The state filing fee to form an LLC in New Jersey is $125. Annual maintenance costs include annual report ($75) plus a registered agent. Calculate your total first-year and ongoing costs below.
New Jersey charges a $125 initial filing fee. The annual report is $75 due the anniversary of the LLC's registration date. New Jersey has no franchise tax on standard LLCs. NJ's proximity to New York City makes it a popular formation state for metro-area businesses.
| Cost Item | Amount | When Due |
|---|---|---|
| State Filing Fee | $125 | One-time at formation |
| Annual report | $75 | Annually |
| Registered Agent Service | $49–$300/year | Annually (at renewal) |
| Operating Agreement | $0–$1,500 | One-time (recommended) |
| EIN (Federal Tax ID) | Free | One-time (IRS.gov) |
| Business Bank Account | $0–$50/month | Monthly or free |
| Period | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| First Year (state fees + $49 RA) | $249 |
| Ongoing Annual (state fees + $49 RA) | $124/year |
| 5-Year Total Cost (+ RA) | $745 |
Northwest Registered Agent provides registered agent service in New Jersey for $49/year — the lowest price in the industry. They also include a free year of registered agent service when you use them to form your LLC. Vanderflip Financial's preferred partner for LLC formation.
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The New Jersey state filing fee is $125. In the first year, total costs including a registered agent (~$49) and annual state fees ($75) amount to approximately $249. Ongoing annual costs are approximately $124/year.
Yes — New Jersey requires all LLCs to maintain a registered agent with a physical New Jersey address. You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a New Jersey address, or hire a professional service. Professional services (~$49-$300/year) keep your personal address off public records and ensure you receive legal documents even when you're unavailable.
Annual report: $75. Plus registered agent service (~$49/year). Total ongoing: approximately $124/year.
For most small businesses that operate in New Jersey, forming in New Jersey is the right choice. If you form in Delaware or Wyoming and do business in New Jersey, you'll likely need to register as a foreign LLC in New Jersey — paying fees in both states. Delaware and Wyoming make sense for businesses seeking venture capital, planning complex ownership structures, or operating entirely online without a home state nexus.
Standard LLC formation in New Jersey typically takes 5–15 business days. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee and can reduce processing to 1–3 business days in most states. Online filing through the Secretary of State's website is the fastest option. Using a registered agent service like Northwest can also expedite the process.