About StatesLLCGuide.com
Who I Am
I'm Ben Rasche. I live in Springfield, Illinois, and I've been running businesses here for over 15 years.
I own Prairie State Counseling LLC and Triple R Rentals LLC, and I also run DUI Evaluation & Treatment Services as an S-corp. I've gone through the LLC formation process in Illinois multiple times, and I've dealt with the Secretary of State's office, annual reports, registered agent decisions, EIN applications, operating agreements, and all the other stuff that comes with setting up and maintaining a business entity.
I am not a lawyer. I am not a CPA. I'm a business owner who learned by doing -- and by paying an accountant to help me when I didn't know what I was doing.
Why I Built This Site
When I was setting up my first LLC, I Googled "how to form an LLC in Illinois." What I found was a wall of websites that all wanted to charge me $300-600 for a "formation package" -- for what turned out to be a $150 form submission to the Secretary of State.
The actual process? It took me about an hour of paperwork and a week of waiting. But every site I found was designed to make it seem way more complicated than it is, so they could sell me services I didn't need.
I wrote this guide because I wanted something I wish had existed when I started: a plain-English walkthrough of the Illinois LLC process from someone who's actually been through it. No upsells. No "gold packages." Just the real steps, real costs, and the stuff that actually tripped me up.
What I Know (And What I Don't)
What I can speak to:
- The actual process of filing an LLC in Illinois -- I've done it more than once
- What the forms ask for and what the answers actually mean
- Real costs -- filing fees, annual reports, registered agent services
- The difference between running an LLC and an S-corp (I do both)
- Common mistakes -- because I made most of them
- What it's like dealing with the Illinois Secretary of State's office
What I can't help with:
- Legal advice -- I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not going to pretend to be one
- Tax strategy -- talk to a CPA (I use one, and he's saved me a lot of money)
- Complex multi-member operating agreements -- get a lawyer for those
- Industry-specific licensing requirements -- call your local clerk's office
My rule: If I've personally dealt with it, I'll write about it. If it's something that needs professional expertise, I'll tell you to talk to a professional. I'm not going to fake knowledge I don't have.
How This Site Makes Money
Fair question. The guides are all free. Here's how I pay for hosting:
- Display ads: I run Google AdSense ads on the site. They're not ideal, but they keep the lights on without me having to charge for anything.
- Affiliate links: If I mention a formation service or registered agent company, I might earn a small commission if you use them. But I always tell you how to do it yourself for free first. That's the whole point.
I don't charge for guides. I don't gate content behind email signups. I don't sell your data.
Get in Touch
Found an error? Have a question about the Illinois LLC process? Want to tell me I got something wrong? I want to hear it.
I read every email and try to respond within a day or two.
Disclaimer: StatesLLCGuide.com provides general information about LLC formation based on personal experience. This is not legal or tax advice. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or CPA.