New Jersey LLC Formation

Start an LLC in New Jersey — $125 State Fee, No Publication Requirement

New Jersey is one of the most strategically located states for business — with direct access to New York City, Philadelphia, and the broader Northeast corridor. As the 11th most populous state with a highly educated workforce and booming pharma, finance, and tech sectors, New Jersey is an excellent base for entrepreneurs. Brendat handles your Certificate of Formation, EIN, registered agent, and all compliance so you can launch with confidence.

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Step-by-step guide

How to Form an LLC in New Jersey

Six clear steps — no publication requirement, unlike neighboring New York. Brendat handles the filing while you focus on your business.

Choose a Name for Your New Jersey LLC

Your New Jersey LLC name must be unique among all businesses registered with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and must include a required designator.

New Jersey Naming Rules:

Must include: "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
Cannot use: Words implying a government agency (e.g., "FBI," "State Department")
Restricted words: "Bank," "Insurance," "University" require additional approval
Must be distinguishable: From all existing NJ business names in the Division of Revenue database

Name Reservation Available

You can reserve your New Jersey LLC name for 120 days with the NJ Division of Revenue for $50. Brendat checks name availability before filing your Certificate of Formation.

Appoint a New Jersey Registered Agent

Every New Jersey LLC must designate a registered agent — an individual or company with a physical New Jersey street address — to receive legal documents and official state notices during business hours.

Who can be your registered agent?

Yourself: Must have a physical NJ address and be available during business hours
A trusted individual: Any NJ resident with a physical address
A professional service: Like Brendat — keeps your personal address off public records

Brendat provides registered agent service in New Jersey

Our NJ address is listed on your Certificate of Formation. Included in Standard and Premium packages.

File Certificate of Formation with the NJ Division of Revenue

New Jersey calls its LLC formation document a Certificate of Formation — filed with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (part of the NJ Department of Treasury), not the Secretary of State.

Method	Fee	Processing Time
Online via NJ Business Portal	$125	3–5 business days
By Mail	$125	4–6 weeks

No publication requirement — unlike New York

New Jersey does not require LLCs to publish a notice in any newspaper. This is a major advantage over neighboring New York, where publication can cost $300–$2,000 or more. Once your Certificate of Formation is approved, your NJ LLC is fully formed.

Filing office: NJ Division of Revenue — not Secretary of State

Unlike most states, New Jersey LLCs are filed with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services under the Department of Treasury. Brendat files with the correct New Jersey office.

Create an Operating Agreement

New Jersey does not legally require an operating agreement, but it is strongly recommended for all NJ LLCs. Without one, New Jersey's default LLC rules under the New Jersey Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act will govern your business.

Your operating agreement should cover:

Ownership structure: Each member's percentage and capital contribution
Profit distribution: How and when profits are divided
Management: Who makes decisions and how voting works
Member changes: Process for adding or removing members
Dissolution: Steps to close the LLC if needed

Included in Brendat Standard and Premium

Brendat provides a professionally drafted New Jersey operating agreement with your formation documents.

Get Your EIN (Employer Identification Number)

An EIN is your LLC's federal tax ID — required to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. You apply through the IRS for free.

US residents: Apply free online at IRS.gov — instant approval
Non-US residents: Apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4 — 4–6 weeks
Brendat handles this: Included in Standard and Premium packages

Open a business bank account right after

With your EIN and Certificate of Formation, open a dedicated NJ business bank account to keep personal and business finances separate.

File Your New Jersey Annual Report

New Jersey LLCs must file an annual report every year with the NJ Division of Revenue to stay in good standing. At $75 per year, it's a reasonable ongoing cost.

Annual report fee: $75/year
Due date: Last day of your LLC's anniversary month each year
Filing: Online via NJ Business Portal
Late penalty: $50 late fee + potential loss of good standing

Anniversary Month Deadline

New Jersey's annual report is due by the last day of your LLC's formation month each year — not a fixed calendar date. Brendat tracks your specific anniversary month and sends reminders in advance.

Transparent pricing

How Much Does a New Jersey LLC Cost?

Full breakdown — no surprises, no hidden fees.

State Filing Fee

$125

One-time fee paid to the NJ Division of Revenue to file your Certificate of Formation

Annual Report Fee

$75/yr

Due by last day of your LLC's anniversary month each year. $50 late fee if missed

Publication Requirement

No newspaper publication requirement — a major advantage over neighboring New York ($300–$2,000+)

Registered Agent

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages. Every NJ LLC must maintain a registered agent

EIN (Federal Tax ID)

Free from the IRS. Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages

Operating Agreement

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages

Total with Brendat Standard Plan

$149 + $125 state fee

$149 Brendat + $125 NJ state fee · Annual report $75/year from year 2

Choose your plan

New Jersey LLC Formation Packages

All packages include accurate, state-specific filing. Pick what fits your needs.

