Florida vs Illinois: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Florida and Illinois — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Florida vs Illinois
| Metric | Florida | Illinois | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $125 | $150 | Florida |
| Annual Report | $138.75 | $75 | Illinois |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $125 | $150 | Florida |
Filing Fee
Florida is cheaper here
Annual Report
Illinois is cheaper here
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
Florida is cheaper here
Florida: Annual report must be filed between January 1 and May 1 each year or a $400 late fee applies.
Illinois: Illinois processing time can be slow — up to 10 business days for standard filing.
Florida: No state income tax — major advantage for profitable LLCs.
Illinois: Chicago access — major market for B2B and professional services.
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Small Claims Court: Florida vs Illinois
| Metric | Florida | Illinois | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $8,000 | $10,000 | Illinois |
| Min Filing Fee | $55 | $89 | Florida |
| Contract SOL | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | Tie |
Max Claim Limit
Illinois is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
Florida is cheaper here
Contract SOL
It's a tie
Divorce Filing Costs: Florida vs Illinois
| Metric | Florida | Illinois | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $400 | $289 | Illinois |
| Sheriff Service | $40 | $60 | Florida |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
Illinois is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
Florida is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: Florida vs Illinois
| Metric | Florida | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $10 | $5 |
| Jurat | $10 | $5 |
| RON Fee | $25 | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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