How Much Does an LLC Cost in New Jersey (A Complete Guide)
Forming an LLC in New Jersey costs $100 to file the Certificate of Formation. You pay that fee to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, known as DORES, part of the Department of the Treasury.
DORES charges more once you add faster processing, a name reservation, or an alternate name. This guide breaks down every fee you'll actually see. That covers the paperwork that creates your LLC through the annual costs that keep it in good standing.
Some fees below are one-time. Others repeat annually, and a few only kick in if your situation calls for them. Each section tells you which is which.
Quick Summary
- DORES, the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, collects the filing fees on this page.
- DORES doesn't publish a standard processing time for a regular filing. Paid expedite tiers can cut the wait to as little as one hour.
- Multi-member LLCs with more than two owners can owe a separate per-owner Partnership Filing Fee on top of the yearly Annual Report.
| Cost Item | Amount | Frequency | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation | $100 | One-time | Yes |
| Name Reservation | $50 | One-time | No |
| Expedited Processing | $25-$1,000 | One-time | No |
| Annual Report | $75 | Every year | Yes |
| Registered Agent Service | $0 self / $80-$300 hired | Every year | Yes (self-serve allowed) |
| New Jersey Sales Tax | 6.625% of taxable sales | Ongoing | If applicable |
| Partnership Filing Fee | $150 per owner (up to $250,000) | Every year | If applicable |
| NJ-REG Tax/Employer Registration | $0 | One-time | Yes |
| DBA / Alternate Name | $50 | One-time | No |
| Standing Certificate | $50-$100 | As needed | No |
| Operating Agreement | $0 template / $100-$1,000+ attorney | One-time | No |
| EIN | $0 | One-time | No |
One-Time Costs to Form a New Jersey LLC
You pay each of these exactly once, at the moment your LLC comes into existence. An optional filing or two often happens around the same time.
1. Certificate of Formation Filing Fee ($100 - Mandatory)
The Certificate of Formation is the document that legally creates your New Jersey LLC. You file it online through the njportal.com Business Formation Service with DORES. The base fee is $100. That applies whether you're forming a new domestic LLC or registering an existing out-of-state LLC to do business in New Jersey [1].
DORES doesn't publish a standard business-day turnaround for a regular filing. Four paid tiers are available instead, three over the counter and one by fax only:
- $25 buys 8.5-business-hour processing (over the counter)
- $50 buys same-day processing (fax only)
- $500 buys 2-hour processing (over the counter)
- $1,000 buys 1-hour processing (over the counter)
Each expedite fee comes on top of the $100 base fee. Learn more about LLC processing time in New Jersey.
2. Name Reservation ($50 - Optional)
If you're not ready to file yet but want to lock down a business name, you can reserve it with DORES for $50. The reservation holds the name for 6 months.
DORES itself advises that reserving is optional. It's not the recommended path for most filers, since it blocks you from using that same name inside the online formation system while the reservation stays active. Before you reserve anything, confirm the name is actually available and fits New Jersey's naming rules.
Recurring and Optional Costs for a New Jersey LLC
Forming the LLC is a single payment. Keeping the LLC in good standing afterward means its own recurring dates and fees, layered on top of what you paid to form it. Below is everything you'll be billed for once the LLC is up and running.
1. Annual Report ($75 - Mandatory)
Every New Jersey LLC files an Annual Report each year. The fee is $75. The report is due on the last day of the calendar month marking your LLC's formation anniversary. That's not a fixed date shared by every business.
Miss the deadline and DORES can administratively revoke your LLC, which means filing for reinstatement to restore it to good standing. Set a recurring reminder for your specific anniversary month so the date doesn't slip past you.
2. Registered Agent Service ($0 Self / $80 to $300 Hired - Mandatory to Have, Optional to Hire)
New Jersey law requires every LLC to name a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. The agent has to be reachable during business hours to receive legal documents and state notices on the LLC's behalf, year after year.
You can serve as your own registered agent at no cost. Or hire a professional registered agent service in New Jersey for $80 to $300 a year. A hired agent buys you privacy and steady coverage on days you're away from that address during business hours.
3. NJ-REG Tax and Employer Registration ($0 - Mandatory but Free)
Every New Jersey LLC must file Form NJ-REG with DORES after the Certificate of Formation is approved and after you've obtained an EIN from the IRS. It registers your LLC for the state taxes and employer obligations that apply to your business, and there's no state fee to file it [2].