Basic

Brendat service fee

+ $125 New Jersey state fee

Get Started Free

Certificate of Formation filed
Name availability check
Email support
Digital copy of filed documents

Standard

$149

Brendat service fee

+ $125 New Jersey state fee

Start for $149 →

Everything in Basic
EIN / Federal Tax ID
Operating Agreement
Registered Agent (1 year)
Annual report reminders
Priority processing

Premium

$299

Brendat service fee

+ $125 New Jersey state fee

Get Premium

Everything in Standard
Business bank account setup
Compliance calendar & reminders
Annual report filing (year 1)
Dedicated account manager
Phone & priority support

State Comparison

New Jersey vs Neighboring States

New Jersey is best if you live or operate there. Here's how it compares to its Northeast neighbors.

Feature	New Jersey	New York	Pennsylvania	Delaware
State Filing Fee	$125	$200	$125	$90
Annual Report Fee	$75/yr	$9 biennial	$7/yr	$300 franchise tax
Publication Required	None	Yes ($300–$2,000+)	None	None
State Income Tax	1.4%–10.75%	4%–10.9%	3.07% flat	None
Processing Time	3–5 days	~7 days	7–10 days	~1 week
Best For	NJ businesses	NY businesses	PA businesses	Investors, startups

New Jersey vs New York — no publication, lower filing fee

Forming in New Jersey instead of New York saves you $75 on the filing fee and completely avoids the newspaper publication requirement ($300–$2,000+). For businesses near the NJ-NY border, NJ is often the smarter and more affordable choice.

Why choose us

Why 10,000+ Entrepreneurs Choose Brendat

Fast Filing

We submit your New Jersey Certificate of Formation within 1 business day of your order. Standard processing takes 3–5 business days.

100% Accuracy Guarantee

Every filing is reviewed before submission. If NJ Division of Revenue rejects your documents due to our error, we fix it at no charge.

Privacy First

Your home address stays off the public record. We list our New Jersey registered agent address on all your formation documents.

Anniversary Month Reminders

NJ annual reports are due in your LLC's anniversary month — not a fixed date. We track your specific deadline and send reminders so you never miss it.

Non-US Residents Welcome

No citizenship or US residency required. We assist international entrepreneurs with the full process including EIN filing.

Real Support

Reach our team at (303) 246-8693 or by email. Plain English answers — no jargon, no runaround.

Our reviews

What Our New Jersey LLC Customers Say

Daniel R.

Consulting LLC, Newark NJ

"I was going to form in New York but the publication requirement was ridiculous. Brendat helped me form in New Jersey instead — saved me over $1,000 and got approved in 4 days!"

Sophia K.

E-commerce LLC, Jersey City NJ

"Started my e-commerce LLC in Jersey City through Brendat. Fast, professional, and the registered agent service is perfect for keeping my home address private."

Alex M.

Tech LLC, Princeton NJ

"Brendat explained the anniversary month deadline for the annual report — I had no idea it wasn't a fixed date. Really appreciated the detail and the reminder system."

Common questions

New Jersey LLC — Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about forming and running an LLC in New Jersey.

Still have questions?

(303) 246-8693

How much does it cost to form an LLC in New Jersey?

The New Jersey state filing fee is $125. Brendat's service starts at $0 (Basic) or $149 (Standard, which includes EIN, operating agreement, and registered agent). Total first-year cost with Standard is $274. The annual report is $75/year, due by the last day of your LLC's formation month each year.

Does New Jersey require newspaper publication for LLCs?

No — New Jersey does not require LLCs to publish a formation notice in any newspaper. This is a major advantage over neighboring New York, where publication is mandatory and can cost $300–$2,000 depending on the county. Once your New Jersey Certificate of Formation is approved, your LLC is fully formed.

Where do I file an LLC in New Jersey?

New Jersey LLCs are filed with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services under the New Jersey Department of Treasury — not the Secretary of State as in most other states. The formation document is called a Certificate of Formation. Brendat files with the correct New Jersey office.

What is New Jersey's annual report fee for LLCs?

New Jersey LLCs must file an annual report for $75/year. The due date is the last day of your LLC's formation month each year — not a fixed calendar date like April 15 or June 30. For example, if your LLC was formed in March, your annual report is due March 31 every year. A $50 late fee applies if missed.

What is the New Jersey income tax for LLCs?

New Jersey has a graduated personal income tax ranging from 1.4% to 10.75%. For single-member LLCs and multi-member LLCs taxed as pass-throughs, income flows to members' personal returns at these rates. New Jersey also has a Corporation Business Tax that may apply to certain LLC structures — consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

Can a non-US resident form a New Jersey LLC?

Yes. There is no US citizenship or residency requirement to form a New Jersey LLC. Non-residents need a registered agent with a physical New Jersey address (Brendat provides this). For your EIN, non-residents must apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4. Brendat assists with this process.

Ready to Start Your New Jersey LLC?

No publication requirement, $125 to form, $75/year to maintain. Brendat handles your Certificate of Formation, EIN, registered agent, and annual report reminders.

Form My New Jersey LLC

$149 + $125 NJ fee · No publication · 100% accuracy guarantee