How to Start an LLC in New Jersey
Form your New Jersey LLC online with transparent pricing, registered agent service and real human support. Incofile prepares and files your Certificate of Formation for you.
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New Jersey LLC filing fee & timeline
To form an LLC in New Jersey you file your Certificate of Formation with the state and pay the state filing fee of $125. Incofile adds a flat, one-time service fee on top — no monthly charges — and your total is always shown before you pay.
Most New Jersey LLC filings are prepared and submitted within one business day. State approval time depends on New Jersey's current processing queue, typically ranging from a few business days to a few weeks, with expedited options available in many states.
Why form an LLC in New Jersey
Forming a New Jersey LLC is a two-step process: file the $125 Certificate of Formation online, then register for taxes with Form NJ-REG within 60 days — a step many founders miss. The annual report is $75, and LLCs with three or more owners pay a $150-per-owner partnership fee each year.
New Jersey LLC at a glance
| State filing fee | $125 |
|---|---|
| Document filed | Certificate of Formation (Public Records Filing) |
| Expedited options | $25 (8.5 business hours) · $50 same day by fax · $500 (2 hours) · $1,000 (1 hour), for over-the-counter or fax filings |
| Annual report | $75 per year, due by the last day of your anniversary month |
| Late penalty | No late fee; revocation after two consecutive missed reports |
| Tax registration | Form NJ-REG required within 60 days of formation (no fee) |
| Partnership filing fee | $150 per owner per year for LLCs with 3 or more owners and NJ-source income (max $250,000) |
| Name reservation (optional) | $50, holds the name for 120 days |
| State income tax | Graduated 1.4%–10.75% |
| Registered agent | Required; a New Jersey street address |
State figures checked against the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, September 2026. State fees are set by New Jersey and can change; the exact total is shown before you pay.
How much does it cost to start an LLC in New Jersey?
| Cost | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation (state filing fee) | $125 | Required, one time |
| Tax registration (Form NJ-REG) | No fee | Required within 60 days of formation |
| Registered agent | $0 if you act as your own agent at a New Jersey street address; otherwise a registered agent service | Required, ongoing |
| Annual report | $75 per year | Required every year by the end of your anniversary month |
| Partnership filing fee | $150 per owner per year (LLCs with 3+ owners and NJ income) | Annual, if it applies |
| EIN from the IRS | Free from the IRS | Needed for a bank account and taxes |
| Name reservation | $50 for 120 days | Optional |
| Expedited processing | $25 (8.5 business hours) · $50 same day (fax) · $500 (2 hours) · $1,000 (1 hour) — over-the-counter or fax filings | Optional |
These are state, IRS and other outside costs — not Incofile fees. Your Incofile package price is shown separately at checkout, and your full total is always shown before you pay. Estimate every cost for your state with our LLC cost calculator.
How to form an LLC in New Jersey — 4 steps
Choose your package
Pick the Incofile package that fits your goals. Your New Jersey state filing fee is shown before you pay.
Tell us about your LLC
Complete our short form with your company name, address and ownership details — about ten minutes.
We check & file with New Jersey
We confirm your name is available and file your Certificate of Formation with the New Jersey state office.
Get your documents
Your approved New Jersey LLC documents land in your dashboard, with reminders for your annual report and other deadlines.
How to start an LLC in New Jersey: step by step
Here is exactly what forming a New Jersey LLC involves, whether you file it yourself or let Incofile handle the paperwork.
Choose and check your LLC name
Pick a name that includes “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” and is distinguishable from existing New Jersey businesses. Check it with our free business name search.
Appoint a registered agent
Name a registered agent with a physical street address in New Jersey (not a PO box) who can accept legal papers during business hours. If you live outside New Jersey or want privacy, Incofile can act as your agent.
File the Certificate of Formation
File online through the New Jersey business formation portal and pay $125. Expedited service ($25 to $1,000 depending on speed) applies to over-the-counter and fax submissions rather than the online portal.
Register for taxes with NJ-REG
Within 60 days of formation, file Form NJ-REG with the Division of Revenue (no fee). This registers you for sales tax and employer taxes and issues your Business Registration Certificate.
Create an operating agreement
New Jersey does not require you to file an operating agreement, but it records who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. Banks commonly ask for it, and it helps protect your limited liability.
Get an EIN
Apply to the IRS for your Employer Identification Number (EIN). You need it to open a business bank account, hire staff and file federal taxes. The IRS issues it free; non-US owners without an SSN apply by phone, fax or mail, and our Gold package handles it for you.
