By StartBusinessByStatePublisher: Robert SmithResearch process
Make your New Jersey business official. Have your LLC paperwork prepared and filed so you can focus on getting your business off the ground.
- Your business name checked before filing.
- Your formation paperwork prepared and submitted.
- Your formation documents together in an online account.
$0 service fee + $100 state filing fee
Filing service by ZenBusiness. Choose Starter for the $0 service fee. State follow-up charges and optional services and renewals are separate.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Get the paperwork handled and your company underway
With ZenBusiness, you provide the details and its team handles the New Jersey formation filing. You get electronic documents and customer support by phone, chat and email.
Use your approved LLC records to open a company bank account, organize your ownership agreement and do business under the company name. The state-specific costs and next steps below help you plan what comes after approval.
What it costs to start a New Jersey LLC
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.
Confirm fees on the DORES Registry Fee Schedules and Getting Registered page.
sbbs-state-fee-tracker:2026-10-12
The $100 formation fee took effect July 1, 2026, down from $125; the annual report remains $75. See the New Jersey fee change and official law in our state tracker.
| Expense | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation | $100 | Required when forming (portal may add card fee) |
| Typical formation base | $100 | Excludes expedite and optional purchases |
| NJ-REG Business Registration | $0 | Required tax/employer registration after formation |
| Annual report | $75 | Due last day of anniversary month each year |
| Optional name reservation | $50 | Holds name 120 days |
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.
Choose the services you want with your filing
Starter’s base formation service does not renew. Registered-agent service, an EIN service, an operating agreement and faster preparation are optional purchases.
The preselected website-builder trial renews at $15/month after 30 days; you can remove it at checkout. Optional Worry-Free Compliance is free for the first year and renews at $199/year. Registered-agent service is listed separately at $199/year; first-year promotions may differ.
Review the services and renewal terms in your order. Provider details checked October 14, 2026 against ZenBusiness’s formation plans.
How to start your New Jersey LLC
Use your company details to get the formation paperwork prepared and submitted. Here is how the filing service works:
- Enter your business details. Choose New Jersey, your company name and the information requested for the filing.
- Review your services and order. Select Starter for the $0 base service fee. ZenBusiness prepares and submits the formation document from your answers.
- Save your approved company records. Once the filing office accepts the paperwork, use the documents to finish your banking and business setup.
Your New Jersey filing checklist and required next steps
- Check the name on the NJ business-name search and include an LLC designator. Optional reservation is $50 for 120 days.
- Appoint a registered agent with a New Jersey street address and email, and obtain consent.
- File the Certificate of Formation on the NJ Online Business Formation service and pay $100 (plus any card convenience fee).
- File NJ-REG for tax/employer registration (no filing fee) after you have an EIN when required.
- Confirm acceptance, save your Entity ID, and calendar the $75 annual report for the last day of your anniversary month.
Check your proposed name in the New Jersey business search.
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.
Can I file directly with New Jersey?
Yes. You can prepare and submit the filing yourself through the New Jersey official LLC filing service. A formation service handles preparation and submission from the information you provide. The government charges and required follow-up steps above still apply.
Choose your New Jersey registered agent
You can serve as your own agent 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.
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.
Get your New Jersey LLC filing underway
Put the formation paperwork in ZenBusiness’s hands. Starter has a $0 service fee plus the applicable New Jersey charges detailed above.
Continue to ZenBusiness to enter your details and review your order. Optional services and renewal details.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Put your approved LLC to work
- 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.Use the basic LLC operating agreement tool as a starting point.
- Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. A paid EIN service handles the application for you. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
- Open your business bank account. 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.
- Complete taxes and operating approvals. 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 for the current rule.
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.
Insurance guidance for your New Jersey business
Match coverage to your services, employees, equipment and client contracts. Start with the relevant guide:
Continue with the New Jersey business guide for the broader startup process.
New Jersey LLC questions before you start
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.
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.
Page updated October 14, 2026. State-source review: September 14, 2026. ZenBusiness package terms checked October 14, 2026.