The cost to form an LLC for a Elizabeth business starts with the $125 New Jersey filing fee. Add annual fees, a registered agent, and local Elizabeth business taxes below.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
New Jersey charges a $125 filing fee to form an LLC and a $75 annual report each year. New Jersey has seven income tax brackets with a top rate of 10.75% on income over $1 million. The state has no sales tax on groceries, clothing, or medications.
| Cost Item | Amount | When Due |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Filing Fee | $125 | One-time at formation |
| Annual report | $75 | Annually |
| Registered Agent Service | $49 to $300/year | Annually |
| Local Elizabeth Business License / Tax | Varies by industry | Annually |
| Operating Agreement | $0 to $500 | One-time (recommended) |
| EIN (Federal Tax ID) | Free | One-time (IRS.gov) |
New Jersey does not levy a local business income tax, but the state requires an annual report for LLCs. Budget for the annual report fee and any Elizabeth business license on top of the state LLC filing fee.
Elizabeth is a major port and industrial city just south of Newark, home to the container terminals of Port Newark-Elizabeth (the busiest on the East Coast) and a large retail and logistics economy, with a dense, heavily immigrant population.
| Local Metric | Elizabeth (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 135,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Union County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 108 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $22.50/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $45.00/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $15.49/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $1,650/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $2,000/month |
| Median home price | $430,000 |
| Median household income | $50,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 6.625% |
| Effective property tax rate | 2.9% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
The LLC filing fee is set by New Jersey at $125, since LLCs are formed at the state level. Add the $75 annual report (each year), a registered agent (about $49 to $300/year), and any local Elizabeth business license or tax. New Jersey does not levy a local business income tax, but the state requires an annual report for LLCs. Budget for the annual report fee and any Elizabeth business license on top of the state LLC filing fee.
New Jersey does not levy a local business income tax, but the state requires an annual report for LLCs. Budget for the annual report fee and any Elizabeth business license on top of the state LLC filing fee.
Plan for the $75 annual report, registered agent renewal (about $49/year), and any local Elizabeth business license or tax. The calculator above totals these for you.
LLCs are registered with the New Jersey Division of Taxation at the state level, not the city. You then comply with local Elizabeth requirements such as a business license, zoning, and any city business tax. There is no separate city-level LLC filing.
If your business actually operates in Elizabeth, forming in New Jersey is usually simplest. Forming in Delaware or Wyoming while operating in Elizabeth typically forces you to register as a foreign LLC in New Jersey anyway, paying fees in both states.