Step 1: Choose a name New Jersey will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Liability Co.”, “Ltd Liability Company” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services' records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in New Jersey against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $50, for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Certificate of Formation names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in New Jersey who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents New Jersey companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Certificate of Formation
File it with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. The fee is $100. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Faster service: over the counter: $25 expedited, $500 within two hours, $1,000 within one hour; $50 same day by fax. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
New Jersey doesn't require one (N.J.S.A. 42:2C-11(a)-(b)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free New Jersey LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once New Jersey has accepted the Certificate of Formation.
Step 6: File the New Jersey LLC annual report
Fee: $75. Due: By the last day of the anniversary month of formation each year. (Source: Fees, nj.gov.)
| After formation | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $75 each year |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Standing, $50 (short form) |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a New Jersey certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in New Jersey
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $100 |
| First year, state fees | $100 |
| Each year after | $75 |
Over five years, New Jersey's state fees come to $400. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Fees, nj.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Alternate name registration, nj.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Public Records Filing for New Business Entity (PDF), nj.gov, checked 2026-10-07
N.J. P.L. 2012, c. 50, pub.njleg.state.nj.us, checked 2026-10-08
Filings and accounting, business.nj.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Unrr1 (PDF), nj.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Unrr3 (PDF), nj.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in New Jersey
- Choose a name New Jersey will accept and check it against the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services' records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in New Jersey.
- File the Certificate of Formation with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services ($100).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in New Jersey?
$100 to file the Certificate of Formation. The state's fees come to $100 in the first year and $75 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in New Jersey?
The New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services doesn't post a standard time. Faster service: over the counter: $25 expedited, $500 within two hours, $1,000 within one hour; $50 same day by fax.
Do I need an operating agreement in New Jersey?
New Jersey doesn't require one (N.J.S.A. 42:2C-11(a)-(b)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in New Jersey online?
Yes. The New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services takes the Certificate of Formation online, for $100.
When is the New Jersey LLC annual report due?
By the last day of the anniversary month of formation each year.
Does New Jersey require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. New Jersey's recurring filing: $75 each year.