Start a New Business in Illinois

The State of Illinois supports all your needs with this central business services hub helping you manage all aspects of you business.

Business services include resources for starting, running, expanding, relocating, and closing a business; business name search and online filing; selling your products or services to the state; sales taxes; and registering a business.

State of Illinois Business Services website

The Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE) is committed to providing minority-, women-, persons with disabilities, and veteran-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs across the state with equitable access to opportunities and resources.

Through dynamic partnerships, targeted outreach, and tailored programs and initiatives, OMEE aims to create an inclusive business ecosystem for communities that have traditionally faced systemic barriers to entry and growth. This investment spurs local economic development in underserved areas resulting in a revitalized and thriving Illinois economy.

The office:

• Provides business assistance and one-on-one support

• Connects individuals to business resources and opportunities

• Developes strategic partnerships to support the business ecosystem

• Celebrates and amplifies our cultural diversity

• Drives equity-centered programs and policies

Office of Minority Economic Empowerment website

The SBA’s Illinois district office provides services including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications, and disaster recovery. They can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed.

The main district office in Chicago serves ​Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Henry, Iroquois, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, La Salle, Lake, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, McHenry, Mercer, Ogle, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will, and Winnebago counties.

The SBA office in Springfield serves Adams, Alexander, Bond, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Green, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Jackson, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Mason, Massac, McDonough, McLean, Menard, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, St. Clair, Tazewell, Union, Vermillion, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Williamson, and Woodford counties.

Examples of educational programs and events include Tips for Black-Owned Business on How to Make Your Business More Attractive to Lenders, Taking Your Brand Offline and Into the Real World, Small Business Financial Academy, and How to Determine if a Franchise Business is Right for You.

Main office:

332 S. Michigan Avenue
Suite 600
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Phone: 312-353-4528

Illinois Small Business Administration website

Springfield office:

3330 Ginger Creek Road
Suite B
Springfield, Illinois 62711
Phone: 312-353-4528

The Business Enterprise Program (BEP) for businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and competitive business environment that will support underrepresented businesses to increase their capacity, grow revenue, and enhance credentials.

Certification benefits include being listed in a public online directory used by State Procurement Officials and Prime Vendors promotes visibility, thereby increasing the opportunity for bidding on State contracts with BEP goals. It is recognized by other municipalities and organizations to meet their supplier diversity initiatives and it’s free.

Business Enterprise Program
100 West Randolph
14-300
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Phone: 312-814-4190

Commission on Equity and Inclusion Business Enterprise Program website

The WBDC Illinois offices support and accelerate business development and growth, targeting women and serving all diverse business owners, in order to strengthen their participation in, and impact on, the economy. Services include:

Coaching and Education

• Strategic one-on-one and group business advising

• Specialized cohort-based curricula and workshops

• Digital learning

Contracts

• Private sector procurement opportunities

• Public sector contracting assistance

• WBE (Women's Business Enterprise) certification

Capital

• Financial education

• Debt and equity placement

• Direct lending

• Kiva microlending

WBDC headquarters:
8 South Michigan Avenue
Suite 400
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Phone: 312-853-3477, ext. 100

Women’s Business Development Center WBDC website

Additional offices:
43 West Galena Boulevard
Aurora, Illinois 60506
Phone: 312.853.3477 x 390

3610 West 26th Street
2nd Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60623
Phone: 312.853.3477 x 580

4137 Sauk Trail
Suite 132, Room V
Richton Park, Illinois 60471
Phone: 312.853.3477 x 610

Illinois Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are located throughout the state to provide information, confidential business guidance, training, and other resources for start-ups and existing small businesses.

Services Include:

• One-on-one business advice and management assistance

• Assistance with the development of business plans

• Help with accessing market information and the development of marketing plans

• Assistance with accessing business financing programs

• Assistance with financial analysis and planning

• Business education and training opportunities

• Specialized services in technology, innovation and entrepreneurial development

​Illinois International Trade Centers (ITC) provide assistance with international trade and exporting. The centers offer information, counseling and training to existing and new-to-export companies interested in pursuing international trade opportunities.

