Forming a PLLC in Illinois

Q: I am in need of registered agent services for my psychology private practice PLLC in Illinois… Am I able to use your address during business formation?

Thank you to a client in Illinois for that great question! You can certainly use our address when submitting formation paperwork for your Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC). However, it’ll take another step to keep your information off the public record, since Illinois requires manager/member information to be included in a company’s articles of organization. Basically, forming a PLLC in Illinois is a little more complicated than it is in other states. But we can help! Here’s what you need to know:

1. Make sure all professional licenses are current

A professional license is a type of authorization issued by a state licensing board. It should go without saying, but you’ll definitely need to make sure your license is currently active with your licensing board before you can form a professional LLC.

What professions require a license in Illinois?

Typically, licensed professions are those that carry a high degree of liability. (Think doctors and lawyers.) In Illinois, this list includes, but is not limited to:

• Dentistry
• Medicine
• Real estate
• Clinical psychology
• Social work
• Veterinary medicine
• Architecture
• Acupuncture

2. File Illinois Articles of Organization

The first step in forming your Illinois PLLC is to file Illinois Articles of Organization ($150). Note that this is the same document you’d have to file if you were forming a traditional Illinois LLC. The two main differences concern your LLC’s purpose and name:

• Purpose: When forming a PLLC, you’re required to specify the professional service your PLLC will provide.
• Name: The name of your PLLC must include “Professional Limited Liability Company,” “PLLC,” or “P.L.L.C.”

Can I keep my personal address off my PLLC filing?

It depends. While you can keep your own information off the public record by hiring Northwest as your Illinois Registered Agent and making us your “organizer,” Illinois also requires businesses to include the names and addresses of members or managers names. If your company is manager-managed, you’ll only have to include the information of your manager(s). But if it’s member-managed, and you’re the member “with the authority of a manager,” Illinois requires you to include your own information.

How do I submit Illinois Articles of Organization?

Articles of organization can be submitted online or by mail:

Online: Illinois Online Business Services

By Mail:
Secretary of State
Department of Business Services
Limited Liability Division
501 S. Second St., Rm

3. Complete Application for PLLC Registration

Illinois is unique in that it requires all PLLCs to not only register with the Secretary of State’s office, but also with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). You’ll have to submit your application online through the IDFPR Online Services Portal.

For a comprehensive look at what the application process entails, see p. 4 of the state’s PLLC New Application Checklist, “Application Requirements.” Note that the process can look a little different, depending on the type of professional service you’re licensed to provide.

Do all professions use the same application to register with IDFPR?

No. Some professional LLCs are required to register with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation using an industry-specific application. Here’s a list of those professions, including the name of the application you’ll have to submit:

• Real Estate – Real Estate Broker LLC Application
• Accounting – Public Accounting Firm Application
• Design Professional Services – Design Firm Application
• Detective- or Security-Related Services – Application for licensure as: Private Detective Agency, Private Alarm Contractor Agency, Private Security Contractor Agency, Fingerprint Vendor Agency, or Locksmith Agency
• Beauty or Barbering or Cosmetology – Salon or Shop Registration
• Law – instead of registering with IDFPR, contact the Illinois Supreme Court, Clerk’s Office

Can my PLLC provide more than one professional service?

In some cases, but not all. According to Illinois’s Professional Limited Liability Company Act, your PLLC can ONLY provide one professional service (and all members and managers must be licensed in that profession) if you work in the following fields:

• Dentistry
• Medicine
• Social work
• Clinical professional counseling or professional counseling
• Veterinary
• Clinical psychology
• Marriage and family therapy
• Sex Offender Evaluation and Treatment

Is there a fee for registering my PLLC with IDFPR?

Yes. You’ll have to pay a $50 fee to register your PLLC with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.