Illinois Local: The Network for Independent Illinois Businesses
Join 125+ independently owned businesses — from Springfield and Central Illinois to the Chicago area and the Metro East — that connect, refer, and promote each other so customers choose local.
What is Illinois Local?
Illinois Local is a statewide membership network for independent businesses that are headquartered in Illinois and owned by Illinois residents. Members connect, refer customers to each other, and get promoted to people who want to buy local — through networking events, member stories, social media, press coverage, and our Annual Awards on Small Business Saturday.
Most of our members are in Central Illinois — Springfield, Chatham, Rochester, Carlinville, Jacksonville, and surrounding towns — with a growing number in the Chicago area, the Metro East, and communities across the state.
Who can join?
Illinois-based: headquartered and operating in Illinois
Independently owned by an Illinois resident
No franchises or MLMs. Local insurance and real estate agents are welcome.
Ready to take part and support fellow members
What Illinois Local Members Get
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Networking that leads to referrals
Member-hosted networking events in Springfield and a members-only Facebook group mean you always have a trusted local business to call — and one that sends customers your way.
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Promotion that reaches local buyers
Get featured in a member story on our website — our most-visited page — plus our monthly newsletter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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Help earning press coverage
We help members get noticed. Illinois Local members have been featured on NPR Illinois and in Illinois Country Living, Sweet Spot Living, and Prairie Land Buzz magazines.
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Professional member photo shoots
Join Illinois Local member photo shoots for professional images of you, your team, and your products to use in your own marketing.
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A listing in the Member Directory
Customers search our keyword-driven directory to find independent Illinois businesses by what you actually do — not a generic category.
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Annual Awards & Holiday Market perks
Be recognized at the Illinois Local Annual Awards on Small Business Saturday, and get a member discount on a Holiday Market vendor booth ($75 vs. $200).
Jamie Patarozzi, owner True Colors Floral
Through networking we have planned events that have benefited our business and created new friendships with likeminded entrepreneurs throughout Illinois!
Membership starts at $235 a year
Annual dues are based on the size of your business, so a one-person shop pays less than a company with a large team:
$235 — 1 to 3 employees
$360 — 4 to 12 employees
$550 — 13 to 50 employees
$840 — 51 to 125 employees
$1,600+ — 126 or more employees
Membership renews annually. See full pricing and join →
Upcoming events
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Illinois Local Small Business Saturday Holiday Market 2026
11.28 9:00AM-4:00PM
Join Illinois Local, an official American Express Neighborhood Champion, for the 6th annual Holiday Market. Support local independent businesses and causes from across the state, and shop small.
Chad Fowler, Owner Sangamon Tree Service
Illinois Local is far more than another networking group.
Shop local: find independent businesses across Illinois
Looking for a local restaurant, maker, retailer, or service provider? Search the Illinois Local Member Directory by city, keyword, or service to find independently owned Illinois businesses — with short profiles, contact links, and directions.
Illinois Local FAQs
What is Illinois Local?
Illinois Local is a statewide membership network for independent, Illinois-owned businesses. It connects members for networking and referrals and promotes them to customers who want to buy local.
Who can join Illinois Local?
Businesses that are headquartered and operating in Illinois and independently owned by an Illinois resident. Franchises and MLM businesses are not eligible; local insurance and real estate agents are welcome.
How much does Illinois Local membership cost?
Annual dues start at $235 for businesses with 1 to 3 employees and scale with business size: $360, $550, $840, and $1,600 or more for larger companies.
Where are Illinois Local members located?
Most members are in Central Illinois, including Springfield, Chatham, Rochester, Carlinville, and Jacksonville. Members are also located across the state, including the Chicago area and the Metro East.
Do I need to be near Springfield to join?
No. Networking events are hosted in Springfield, but member stories, social media promotion, the Member Directory, press support, and the Annual Awards work for independent businesses anywhere in Illinois.
How is Illinois Local different from a chamber of commerce?
Illinois Local is only for independent, Illinois-owned businesses (no franchises or MLMs), and it works statewide rather than in a single city, with a focus on promoting members to local customers and to each other.
How do I find a local independent business in Illinois?
Search the Illinois Local Member Directory by city, keyword, or service to find independently owned restaurants, makers, retailers, and service providers.