Services include:

• Evaluation of company's readiness to export

• Access to foreign market information

• Documentation assistance

• Automated trade leads

• Linkages with trade representatives

In addition to the primary state office in Springfield, there are additional office locations across Illinois in Aurora, Bloomington, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, Crystal Lake, Danville, Dixon, Edwardsville, Forest Park, Glen Ellyn, Grayslake, Harrisburg, Macomb, Moline, Noble, Ottawa, Palos Heights, Peoria, Richton Park, Rockford, and Schaumburg.

Lead center:
Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
500 East Monroe
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Phone: 800-252-2923

Illinois Small Business Development Center website

SCORE Central Illinois in Peoria is a group of experienced business professionals who provide guidance to people who want to start a new business or to assist existing small businesses in improving their profitability. SCORE Central Illinois serves Fulton, Grundy, Knox, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McLean, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, and Woodford counties.

SCORE's volunteers are successful real-world business professionals who help existing and startup businesses succeed. Volunteers have experience in accounting, finance, human resources, consulting, import/export, law, operations, production, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, sales, marketing, management, business plan preparation, strategic planning, and many other business disciplines.

The organization provides:

• Volunteer mentors who share their expertise across many industries

• Free, confidential business mentoring in person, via email, or by video

• Free business tools, templates, and tips online

• Inexpensive or free business workshops and webinars

403 N. E. Jefferson Street
Peoria, Illinois 61603
Phone: 309-676-0755

SCORE Central Illinois website

NAWBO works to strengthen the wealth-creating capacity of members and promote economic development within the entrepreneurial community. The NAWBO Institute is the organization's educational arm, offering training and educational development opportunities that ensure NAWBO members are equipped with the tools and resources they need to succeed at any size or stage of development.

Illinois chapters of the National Association of Women Business Owners are located in Chicago and Peoria.

NAWBO Chicago is the largest of NAWBO’s more than 60 chapters in the U.S. It provides women business owners with leadership, education and networking opportunities amid a community of fellow women business owners.

Member companies vary in size from one employee to several hundred with 17% of members having 10 or more employees. The Chapter’s membership represents businesses in all major industrial, service and retail sectors.

Central Illinois NAWBO members in Peoria represent businesses from solo-preneurs to those with hundreds of employees. Members hail from every business industry and represent all areas of the Central Illinois. Membership is open to sole proprietors, partners, and corporate owners with day-to-day management responsibility. Members can access a variety of opportunities, products and services that will help their business achieve greater visibility, credibility, and profitability while building a strong network of other women-owned businesses in the region.

NAWBO Chicago:
4055 W Peterson Avenue
#105
Chicago, Illinois 60646
Phone: 773-741-4955

National Association of Women Business Owners NAWBO Chicago website

NAWBO Central Illinois:
P.O. Box 9404
Peoria Illinois 61612

NAWBO Peoria website

SCORE Chicago is a group of experienced business professionals who guide those desiring to start a small business or assist existing small businesses in improving their profitability.

Volunteers provide expertise and support in areas such as accounting, finance, human resources, consulting, import/export, law, operations, production, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, sales, marketing, management, business plan preparation, strategic planning, and many other business disciplines.

With SCORE by your side, you don't have to go it alone. SCORE has helped countless women entrepreneurs find success in their small businesses.

332 South Michigan Avenue
6th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Phone: 312-725-0123

SCORE Chicago website

Loans, investment capital, disaster assistance, surety bonds, and grants to start and grow a business as well as to recover from a disaster.

Small Business Administration website

The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity’s mission is to support and maintain a climate that enables a strong economy. Their grant programs support this mission by providing funds to organizations throughout Illinois for many different purposes.

To receive funding, grantees are required to submit various documentation, complete registrations, and obtain and organize other necessary items.

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Springfield Office:
607 East Adams
3rd floor
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Phone: 312-814-7179

Chicago Office:
555 West Monroe Street
12th floor
Chicago, Illinois 60661
Phone: 312-814-7179

State of Illinois Grant Opportunities website

The Gies College of Business is designed to help you connect the dots between your education and a purposeful future. Gies has designed its innovative programs, leading-edge curriculum, and experiential learning opportunities to empower and prepare students to turn big ideas into meaningful actions. This occurs when students have access to innovative curricular initiatives, top faculty talent, state-of-the-art resources, a strong reputation with employers, and exceptional networking opportunities.

