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| Companies based in Illinois | |
|---|---|
| Name | Companies based in Illinois |
| Caption | Skyline of Chicago, home to many corporations |
| Founded | Various |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Schaumburg, Peoria, Rockford, Springfield |
| Key people | Various |
| Industry | Various |
| Products | Various |
Companies based in Illinois are corporations, firms, and enterprises whose primary headquarters or founding locations are within the boundaries of the state of Illinois. Centered on the metropolitan area of Chicago, these companies range from multinational conglomerates to family-owned businesses, spanning sectors represented by firms such as Boeing, McDonald's, Walgreens Boots Alliance, United Airlines, and Caterpillar Inc.. Illinois hosts regional headquarters, flagship manufacturing sites, and corporate campuses for firms with origins in municipalities including Peoria, Rockford, Joliet, Evanston, and Naperville.
Illinois-based companies include multinational corporations like Abbott Laboratories, Mondelez International, Exelon, Kraft Heinz, and Archer Daniels Midland alongside financial institutions such as CME Group, Northern Trust, Discover Financial Services, and Wintrust Financial. The Chicago region concentrates corporate activity with campus facilities of Aon plc, Allstate, BMO Harris Bank, Morningstar, Inc., and Walgreens Boots Alliance, while downstate firms include industrial names like Kraft Foods Group affiliates in Peoria and agribusiness operators like Cargill operations. Major business landmarks include Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
Prominent headquarters in Illinois include Boeing (historically in Chicago), McDonald's in Oak Brook, Walgreens Boots Alliance in Deerfield, United Airlines in Chicago O'Hare, Caterpillar Inc. in Peoria (historically), AbbVie in North Chicago, Abbott Laboratories in Abbott Park, Mondelez International in Chicago, Exelon in Chicago, Kraft Heinz with legacy facilities across Illinois, Archer Daniels Midland in Chicago River, CME Group in the Loop, Northern Trust in Chicago. Additional headquarters and major offices include Aon plc in Chicago, Allstate in Northbrook, BMO Harris Bank in Chicago, Discover Financial Services in Riverwoods, Walgreens distribution hubs, and corporate centers for TJX Companies affiliates.
Illinois companies span sectors: finance with CME Group, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Cboe Global Markets; manufacturing with Caterpillar, Navistar International, Illinois Tool Works; food and beverage with Conagra Brands, Kraft Heinz, McDonald's, Mondelez International; pharmaceuticals and healthcare with Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Walgreens Boots Alliance pharmacies; transportation and logistics with United Airlines, BNSF Railway operations, Canadian National regional hubs; energy and utilities with Exelon, ComEd; and technology and professional services with Aon plc, Deloitte offices, Accenture locations, Motorola Solutions. These companies affect state tax receipts, employment in Cook County, supply chains linked to Port of Chicago, and philanthropic initiatives associated with Rockefeller Foundation-type donors and local foundations.
Illinois business history includes early trading at Fort Dearborn, growth of railroads like Illinois Central Railroad and Chicago and North Western Railway that attracted firms such as Pullman Company and later industrial giants including Sears, Roebuck and Co., International Harvester, and Armour and Company. The 20th century saw emergence of financial exchanges such as Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Mercantile Exchange and corporate expansion by McDonald's franchising, Kraft consolidations, and the rise of insurance firms such as Allstate. Postwar suburbanization concentrated corporate campuses in Oak Brook and Northbrook, while deregulation and globalization led to mergers involving Boeing, Caterpillar, AbbVie, and Conagra Brands.
Illinois supports startups via incubators and accelerators like 1871 in Chicago, MATTER, university-affiliated programs at University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and venture networks including Chicago Venture Capital groups and angel networks tied to firms such as TechNexus. Small businesses thrive in neighborhoods like Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Hyde Park, and commercial corridors in Naperville and Aurora, with coworking spaces from WeWork and local accelerators supporting fintech, biotech, foodtech, and logistics startups. Municipal initiatives from City of Chicago and county economic development offices partner with private entities including Illinois Science & Technology Coalition.
Illinois-headquartered corporations comply with laws such as the Illinois Business Corporation Act and file with the Illinois Secretary of State. Regulation intersects with federal agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and industry-specific bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration for pharmaceutical firms like Abbott and AbbVie. State tax policy, administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue, affects corporate income tax obligations, incentives for job creation, and credits for research and development used by firms like Archer Daniels Midland and Exelon.
Several companies founded in Illinois relocated or dissolved: Sears, Roebuck and Co. moved corporate functions and faced bankruptcy, Montgomery Ward collapsed, Pullman Company was absorbed after decline, and parts of Boeing's headquarters moved. Others like International Harvester restructured into Navistar International while brands such as Armour and Company were acquired. Corporate relocations include headquarters moves by firms to New York City, Atlanta, and Dallas during mergers and acquisitions.