File NJ-REG online through the same njportal.com system you used for the Certificate of Formation. Completing it lets you obtain a Business Registration Certificate for public contracts and state grants. Skipping it can block you from lawfully hiring or collecting sales tax.
4. New Jersey Taxes (6.625% Sales Tax - Mandatory if Applicable)
If your LLC sells taxable goods or services, you collect New Jersey's 6.625% sales tax at checkout. That rate hasn't changed since 2018. Remit what you collect to the state, and register for sales tax collection through the NJ-REG filing above before your first taxable sale.
A New Jersey LLC is a pass-through entity by default for income tax purposes. Profits flow through to each member's personal return.
5. Partnership Filing Fee ($150 Per Owner - Mandatory if Applicable)
A multi-member LLC taxed as a partnership can owe New Jersey's Partnership Filing Fee. It applies once the LLC has more than two owners and any New Jersey-source income or loss.
The fee is $150 per owner, capped at $250,000 total [3]. It comes due with Form NJ-1065 by the 15th day of the fourth month after your tax year ends. That's April 15 for a calendar-year LLC.
The same due date also requires prepaying half of that year's fee toward next year's bill. This fee catches multi-member LLC owners off guard. Nothing about the Certificate of Formation filing warns you it's coming, so budget for it the moment a third owner joins the LLC.
6. Business and Professional Licenses (Varies - Mandatory if Applicable)
New Jersey doesn't issue one general business license that covers every LLC. Whether you need a license and what it costs depends on your industry.
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs oversees roughly 720,000 licensees across 51 professional and occupational boards, from accountants to contractors. Check what applies to your field before you start operating.
7. DBA / Alternate Name ($50 - Optional)
An alternate name, commonly called a DBA, lets your LLC operate under a name other than its legal registered name. You'd only file one if you plan to advertise or sign contracts under something other than your LLC's formal name.
File a Registration of Alternate Name with DORES for $50. Once approved, that's the name you can legally use in day-to-day business.
8. Standing Certificate / Certificate of Good Standing ($50 to $100 - Optional but Recommended)
A Standing Certificate, often called a Certificate of Good Standing, confirms your LLC is compliant with state filings and current on its Annual Report. The short form costs $50, and the long form, which includes more filing history, costs $100.
Financial institutions, lenders and bigger partners commonly request one before they'll open an account, extend credit, or sign a deal with you. Order it before you need it, not after.
9. Operating Agreement ($0 Template / $100 to $1,000+ Attorney - Optional)
State law never makes an operating agreement mandatory, and you don't file it with DORES. It's still one of the most useful documents an LLC can hold. It spells out ownership shares, voting rights and what happens if a member leaves.
Write your own for free using the standard template linked in the cost table above. Or hire a formation service or attorney to draft one for $100 to $1,000 or more. Cost scales up with the number of members involved and how much detail your ownership terms demand.
10. Employer Identification Number ($0 - Optional, but Recommended)
The EIN functions as your LLC's federal tax ID. Opening a business bank account, hiring your first employee, or applying for business credit all require having one. DORES requires one before you can even file NJ-REG.
Get one directly from the IRS at no cost. Some formation services charge extra to handle it for you, which isn't necessary since the IRS application takes a few minutes online.
FAQs
Do All Multi-Member New Jersey LLCs Owe the Partnership Filing Fee?
No. It only applies to LLCs taxed as a partnership with more than two owners and New Jersey-source income or loss. A two-member LLC, or one with no New Jersey-source income, doesn't owe it, though every multi-member LLC should still check its own ownership count and income sources each year.
Is NJ-REG the Same Filing as the Certificate of Formation?
No. The Certificate of Formation creates your LLC and costs $100. NJ-REG is a separate, free filing you submit afterward to register for state taxes and employer obligations, and DORES requires both before your LLC can lawfully hire or collect sales tax.
What Does a New Jersey LLC Cost to Maintain Each Year?
At minimum, a New Jersey LLC costs $75 a year for the Annual Report. Add $80 to $300 a year if you hire a registered agent service, plus the Partnership Filing Fee if you have more than two owners, and whatever sales tax you collect based on what you sell.
Does Self-Filing a New Jersey LLC Still Require a Registered Agent?
Yes. New Jersey law requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical New Jersey street address, whether that's you, another member, or a hired service. There's no exemption for self-filed or single-member LLCs.
References:
- https://www.nj.gov/treasury/revenue/fees.shtml
- https://www.nj.gov/treasury/revenue/gettingregistered.shtml
- https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/pdf/pubs/tb/tb55.pdf
