Last Updated on February 4, 2022

Costs to Form a New Jersey LLC

To form a Limited Liability Company in New Jersey, file the New Business Entity Form with the New Jersey Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services. The LLC filing fee is $125.

Approval for the LLC typically takes less than 1-hour.

If you have questions, contact the New Jersey Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services.
609-292-9292

Steps to Form a New Jersey LLC

The steps for filing online or by mail are largely the same. To file online.

Begin by visiting the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services website.
Click on “Get Started”

Step 1: Business Name Search

First, select the type of business you would like to form from the drop-down menu. If it is an LLC, select “NJ Domestic Limited Liability Company.”

Next, enter the name you want for the LLC. The name of the LLC has to differ from other business entity names registered with the state. You can check New Jersey LLC name availability before filing to ensure the one you want is available or enter your name. Otherwise, enter the name you want to use, and if it is available, you will be able to continue to the next screen.

You will not use a designator during the search, but if your name is available, you will pick one on the next screen. A designator at the end of the business name indicates what type of business entity it is, such as LLC, Corporation, etc.

There are a few other naming guidelines such as the name can’t include words the refer to a federal or state department, or words related to banking, trust, insurance, Olympic, Little League, realtor, unless the LLC is approved to do so.

If there is a name you want, but are not ready to register the LLC, you can file an Application for Name Reservation. The name reservation will hold a name for up to 120 days, at a cost of $50.

Step 2: Select a Business Designator

If the name you wanted is available, select the designator for your LLC. Available designators include:

Limited Liability Company
Limited Liability Co
Ltd. Liability Company
Ltc. Liability Co.
L.L.C.
LLC

A comma may be used after the business name and before the designator. “Cowboy Cleaners LLC” and “Cowboy Cleaners, LLC” are both acceptable.

Step 3: Business Information

Employer Identification Number – This is optional, but you can enter the EIN of the LLC here. If you don’t have an EIN, a link is available to the IRS to file one. See our guide on filing an LLC EIN.

NAICS Code – This section is optional and asks for information regarding the business’s activities. To do that, there is a number called NAICS (North American Industrial Classification System), which is a six-digit number that classifies and categorizes the different businesses.

If the activities of your business aren’t specifically listed, choose one that is close.

Duration – If you intend the business to exist forever, which most businesses do, enter “Perpetual” or leave blank as, by default, all LLCs are set up with a perpetual duration.

Effective Date – If you want the LLC to start immediately, leave today’s date in the box. Otherwise, choose a date in the future that you want the LLC to start.

Step 4: Business Purpose

Provide some basic information about what the business does. If you want to keep the business purpose more open-ended, you can just have “Any lawful business activity for which a Limited Liability Company may be organized in New Jersey.”

Step 5: Main Business Address

In this section, enter the street address, city, state, and zip code of the initial principal office to receive mail from the state. This address can be the LLC’s physical address, or it can be the address where the business records are stored. The address does not have to be located in New Jersey, but you may not use a PO Box.

Step 6: Registered Agent

A New Jersey Registered Agent must be identified before forming the LLC. The Registered Agent can either be a resident of New Jersey (Click “Enter a Registered Agent/Office”) or a Resident Agent service (Enter the Registered Agent Number in the field). The agent must have a physical street address in the state (PO Boxes are not allowed), be available during normal business hours, and act as a point of contact to receive legal and tax documents, summons, subpoenas, etc. on behalf of the LLC.

Step 7: Members / Managers

Enter the names of up to 10 Members and Managers.

At least the name and address of one member or manager must be entered.

Step 8: Other Provisions / Additional Information

This is an optional section and not used by most LLCs. Here you would include additional rules for the operation of the LLC.

One provision that is listed is the duration, just as was asked in Step 3. If the LLC will have a perpetual existence, leave the field blank. Otherwise, enter the date the LLC will dissolve.

Step 9: Signatures

Have an authorized representative forming the LLC to sign indicating the certificate’s acceptance and the intent to execute the filing formally. At least one person has to sign, but no more than 10. Signatures can come from members, managers, or people helping with the LLC formation. Click the “Continue” button to save the information and proceed.

Step 10: Review

Review that all of the information is correct. If there are no corrections, click “Continue.”

Step 11: Additional Certificates and Certified Copies

This is optional, but if you would like to order a Certificate of Standing ($50) or a certified copy of the Certificate of Formation ($25), indicate by clicking on the boxes. These can both be ordered at a later date if needed.

Step 12: Contact Information

Enter a name and phone number contact should there be any issues with the LLC filing.

Step 13: Pay and File

After payment, the LLC is immediately approved, but the New Jersey Certificate of Formation will take several minutes before it is ready to download.

If mailing, send the Public Records Filing for New Business Entity form and state fee to:
State of New Jersey Division of Revenue
33 West State St., 5th Floor
Trenton, NJ 08608-1214