File your annual report each year
File the $75 annual report online by the last day of your anniversary month every year. Two consecutive missed reports lead to revocation. LLCs taxed as partnerships with three or more owners and New Jersey income also pay the $150-per-owner filing fee with their NJ-1065 return.
What you need to form an LLC in New Jersey
- A business name that is available and meets New Jersey's naming rules (it must include “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company”).
- A registered agent with a physical address in New Jersey — Incofile can be your agent.
- Certificate of Formation filed with the New Jersey state office — we prepare and submit these for you.
- An operating agreement and EIN to open a business bank account (included in our Gold and Platinum packages).
- Ongoing compliance — New Jersey's reports, taxes and registered agent rules (see below). We track the deadlines and remind you.
Operating agreement
An operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are split, how decisions are made and what happens if a member leaves. New Jersey does not ask you to file it with the state, but banks usually want to see it, and without one the state's default rules apply. Incofile includes a customised operating agreement in the Gold and Platinum packages.
EIN (Employer Identification Number)
Your EIN is the federal tax ID for your LLC. You need it to open a business bank account, hire staff and file taxes. The IRS issues it free — online in minutes if you have a Social Security number, or by fax or mail (one to eight weeks) if you don't. Our Gold and Platinum packages include it, and it is also available as a separate service.
This is general information, not legal advice. If you're unsure which structure is right, compare LLC vs S-Corp vs C-Corp.
New Jersey LLC naming rules
The name must contain “Limited Liability Company” or an abbreviation such as “LLC” or “L.L.C.” and must be distinguishable from every other entity on the New Jersey register. Check availability with our free business name search.
Keeping your New Jersey LLC compliant
Annual report
File the $75 annual report online by the last day of your formation anniversary month every year. There is no late fee, but an LLC that misses two consecutive reports has its charter revoked; reinstatement costs a $75 fee plus every missed annual report ($75 each at current rates).
Tax registration
Every new business must file Form NJ-REG with the Division of Revenue within 60 days of forming. It is free, registers you for sales tax (6.625%) and employer withholding, and produces the Business Registration Certificate you need for public contracts and many suppliers.
Partnership filing fee
An LLC taxed as a partnership with New Jersey-source income and three or more owners pays a $150 fee per owner each year (capped at $250,000) plus a 50% prepayment towards the following year, filed with Form NJ-1065. Single-member and two-member LLCs are exempt.
Taxes
Owners pay New Jersey gross income tax on their share of profit at graduated rates from 1.4% to 10.75% (the top rate applies above $1 million). An LLC that elects S-Corp or C-Corp treatment owes the corporation business tax minimum instead.
Incofile clients get every New Jersey deadline tracked in their dashboard with email reminders — see registered agent service.
Official New Jersey resources
New Jersey LLC — frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in New Jersey?
Incofile charges a flat, one-time formation fee (Silver, Gold or Platinum) plus the New Jersey state filing fee of $125. There are no monthly charges, and the total is shown before you pay.
How long does it take to form an LLC in New Jersey?
We prepare and submit your New Jersey Certificate of Formation within one business day. State approval times vary from a few business days to a few weeks; expedited filing is available in many states.
Do I need a registered agent in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey requires every LLC to have a registered agent with a physical address in the state to receive legal and state mail. Incofile can serve as your New Jersey registered agent so you stay compliant and keep your address private.
Can I start an LLC in New Jersey if I live in another state or country?
Yes. You do not need to live in New Jersey to form an LLC there. Incofile can act as your registered agent and provide a business address, so you can form and run your New Jersey LLC from anywhere.
How much does a New Jersey LLC cost per year?
The state annual report is $75, due in your anniversary month. LLCs with three or more owners and New Jersey income also pay $150 per owner each year. Add a registered agent service if you use one.
What is Form NJ-REG and do I need it?
Yes. NJ-REG is the free tax and employer registration every New Jersey business must file within 60 days of formation. Without it you cannot collect sales tax or get a Business Registration Certificate.
Does a single-member New Jersey LLC pay the partnership fee?
No. The $150-per-owner fee applies only to LLCs taxed as partnerships with three or more owners and New Jersey-source income.
How fast can New Jersey approve my LLC?
Expedited service is offered for over-the-counter and fax filings: 8.5 business hours for $25, same day by fax for $50, two hours for $500 and one hour for $1,000 (the fastest tiers require presenting the filing in person in Trenton).
Ready to launch your New Jersey LLC?
Most orders are prepared and submitted within one business day.
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