Start an LLC by State

Start an LLC by State › New Jersey

Starting an LLC in New Jersey: step by step (2026)

To start an LLC in New Jersey, file the Certificate of Formation with the New Jersey Secretary of State and pay the $100 state fee. New Jersey LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due the last day of the LLC's anniversary month, for $75. Every New Jersey LLC must keep a registered agent with a New Jersey street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

How to form an LLC in New Jersey

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the New Jersey Secretary of State business records.
  2. Name a registered agent: a New Jersey resident, or a business with authority to do business in New Jersey, such as a corporation registered and in good standing with the State Treasurer.
  3. File the Certificate of Formation with the New Jersey Secretary of State and pay $100.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. New Jersey LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due the last day of the LLC's anniversary month, for $75.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus New Jersey’s fees.

New Jersey LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$100
Formation document
Certificate of Formation
Yearly filing
Annual Report, every year, $75
Due
Last day of the LLC's anniversary month each year
Registered agent
Required. A New Jersey resident, or a business with authority to do business in New Jersey, such as a corporation registered and in good standing with the State Treasurer.
Agent address
The address has to be a New Jersey street address. A P.O. box can be listed only together with the street address.
Filing fee rank
17th lowest of 50 (16 states charge less, 24 charge more)
Best overall for a New Jersey LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus New Jersey’s $100 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

New Jersey compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
New Jersey$100$75 / yr
Delaware$110$400 tax
New York$200$9 / 2 yrs
Pennsylvania$125$7 / yr

All 50 states

New Jersey LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in New Jersey?

$100 to the state to file. New Jersey LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due the last day of the LLC's anniversary month, for $75. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does New Jersey require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. New Jersey LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due the last day of the LLC's anniversary month, for $75.

Do I need a registered agent in New Jersey?

Yes. A New Jersey resident, or a business with authority to do business in New Jersey, such as a corporation registered and in good standing with the State Treasurer.

Can I form a New Jersey LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Certificate of Formation directly with the New Jersey Secretary of State and pay the $100 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources