WITH EMPLOYEES
2,520
U.S. CENSUS CBP 2023
GUIDES · ILLINOIS · CLEANING SERVICES
Start a cleaning business in Illinois
UPDATED JUL 2026 · DATA RETRIEVED JUL 2026
THE SHORT ANSWER
To start a cleaning business in Illinois you'll file Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State ($150), get a free EIN from the IRS, and check your city's license rules. Total startup filings: ~$150 and 5–10 business days. No statewide cleaning license is required, but Chicago licenses businesses at the city level.
Source: Illinois SOS · IRS — verified Jul 2026
RETRIEVED JUL 27 2026
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU · CBP + NES
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU · CBP + NES
CLEANING SERVICES — ILLINOIS ESTABLISHMENTS · NAICS 56172 · 2023
IL
STATE OF ILLINOIS
CLEANING SERVICES
CLEANING SERVICES
SOLO OPERATORS
SOLO
35,837
NONEMPLOYER 2023 · 93.4% OF TOTAL
STATE FILING FEE
$150
ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION · LLC-5.5
PROCESSING TIME
PROCESSING
5–10
BUSINESS DAYS
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, CBP 2023 + NONEMPLOYER STATISTICS 2023 — RETRIEVED JUL 2026 CENSUS.GOV/CBP /METHODOLOGY/
MARKET SIGNAL
195,475 new business applications in Illinois (last 12 mo) ▲ 15% YoY
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics — retrieved Jul 2026 Embed this chart
Illinois cleaning demand centers on Chicago: the Loop’s office stock, medical and lab space, and dense residential buildings, with steady suburban work around it. The state filing at $150 is the second-highest in this pilot, and the compliance rhythm is strict; the $75 annual report’s late penalty exceeds the fee, and Chicago’s own business license comes before the first city job, not after.
File your Illinois LLC in 7 steps
1
STEP 1 OF 7
Choose and search your business name
Your name must include "LLC" or "L.L.C." and be distinguishable from entities already on file in Illinois. Run it through the Secretary of State's business entity search at ilsos.gov before filing so a conflict does not cost you the fee.
ilsos.gov — business entity search
[ annotated screenshot — ILSOS name search ]
Illinois SOS — business entity search (capture pending)
2
STEP 2 OF 7
Appoint a registered agent
Illinois requires a registered agent with a physical street address in the state, available during business hours. You can serve yourself, which puts your address on the public record. A commercial agent lists theirs instead.
3
STEP 3 OF 7
File the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5)
File online at ilsos.gov and pay the $150 state fee by card. Standard online processing runs 5–10 business days; a 24-hour expedite is available for an extra $100.
ilsos.gov — online filing
[ annotated screenshot — ILSOS Form LLC-5.5 filing ]
Illinois SOS — Articles of Organization filing (capture pending)
4
STEP 4 OF 7
Get a free EIN from the IRS
Apply for an Employer Identification Number on the IRS website once the LLC is approved. It is free and takes about ten minutes online; you need it for banking, hiring, and taxes. Ignore any site that charges for an EIN.
irs.gov — EIN Assistant
IRS — "Get an employer identification number," EIN Assistant entry (UI as of Jul 2026)
5
STEP 5 OF 7
Create an operating agreement
Illinois does not require an operating agreement, but banks routinely ask for one and it fixes ownership and profit splits in writing. A single-member LLC can use a short standard form; multi-member LLCs should document splits and exit terms.
6
STEP 6 OF 7
Check licenses and local permits
Illinois has no general statewide business license. Chicago and many other municipalities license businesses locally; check the rules for every city where you take jobs. For cleaning work specifically: Illinois has no state cleaning license. If you operate in Chicago, the city requires its own business license before you take jobs there, and suburbs run similar local systems. Commercial contracts commonly ask for a janitorial bond and proof of liability insurance.
7
STEP 7 OF 7
Calendar the annual report and open a bank account
Illinois LLCs file an annual report (Form LLC-50.1, $75) due before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month; filing 60 or more days late adds a $100 penalty. Open a dedicated business bank account with your filed articles and EIN to keep liability protection intact.
File it yourself, or have it done
Same state fee either way. The difference is your time, and whose address goes on the public record.
DIY
WITH NORTHWEST
State fee
$150
$150
Service fee
$0
$39
Your time
~4 hrs
~10 min
Registered agent (1 yr)
you, publicly listed
included, private
Start your Illinois LLC →
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Common questions
Do I need a license to clean houses in Illinois?
Not from the state. Illinois has no statewide cleaning license, so the entity filing and free EIN cover the state side. The city layer is where requirements live: Chicago requires a business license for most operations, and many suburbs have their own registration. Check every city where you take jobs.
What ongoing fees does an Illinois cleaning LLC have?
The annual report costs $75 and is due before the first day of your anniversary month each year. Filing 60 or more days late adds a $100 penalty, more than the report itself. City licenses renew on their own schedules at rates each municipality sets.
Can I be my own registered agent in Illinois?
Yes. Any Illinois resident with a physical street address in the state can serve, including yourself. The agent's name and address go on the public record, and someone must be available there during business hours to accept legal documents. Those are the reasons owners hire a commercial agent.
What does the $150 Illinois filing fee cover?
The $150 files the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5) and creates the LLC. It does not include the $75 annual report Illinois requires before each anniversary month, an EIN (free from the IRS), or any local license your city requires. Filing the annual report 60 or more days late adds a $100 penalty.
Source: BusinessFormation.us analysis of U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 and Nonemployer Statistics 2023 (establishment counts, NAICS 56172), and Business Formation Statistics (monthly applications); retrieved Jul 2026. businessformation.us/start/cleaning-business/illinois/