Who needs articles of organization (LLC) or an assumed business name in Illinois?
Issued by Illinois Secretary of State; county clerk for sole proprietors and partnerships, at step 1 of 6 in the opening sequence: set up the business.
Every kind of business in Illinois
The Illinois table lists this for every kind of business.
An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease. A sole proprietor trading under any name but their own must file the assumed name with the county clerk and publish a notice in a local newspaper once a week for three weeks, within 15 days of filing.
Checked Oct 17, 2026 against the agency’s page.
Step 1 of 6: Set up the business
1Set up the business
2Register for tax
3Approve the space
4Get the permits for your kind of business
5Alcohol permits
6Before the first hire
Issued by Illinois Secretary of State; county clerk for sole proprietors and partnerships.
Sources and dates
Illinois Secretary of State LLC pages; Form LLC-1.20; Cook County Clerk assumed business name page. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Yes. An LLC keeps your personal assets apart from the business and is what landlords and lenders expect to see on a lease.
Illinois Secretary of State; county clerk for sole proprietors and partnerships.
Step 1 of 6, set up the business. It is the first step.
Who needs articles of organization in Illinois? | DoorWorthy
