New year, new laws! In our 2025 annual legislative digest for Illinois’ small business community, we highlight seven new developments. Please note: This post covers only some of the new legislation taking effect this year and, while these laws certainly affect small businesses, there may be others as well. These laws make the following changes:
How to file your BOI Report

Confused and overwhelmed by the BOI Report? You aren’t alone. The Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOI Report) is a newly required filing from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). In an effort to combat the use of shell and front companies for illicit financial activity, virtually all businesses in the United States now have to…
Chicago’s Legal Updates in July 2024
- Several laws take effect in Chicago starting on July 1st, 2024.
- Hiring parties will be required to provide more paid leave and sick leave to their workers.
- The city’s minimum wage in 2024 will increase.
- The tipped minimum wage will begin to be phased out.
State and federal governments usually write laws to take effect…
New Paid Leave Laws for Illinois Employees

New Paid Leave Laws for Illinois Employees
- Three new major paid leave laws will go into effect in Illinois in 2024.
- The Paid Leave for All Workers Act applies to any employer with an employee in the state.
- Cook County’s paid leave ordinance applies to any employer with an employee in Cook County.
- Chicago’s paid
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The Paid Leave for All Workers Act
The Paid Leave for All Workers Act
- Illinois’s new paid leave law, PLAWA, affects every employer with an employee in the state and goes into effect January 1, 2024.
- PLAWA allows employees to accrue up to one week a year of paid leave.
- This paid leave must be able to be used for any reason.
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New laws in 2024
What are the new laws in Illinois for 2024?
New year, new laws! In our 2024 annual legislative digest for Illinois’ small business community, we highlight five new laws that take effect this year and one existing law getting an upgrade. Please note: This post covers only some of the new legislation taking effect this…
Employment Webinar! Independent Contractors vs. Employees

Our employment webinar on Employees vs. Independent Contractors is now available to view on YouTube. Thank you to everyone who attended! Subscribe to our newsletter here to receive updates and notifications for future webinars, whether another employment webinar or on other topics. Worker misclassification is one of the most common mistakes we see business owners…
New Laws in 2023

A bunch of legal updates take effect for small businesses in 2023.
- One new law expands the definition of “racial discrimination” to include hair.
- One new law increases the minimum wage.
- One new law increases workers’ rights to take leave.
- One new law bans latex gloves in food service establishments.
- An upgrade to an existing
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How to register your PLLC with the IDFPR

- PLLC owners must get an IDFPR login to register their business with the department, in addition to their personal registration.
- The IDFPR started cracking down on PLLCs a couple years ago.
- The registration process is obscure and hard to navigate, and help is hard to find.
So, you have a new PLLC. Congratulations! Whether you…
July 1st Employment Law Updates
- On July 1st, two of Chicago’s municipal ordinances will see scheduled updates.
- The city’s minimum wage will increase.
- Certain employers will have to post schedules two weeks in advance.
July 1st Employment Law Updates
July 1st will bring a couple of important legal changes for employers in Chicago, when a couple of municipal ordinances have…