5 months ago · Updated 4 days ago
The current New Jersey LLC formation fee is $100. That is the state fee for filing a domestic LLC Certificate of Formation. The recurring statewide entity filing is the $75 annual report.
For a straightforward DIY formation, $100 is the minimum New Jersey state cost to create the LLC. The $75 annual report is a later recurring requirement. Everything else on this page is either optional or depends on the company’s facts.
If you need the complete formation process rather than just the numbers, use the New Jersey LLC formation guide. This page focuses specifically on how much a New Jersey LLC costs.
Mandatory New Jersey LLC Costs
For a straightforward domestic New Jersey LLC, separate the costs into two categories:
| Cost | Amount | When You Pay It |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation | $100 | When creating the LLC |
| Annual Report | $75 | Every year by the end of the formation anniversary month |
That means the minimum state fee to create the LLC is $100. The $75 annual report is an ongoing compliance cost, not part of the initial formation filing.
Certificate of Formation: $100
To create a domestic New Jersey LLC, file the Certificate of Formation with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. The current official filing fee is $100.
New Jersey's current registry fee schedule also lists several expedited-service charges for qualifying over-the-counter or fax transactions. These are optional and are separate from the underlying filing fee.
| Optional Expedited Service | Additional State Fee |
|---|---|
| Expedited service per filing | $25 |
| Same-day service (fax filing) | $50 |
| 2-hour service | $500 |
| 1-hour service | $1,000 |
Most founders do not need expedited service. Check the official filing system for current processing options before paying extra.
Annual Report: $75 Every Year
Every New Jersey LLC must file an annual report and pay the current $75 state fee.
The report is due by the last day of the month in which the business was formed. For example, an LLC formed in September uses September as its annual-report month.
The annual report is not another formation fee. It is the recurring filing that keeps core public-record information such as the registered agent and business address current.
For filing steps, deadlines, missed reports, and reinstatement, see the New Jersey LLC annual report guide.
How Much Does a New Jersey Registered Agent Cost?
New Jersey requires an LLC to maintain a registered agent, but the state does not require you to pay a professional registered-agent company.
Option 1: Serve as Your Own Registered Agent — $0 Service Cost
If you satisfy New Jersey's registered-agent requirements, you can serve as your own agent without paying an annual service fee.
The tradeoff is privacy and availability: the registered-agent information becomes part of the public business record, and the agent must be able to receive official documents at the registered address.
Option 2: Hire a Professional Registered Agent
Professional registered-agent pricing is set by the provider, not by New Jersey. Compare the annual renewal price, what address/service is included, document forwarding, and cancellation terms before paying for a service.
The state also charges $25 if you later file a change of registered office or registered agent.
See the New Jersey registered agent guide before deciding whether paying for a service makes sense for your situation.
Optional and Additional New Jersey LLC Filing Fees
These are real state fees, but they are not mandatory for every LLC. Pay them only when you need the corresponding filing or document.
EIN — Free From the IRS
The IRS does not charge a fee to issue an EIN. A third party may charge for helping you apply, but the government application itself is free.
See our EIN guide for the application routes available to different founders.
Business Licenses and Permits — Varies
New Jersey does not have one blanket statewide general business-license fee for every LLC. Your actual cost depends on your industry and locality.
A regulated profession may need a state occupational license, while a physical business may need municipal zoning, health, building, signage, or other permits.
Use the New Jersey business license guide to determine which categories apply before budgeting a fixed amount.
Possible Tax-Related Costs for Some New Jersey LLCs
Do not treat taxes as a universal fixed LLC fee. New Jersey tax obligations depend on how the LLC is classified for tax purposes, how many owners it has, where its income is sourced, whether it has employees, what it sells, and other facts.
New Jersey Partnership Filing Fee
An entity classified as a partnership for federal tax purposes that has more than two owners and New Jersey-source income or loss may be subject to New Jersey's $150 filing fee per owner, up to the state's maximum.
Partnerships subject to the filing fee may also have a required installment payment toward the following year's filing fee. Check the current NJ-1065 instructions or work with a New Jersey tax professional before budgeting this amount.
Other Taxes
Your LLC may also encounter New Jersey income-tax, sales-tax, employer, corporate-election, or pass-through-entity tax rules depending on its facts. These are not one-size-fits-all LLC maintenance fees.
For the broader framework, see our LLC tax guide.
Realistic New Jersey LLC Cost Scenarios
These examples separate the initial formation cost from later recurring costs. They do not include business-specific taxes, licenses, insurance, or legal/accounting work.
A founder who handles everything personally can therefore create the LLC for the $100 state filing fee. Paying more is not inherently necessary; it reflects optional help, privacy, convenience, or business-specific requirements.
DIY vs. Formation Service: Which Costs Less?
DIY is the lowest-cost route. If you are comfortable using the New Jersey portal, meeting the registered-agent requirements yourself, and tracking your compliance deadlines, you can avoid paying a formation-service fee.
A formation service adds cost but may bundle filing help, registered-agent service, document handling, reminders, or other features. Compare the first-year price with renewal costs instead of choosing only from the advertised headline price.
See our LLC formation service comparison if you want to compare providers rather than file directly.
The current mandatory state fee to create a domestic New Jersey LLC is $100. The main recurring entity fee is the $75 annual report. A registered-agent company, name reservation, amendments, licenses, professional help, taxes, and other expenses are conditional rather than universal startup costs.
Use the official New Jersey fee schedule as the source of truth for state filing fees and budget tax costs separately based on your LLC's actual tax classification and activity.
Fees and tax-related examples on this page were checked on September 20, 2026 against:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in New Jersey?
The current New Jersey state fee for a domestic LLC Certificate of Formation is $100. Optional services and business-specific expenses are separate.
How much is the New Jersey LLC annual report?
The current annual report fee is $75. It is due each year by the last day of the month in which the LLC was formed.
Do I have to pay for a registered agent in New Jersey?
No. A New Jersey LLC must have a registered agent, but you can serve as your own agent if you meet the state's requirements. Hiring a professional registered-agent service is optional.
Is an EIN free for a New Jersey LLC?
Yes. The IRS does not charge for an EIN. A third-party company may charge you for application assistance, but the government EIN itself is free.
Does every multi-member New Jersey LLC pay $150 per member?
No. New Jersey's partnership filing fee applies under specific tax rules. In general, a federally classified partnership with more than two owners and New Jersey-source income or loss may be subject to a $150 filing fee per owner, subject to the state's rules and maximum.
How much does it cost to reserve an LLC name in New Jersey?
The current state fee for an LLC name reservation is $50. Name reservation is optional; you do not need to reserve a name separately if you are ready to form the LLC.
How much does it cost to change a New Jersey LLC registered agent?
The current New Jersey state fee to change a registered office or registered agent is $25.
How much does it cost to close a New Jersey LLC?
The current state fee for cancellation of a domestic New Jersey LLC is $100. See the New Jersey dissolution guide for the full closing process and other obligations that may need to be resolved.