In addition to undergraduate and graduate degrees, Gies Professional Credentials offer flexible, highly relevant learning opportunities that empower business professionals to expand their impact and achieve their goals. The online learning continuum is intentionally designed to give you control over your point of entry, your path, and your pace.

Gies College of Business
515 East Gregory Drive
Champaign, Illinois 61820
Phone: 217-300-7327

University of Illinois Gies College of Business website

EnterpriseWorks is a technology business incubator that supports the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and community entrepreneurs in all stages of their startup journey.

AWARE (Accelerating Women And underRepresented Entrepreneurs) is programmed through the EnterpriseWorks incubator at the University of Illinois Research Park. The program supports entrepreneurship training, counseling, and networking.

AWARE offers resources and an enhanced infrastructure that make the current entrepreneurial ecosystem more accessible to all. Those resources include:

• a dedicated entrepreneur-in-residence familiar with the needs of those from underrepresented groups.

• small proof-of-concept grants for teams

• targeted mentorship, training, and networking opportunities

EnterpriseWorks' benefits include access to:

• University of Illinois lab equipment and facilities

• Lab supplies at reduced educational rates

• Student shared services team, who help companies develop their visual brands.

• A peer network of entrepreneurs who share the same experiences.

University of Illinois Research Park
60 Hazelwood Drive
Champaign, Illinois 61820
Phone: 217-333-8324

AWARE Program at EnterpriseWorks at Research Park website

Students at the Kellogg School of Management learn the science of management and the art of leadership. Programs include both a full and part-time MBA, executive MBA, PhD options, two undergraduate certificates, as well as additional non-degree executive education opportunities.

The Kellogg Executive Education program offers areas of focus in general management, family enterprise, finance and accounting, governance, growth and innovation, leadership, marketing and sales, operations and technology, and strategy.

Kellogg School of Management
2211 Campus Drive
Evanston, Illinois 60208
Phone: 847-491-3300

Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management website

From the smallest startups to the largest international corporations, the rapidly changing business world needs leaders who can anticipate change and innovate. Loyola University Chicago's Quinlan School of Business helps prepare students for a new career or professionals to enhance the job they have.

The Quinlan School of Business, educates and inspires ethical and responsible leaders who strengthen today's global economy, and prepare to make the world a better place through the positive power of business while enjoying a successful career.

Areas of study include MBA, Accounting, Economics, Finance, Human Resources, Information Systems, Law, Management, Marketing, Pharmacology, and Supply Chain Management.

Quinlan School of Business
820 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone: 312-915-7057

Loyola University Quinlan School of Business website

The Illinois Business Journal connects the business people of Southwestern Illinois. Areas of focus include local business headlines, people in business, financial focus, money matters, and more.

Illinois Business Journal
P.O. Box C
Mascoutah, Illinois 62258
Phone: 618-616-1335

Illinois Business Journal website

The Chicago Business Journal delivers the latest breaking business news updated throughout the day, the week's top stories from the Chicago Business Journal, and other popular features from the paper’s website.

Topics include top Chicago business news, people on the move, BizSpotlight, leadership trust, marketing solutions, events, Chicago innovation, career and workplace, DEI, government regulations, and industry focus on banking and finance, commercial real estate, education, energy, food and lifestyle, healthcare, manufacturing, media and marketing, nonprofits, professional services, residential real estate, sports business, retailing, technology, transportation, and travel and tourism.

141 W. Jackson Boulevard
Suite 1795
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Phone: 866-853-3661

Chicago Business Journal website

Crain's Chicago Business is a weekly business newspaper. It is a top source of news, analysis and information on business in metropolitan Chicago for decision-makers in the private and public sectors. It provides deep analysis, commentary, special reports and features.

Crain's also produces databases, live events and sponsored content, all with the aim of deepening readers' understanding of local business.

130 E Randolph Street
Suite 3200
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Phone: 877-812-1590

Crain’s Chicago Business website