Module 1 · New Jersey
How to Start an LLC in New Jersey (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
Quick facts
What you will learn
- How much New Jersey charges to form an LLC, and who receives the filing
- How to meet the registered agent rule
- What comes after formation
- The services we recommend
If you would like help with the filing
1. Registered Agent NJ.org: best for founders staying in New Jersey
Registered Agent NJ.org comes first, and here is why: formation costs $199 beyond the state fee, and the agent renews at $99.
On three-year cost it beats Mainstay Filing, which is a big part of our grading.
The annual report remains on your to-do list every year.
What the price covers
- The formation filing
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- $199 plus the state fee
- Year one of agent service is in the price
- The agent renews at $99
Where it loses points
- The annual report filing is not included
- The EIN application costs $99 extra
2. Mainstay Filing: best for skipping the annual report paperwork
Mainstay Filing lands in second place, and the reason is clear: at $199 a year it files the LLC, serves as the registered agent and files the annual report, and the price stays at $199 when you renew.
Three years run $200 higher than Registered Agent NJ.org.
Each annual report is filed on your behalf (state fee $75, at cost).
What the price covers
- Filing with the state
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Annual report prepared and filed
- The EIN application
- State fee added at cost
Marks in its favor
- No extra charge for the EIN application
- One yearly price of $199, with the annual report included
- No jump at renewal ($199)
Where it loses points
- Registered Agent NJ.org renews for $100 less
3. New Jersey Registered Agent.co: best for another New Jersey choice
New Jersey Registered Agent.co is a sound third choice because formation costs $199 beyond the state fee, and the agent renews at $99.
The annual report remains on your to-do list every year.
It posts the same prices as Registered Agent NJ.org.
What the price covers
- The formation filing
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- $199 plus the state fee
- Year one of agent service is in the price
- The agent renews at $99
Where it loses points
- The annual report filing is not included
- The EIN application costs $99 extra
Prices in one table
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registered Agent NJ.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Registered Agent NJ.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | New Jersey Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit New Jersey Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
How to form your New Jersey LLC
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Step
1Settle on a name
Type the name into the business search at the New Jersey Secretary of State before you file anything, so you do not pick one that is in use.
Check whether the matching web domain is free while you are at it.
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Step
2Find your registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A New Jersey resident, or a business with authority to do business in New Jersey, such as a corporation registered and in good standing with the State Treasurer.
The address has to be a New Jersey street address. A P.O. box can be listed only together with the street address.
Each of the picks above is able to act as your registered agent.
Where this comes from: The official page is pub.njleg.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
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Step
3Pick how you will file
Without a service you pay $100. With one of our graded picks you pay $199 more and skip the forms.
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Step
4Deliver the Certificate of Formation
Your formation filing is the Certificate of Formation; take it, plus $100, to the New Jersey Secretary of State (N.J.S.A. 42:2C-18).
Where this comes from: The official page is pub.njleg.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
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Step
5Apply for an EIN
Once approved, the LLC can get a federal tax ID, the EIN, from the IRS. A business bank account will need it. If you hire Mainstay Filing, it files the EIN application for you.
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Step
6Draft the operating agreement
The owners sign an operating agreement covering shares, votes and what happens if someone leaves. It stays in your files and is not filed with the state.
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Step
7Keep the LLC active
What recurs is the annual report ($75, every year, by last day of the LLC's anniversary month).
Where this comes from: The official page is njportal.com, last confirmed in August 2026
The cost of this lesson
| Cost item | Who you pay | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Formation filing | State | $100 |
| Annual report | State | $75 every year |
| Help from a service | The service | $199 in year one |
| State fees for three years | State | $250 |
Why Registered Agent NJ.org comes first
What settled it was tuition over three years, worth 32% of the grade.
Count the first three years and Registered Agent NJ.org comes out at $397, $200 cheaper than Mainstay Filing.
Common questions
What does it cost to form an LLC in New Jersey?
$100 goes to the state. Service fees among our picks run $199.
Which form creates the LLC?
Look for the Certificate of Formation; the New Jersey Secretary of State is where it gets filed.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does New Jersey require each year?
The yearly task is the annual report ($75, every year, due last day of the LLC's anniversary month).
Can I form the LLC without a service?
The state takes filings directly from owners, so you can skip the service; expect $100 plus a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
Registered Agent NJ.org: $199 on top of the state fee, with the first year of agent service thrown in, then $99 yearly. Then come Mainstay Filing and New Jersey Registered Agent.co.
Class references
- Class reference on New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services: njportal.com (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services: njportal.com (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on New Jersey report due date: njleg.state.nj.us (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on New Jersey DORES, Getting Registered: nj.gov (the state's own page), reread in October 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on New Jersey formation fee: Filing fee, official source: pub.njleg.gov (the state's own page), reread in October 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on New Jersey registered agent statute: pub.njleg.gov (the state's own page), reread in October 2026 for this lesson.
- November 13, 2026: the pricing page for Registered Agent NJ.org
- November 13, 2026: the New Jersey service page for Mainstay Filing
- November 13, 2026: the pricing page for New Jersey Registered Agent.co