legal name. Our LLC lookup guide has more ways to track down a company that will not show up.
The same database doubles as a name check. The Secretary of State says to enter the official name, and that the name may be available if a "no records found" result appears. Treat that as a first read only. The LLC guide C 334 warns that a preliminary answer does not guarantee the name later. The Department makes the final call when a reservation, articles or an assumed name application is filed. Our guide on how to check LLC name availability walks through close variants worth testing.
What a File Detail Report tells you
Each record is a File Detail Report. It shows:
- official name
- date of formation or registration
- jurisdiction
- registered agent and registered office address
- status, shown as active or inactive
- president and secretary names and addresses for corporations
- manager names and addresses for LLCs
The annual report cycle explains most status changes. An LLC that misses its due date is placed in delinquent status. After 60 days it moves into penalty status. If it still has not filed 120 days from the date of delinquency, it is administratively dissolved. See our business entity status guide for what each stage means for a deal or a contract.
Illinois LLC name rules and reservations
An Illinois LLC name must include Limited Liability Company, LLC or L.L.C., set apart from the other words. It cannot contain Corporation, Corp., Incorporated, Inc., Ltd., Co., Limited Partnership or LP. Words that suggest insurance, assurance or banking are restricted. Trust, trustee, fiduciary, bank, banker and banking need written permission from the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation first.
Under the Illinois Limited Liability Company Act, the name must be distinguishable from any LLC or corporate name on file, any assumed name, and any name already reserved or registered. Names of sole proprietors and trade names are not part of that test. The name of an administratively dissolved Illinois LLC stays unavailable to other LLCs and corporations for three years after the dissolution notice.
To hold a name, file the Application to Reserve a Name, form LLC-1.15. It costs $25 and lasts 90 days. You can renew by filing again. The reservation does not create the LLC, and the $25 does not count toward the articles fee. Corporations use form BCA-4.10 instead. Our name reservation guide compares this with other states.
Keeping an Illinois company in good standing
Every Illinois LLC files an annual report. It is due before the first day of the anniversary month, which is the month the LLC was organized. An LLC formed on September 15 files before September 1 each year. The fee is $75. A late filing penalty of $100 applies if the report is not filed within 60 days after the due date. Most LLC annual reports can be filed online.
Corporations have one more cost. They pay franchise tax, starting with an initial franchise tax at incorporation based on the consideration received for shares. The allocation factor in the articles sets how much of the paid-in capital counts in the first year.
Proof of standing comes as a Certificate of Good Standing, bought from the File Detail Report for $25, or $5 for a not-for-profit. For filing fees, the LLC forms and fees page lists Articles of Organization at $150 and foreign LLC admission at $150. Online articles take 10 business days, or 24 hours for $250 in total. Our certificate of good standing guide explains when banks and other states ask for one.
Bulk Illinois company data
There is no free bulk file. The database is for individual searches only, and the Secretary of State prohibits copying or downloading bulk information from it, citing the computer tampering statutes. The Department of Business Services offers its information for sale under contract instead.
Starting a company here? Read our guide on how to start an LLC in Illinois, the Illinois registered agent rules and the Illinois LLC cost breakdown.
Also see our guides to the Illinois DBA and Illinois business license.