New Jersey LLC Cost: $100 to File Certificate (2026)

Fact-checked and updated September 14, 2026.

A New Jersey LLC costs $100 to file a Certificate of Formation with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES). After formation, file the free NJ-REG tax/employer registration and a $75 annual report by the last day of your formation anniversary month. File on the NJ portal or use ZenBusiness Starter for a $0 formation service fee plus the same $100 state fee. Optional services cost extra.

This page is for founders filing a New Jersey Certificate of Formation for $100, then completing NJ-REG and the $75 anniversary-month annual report.

This guide is for creating a new New Jersey LLC. If you already have an LLC formed in another state, check New Jersey’s foreign-entity registration requirements before creating a second company.

New Jersey LLC costs: required fees and optional extras

Confirm fees on the DORES Registry Fee Schedules and Getting Registered page.

Budget example: $100 to form plus $75 for the first annual report is the core DORES path—before municipal licenses, insurance, or any partnership filing fee that may apply for multi-member LLCs via Taxation. Expedite and same-day options may be available for added fees depending on channel. For most founders, standard online formation plus prompt NJ-REG is enough.

Older instruction PDFs may still show a $125 formation fee; current DORES fee schedule and Getting Registered pages list $100. Re-check fees.shtml at publish time. New Jersey has no flat SOS franchise tax on LLCs. New Jersey formation is only half the state paperwork story. Skipping NJ-REG after the Certificate is a frequent cause of tax-registration headaches later.

Should you file on the NJ Business Formation portal or use ZenBusiness?

Choose DIY if you can complete the Public Records Filing on the NJ portal, then NJ-REG, and calendar the anniversary-month annual report. Choose a filing service for guided preparation. New Jersey formation is only half the state paperwork story. Skipping NJ-REG after the Certificate is a frequent cause of tax-registration headaches later.

ZenBusiness lists Starter at $0 without a base-plan renewal. Its optional first year of Worry-Free Compliance renews at $199/year; registered-agent service is listed at $199/year (intro pricing may show about $99 for the first year—confirm at checkout). EIN and operating-agreement services are separate Starter purchases. Check the current package terms and checkout selections.

A free introductory service can become a recurring expense. Before paying, review the initial total, renewal amounts, and cancellation terms. Keep a copy of your selections. A reminder is not confirmation that a required state filing was submitted, and the state filing fee remains separate.

Can you be your own New Jersey registered agent?

Yes, if you maintain a New Jersey street address and meet DORES registered-agent rules (including an email for agent notifications). A member may serve when those conditions are met.

If you cannot reliably receive legal documents in New Jersey, use a commercial agent and compare renewal terms.

Plan addresses before filing. Public records filings are public—enter accurate agent and business information.

DORES expects an agent email for notifications. Use an inbox you monitor—annual-report reminders and agent notices may arrive there.

How to file your New Jersey LLC: a practical checklist

1. Check the name on the NJ business-name search and include an LLC designator. Optional reservation is $50 for 120 days.
2. Appoint a registered agent with a New Jersey street address and email, and obtain consent.
3. File the Certificate of Formation on the NJ Online Business Formation service and pay $100 (plus any card convenience fee).
4. File NJ-REG for tax/employer registration (no filing fee) after you have an EIN when required.
5. Confirm acceptance, save your Entity ID, and calendar the $75 annual report for the last day of your anniversary month.

How long does approval take?

Online formation timing varies; expedite options exist for added fees on some channels. ZenBusiness preparation (often 7–10 business days) is separate from DORES acceptance. Leave buffer for name issues. The online service is labeled for certificates of formation/authorization of business entities. Have the registered-agent email and payment method ready before you start.

New Jersey LLC annual report: $75 by anniversary month-end

Every New Jersey LLC must file an annual report with DORES for $75, due by the last day of the month in which the LLC was formed. File online through the Annual Reports portal.

Missing reports for two consecutive years can lead to administrative revocation. The annual report is not an income-tax return and does not replace NJ-REG or tax filings.

Example: formed August 12, 2026 → annual report due by August 31 each year. Set a mid-month reminder and save confirmations.

Anniversary-month deadlines mean an August formation is due by August 31—not by a statewide April date. Two consecutive missed years can lead to administrative revocation; do not skip “just one year.”

Partnership filing fees for LLCs with three or more members are Division of Taxation matters, not the $75 DORES annual report—ask a tax professional if that regime may apply.

After filing: get the business ready to operate

• Document how the LLC works. An operating agreement can set ownership, contributions, decision-making, distributions, and exit arrangements. New Jersey’s filing office generally does not require you to file the agreement with the formation paperwork—keep it with your company records. For multiple owners, resolve disagreements before money or contracts are committed.
• Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. An EIN service fee pays someone to assist; it is not an IRS charge. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
• Separate business finances. Ask the bank for its document checklist and establish a bookkeeping process. Use the correct legal business name on applications and contracts; keep any trade-name registrations consistent.
• Check taxes and operating permissions. LLC formation does not itself select S-corporation taxation or issue a professional license. The IRS explains LLC tax classifications. Identify the state and local requirements for your actual work before opening.
• Check the current BOI rule. As of this review, FinCEN exempts entities created in the United States from beneficial-ownership reporting. A newly created domestic LLC generally falls within that exemption. Consult FinCEN directly before buying a BOI filing add-on.

For a simple one-owner operation, organize these tasks into a short checklist. Where ownership, investors, or tax elections are complicated, formation paperwork alone will not resolve those decisions.

After the Certificate is accepted, complete NJ-REG so the Division of Revenue can determine tax and employer obligations. Skipping NJ-REG is a common startup mistake.

After filing, complete NJ-REG promptly and check municipal licensing. The Certificate alone does not finish New Jersey’s startup paperwork stack.

Match insurance to the work your LLC performs

Entity formation and insurance solve different problems. Ask the insurer to identify the correct business and operations; ask clients or landlords what coverage and certificate of insurance they require. Use the relevant guide to compare coverage:

• New Jersey cleaning business insurance
• New Jersey food truck insurance
• New Jersey HVAC insurance
• New Jersey landscaping insurance
• New Jersey daycare insurance

Continue with the New Jersey business guide for the broader startup process.

New Jersey LLC questions before you file

What is the cheapest way to form a New Jersey LLC?

The Certificate of Formation is $100 with DORES. ZenBusiness Starter advertises a $0 formation service fee plus the same $100 state fee. Budget $75 for the annual report and complete free NJ-REG after formation. Always separate state fees from any optional registered-agent or compliance add-ons you choose at checkout.

When is the New Jersey LLC annual report due?

By the last day of the anniversary month of formation each year. The fee is $75.

Can I be my own New Jersey registered agent?

Yes, if you maintain a New Jersey street address (and agent email) and meet DORES rules.

Does forming an LLC finish New Jersey registration?

No. After the Certificate, file NJ-REG for tax/employer registration. Municipal licenses may also apply.

Can I get an EIN without buying a service?

Yes. The IRS issues EINs free after the LLC is formed, if you are eligible.