Illinois founders seeking official starting points. This is general orientation, not legal, tax, insurance, or financial advice.
Define the activity before the entity
Write down what you sell, where work occurs, whether you hire, what risks you carry, and which city or county regulates the activity.
Compare entity and name options
The Illinois Secretary of State is the official starting point for corporations and LLCs. A lawyer or tax professional can help when ownership, liability, or multi-state facts are complex.
Open Illinois Secretary of State Business Services ↗Register for applicable state taxes
MyTax Illinois is the state portal for many business tax registrations and filings. Your obligations depend on activity, workers, and what you sell.
Open Illinois Department of Revenue ↗Check professional and local licenses
Illinois professional regulation and local governments may impose separate licenses, permits, zoning, health, or signage requirements.
Open Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation ↗Build the operating layer
Open appropriate financial accounts, document contracts, choose recordkeeping, evaluate insurance, and define how customers can reach you before launch.