LLC Filing FAQs

There's no service charge — you only pay the state directly. Illinois' Articles of Organization fee is $150 plus a mandatory ~$3.38 online processing fee; Iowa's Certificate of Organization fee is $50. Optional add-ons like 24-hour Illinois expedited processing (+$100) or a name reservation are separate state fees, priced only if you choose them.

The Illinois state filing fee for Articles of Organization is $150, plus a mandatory ~$3.38 online processing fee if you file through the online portal. Toughjobs files it for free — we don't add a service charge. Optional 24-hour expedited processing is +$100 (standard processing takes 10–14 days), and reserving your name before filing is $25 for 90 days. Forming a Series LLC instead costs $400.

The Iowa state filing fee for a Certificate of Organization is $50 — one of the lowest in the country — and Toughjobs files it for you at no charge. Optional extras are separate state fees: a name reservation is $10, filing a fictitious name (DBA) is $5, and registering a foreign LLC already formed in another state is $100.

Yes. Illinois requires a $75 Annual Report, due every year before the first day of your LLC's anniversary month — more than 60 days late and Illinois adds a $100 late penalty. Iowa requires a Biennial Report every odd-numbered year between January 1 and April 1, for $30 online or $45 by mail. These are separate, recurring state fees — not part of your initial filing total.

State fees are set by the state and can change at any time. We always confirm the current, final price with you before anything is filed, so there are no surprises.

Right now our filing assistance covers Illinois and Iowa. If you're forming in another state, reach out and we'll point you in the right direction.

Timelines are set by the state, not by us. Iowa online filings are often approved within a business day or two; Illinois standard processing takes longer, and expedited is faster. We'll give you the current estimate when you start.

Tell us about your business — name, address, who's involved, and which state. We'll send a short, plain-English intake to collect the rest.

Not for the legal/tax decision itself — whether you should be an LLC, S-corp, sole prop, or partnership is a decision for you and a licensed professional. We handle the filing paperwork once you've decided.

Reach out with the specifics — the core service covers new LLC formation filings in Illinois and Iowa; expansion scenarios are handled case by case.

Yes — those are optional add-ons priced separately. Once your LLC is filed, we can help with EIN setup, an operating agreement template, a website, logo and branding, a Google Business Profile, business email, and bookkeeping setup.

Yes — we prepare your Articles of Organization (Illinois) or Certificate of Organization (Iowa) from the details you provide, check your desired name against state records, and submit to the Secretary of State.

Yes — once the state processes and releases them, we deliver your stamped confirmation documents to you.

For a simple, straightforward LLC, most people don't. But if you have multiple owners with complex agreements, unusual tax questions, or legal risk, you should consult a licensed attorney or CPA — and we'll be honest with you if that's the better path.

Contractors and trades ready to run as a real company, solo operators with one truck wanting to be official, brand-new businesses starting fresh, family businesses getting the operation on paper, side hustles going pro, and established small companies that never filed properly.

Yes — solo operators (one truck, one owner) wanting to be official without the overwhelm are a core part of who this service is built for.

Four steps: tell us about your business (name, address, who's involved, which state), we prepare the paperwork (name check, formation filing prepared for your review), we file with the state once you confirm and the fee is paid, and you get your stamped documents once the state releases them.

Yes — you confirm the details and the fee is paid before we submit anything to the state.

A registered agent is a person or company with a physical address in your state who receives official mail for your LLC. Both Illinois and Iowa require one. In Iowa, acting as your own agent (or having a partner do it) is free; a professional registered agent service generally runs $100–$300/year. You can often be your own agent, or we can help you coordinate a service as an add-on.

For Illinois: your desired LLC name, principal business address in Illinois, a registered agent and Illinois address, member/manager names, and standard vs. expedited processing. For Iowa: desired LLC name, principal mailing address, a registered agent and physical Iowa address, member/manager names, and any desired effective date.

Yes — we check your desired name against the state's records as part of the filing prep, before submission.

Your principal business address, a registered agent with a physical address in the filing state, and the names of all members/managers.

The core service covers new LLC formation in Illinois and Iowa — reach out with your specific situation for anything beyond a standard new filing.

Yes — you only pay for what you need. Illinois filing, Iowa filing, a Series LLC, expedited processing, and name reservation are each separate state fees, and Toughjobs adds no charge of our own. Add-ons like EIN help, a website, or branding are priced separately too.

You confirm the details before we file, so changes before submission are straightforward — the underlying details are your responsibility to get right since we file based on what you provide.

That would be a separate amendment filing with the state — reach out to discuss your specific situation.

No — licenses and permits (trade licenses, local permits, professional licensing) are your responsibility, separate from LLC formation.

No — forming the LLC is a business entity registration; trade licenses, local permits, and professional licensing are handled separately and are your responsibility.

No — we can't guarantee liability protection, tax savings, loans, or business success, and government approval ultimately rests with the state, not us.

Yes — stamped confirmation documents are delivered to you once the state releases them.

Information is collected through a plain-English intake and used only to prepare and submit your state filing.

No. Toughjobs is not a law firm and does not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. We provide administrative filing assistance — we help you organize your information, prepare your formation paperwork based on what you give us, and submit it to the state.

We can't promise that. Forming an LLC does not guarantee liability protection, tax savings, loan approval, or business success. Those depend on how your business is run and your specific situation — questions for a licensed professional.

You are. We file based on the details you provide, so it's important that your business name, addresses, and member information are accurate. We check your name against state records, but the underlying details are your responsibility.

State fees are set by the state and can change at any time — we always confirm the current, final price with you before anything is filed, so there are no surprises. We don't mark up the state's own fees.

State filing fees are passed straight through to the state and are not something we control the refund policy on.

Your business name, addresses, and member information — we file based on the details you provide, and you confirm before we submit to the state.

Reach out through the contact page with your trade, state, and current setup, and we'll send a short, plain-English intake.

An LLC filing registers your business entity with the state. Trade licenses, local permits, and professional licensing are separate requirements that are your responsibility — forming an LLC doesn't cover them.

No. We don't advise whether an LLC is right for you, your tax classification, or ownership splits — that's a decision for you and a licensed attorney or CPA.

Yes, especially for anything beyond a simple, straightforward LLC — multiple owners, complex agreements, unusual tax questions, or legal risk are all reasons to consult a licensed attorney or CPA, and we'll be honest if that's the better path.

Illinois requires a $75 annual report and Iowa requires a $30 biennial report (every two years) to stay in good standing — these are separate, recurring state fees you're responsible for after formation.

The core service is the initial formation filing; ask directly about ongoing annual/biennial report support.

Annual/biennial state report fees, any trade licenses or local permits, and keeping your registered agent and business information current with the state.