LLC Cost in New Jersey (2026)
State Filing Fee: $125 | Annual Report: $75/year
Forming an LLC in New Jersey requires filing Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. The filing fee is $125. New Jersey LLCs also have a Annual Report of $75 per year.
Use our LLC Cost Calculator to estimate your total first-year cost including registered agent and optional formation services.
# LLC Cost in New Jersey (2026) — Filing Fees and Annual Costs ## How to Use This Calculator This calculator helps you estimate the total costs of forming and maintaining an LLC in New Jersey. To get an accurate estimate, you’ll need to provide several pieces of information. Start by entering your planned filing date. This matters because New Jersey’s annual report fee is prorated based on when you file during the year. If you’re forming your LLC in January, you’ll owe the full annual report fee for that year. Form in November, and you’ll pay a reduced amount for the remaining months. Next, indicate whether you’ll file online or by mail. Online filing through the New Jersey Business Formation portal costs less and processes faster—usually within 2-3 business days. Mail filing costs more and takes 3-4 weeks for standard processing. Select your processing speed. Standard processing is the default, but New Jersey offers expedited service for an additional fee. Expedited processing can reduce your wait time to 1-2 business days for online filings or about a week for paper filings. Finally, indicate whether you’ll use a registered agent service. New Jersey requires every LLC to have a registered agent with a physical address in the state. You can serve as your own registered agent at no cost if you have a New Jersey address and are comfortable receiving legal documents during business hours. Otherwise, professional registered agent services typically charge $100-$300 annually. ## How We Calculate This Our calculator breaks down LLC costs into one-time formation fees and recurring annual expenses. **Formation Costs** include the state filing fee of $125 for online submissions or $135 for paper filings. If you choose expedited processing, add $50 for 24-hour service or $25 for 3-business-day service. These are the official New Jersey Division of Revenue fees as of 2026. We don’t include optional costs like name reservation fees ($50) or certified copies ($25 each) in the base calculation, though the calculator allows you to add these if needed. These optional services aren’t required to form your LLC but may be useful depending on your situation. **Annual Costs** primarily consist of the New Jersey Annual Report fee of $75, which must be filed by the last day of your LLC’s anniversary month each year. For LLCs formed partway through the year, we calculate a prorated fee for the first partial year. For example, if you form your LLC on July 1, you’ll owe approximately $37.50 for the remainder of that year (6 months of coverage). If you select a registered agent service, we add that annual cost to your recurring expenses. We use $150 as the baseline since this represents the typical mid-range price for reliable registered agent services in New Jersey, though actual costs vary by provider. The calculator presents both your first-year total (formation costs plus prorated annual fees) and your typical annual cost for subsequent years (just the recurring expenses). This gives you a clear picture of both your startup investment and ongoing maintenance costs. ## What the Results Mean Your first-year total represents everything you’ll pay to establish and maintain your LLC through its first 12-15 months of operation. This includes getting your LLC officially formed with the state and covering your first annual report period. Most New Jersey LLCs can expect first-year costs between $200-$350, depending on filing method, processing speed, and whether they use a registered agent service. A typical scenario—online filing with standard processing and self-service as registered agent—costs $200 for the first year ($125 filing fee plus $75 annual report). Your annual recurring cost shows what you’ll pay each subsequent year to keep your LLC in good standing. For most New Jersey LLCs, this is $75 for the annual report if you serve as your own registered agent, or $225-$375 if you use a professional service. These costs cover only state-mandated fees. They don’t include business licenses (which vary by industry and municipality), business insurance, accounting services, or federal requirements like obtaining an EIN (which is free from the IRS). It’s crucial to understand that failing to pay your annual report fee on time results in penalties. New Jersey charges a $25 late fee, and continued non-compliance can lead to administrative dissolution of your LLC. Set a calendar reminder well before your anniversary month ends. ## Tips and Common Mistakes **Don’t forget about local requirements.** New Jersey’s state fees are straightforward, but your municipality may require additional business registration or licenses. Contact your city or town clerk’s office to ask about local business licensing requirements. These can add $25-$100 to your annual costs. **Consider online filing.** Unless you have a specific reason to file by mail, online filing saves you $10 and several weeks of processing time. The New Jersey Business Formation portal is user-friendly and provides immediate confirmation of receipt. **Plan for the prorated annual report.** Many new business owners are surprised to receive an annual report notice just months after forming their LLC. This isn’t an error—New Jersey requires annual reports regardless of when you formed your LLC. Budget for both the formation fee and the first annual report fee in your first year. **Evaluate registered agent services carefully.** While using yourself as registered agent is free, it requires you to be available at a physical New Jersey address during business hours to accept legal documents. If you work from home inconsistently, travel frequently, or simply want privacy (registered agent information is public record), a professional service may be worth the cost. **Don’t confuse annual reports with tax filings.** Your $75 annual report fee isn’t a tax—it’s an administrative filing that updates your LLC’s information with the state. You’ll still need to file separate federal and state tax returns. **Mark your calendar.** The most common and costly mistake is missing your annual report deadline. Late fees start at $25, but prolonged non-compliance can result in dissolution. Set multiple reminders starting 60 days before your deadline. ## FAQ **Do I need to file an annual report in my first year?** Yes. New Jersey requires an annual report for all LLCs, regardless of formation date. If you form your LLC in January, your first annual report is due by January 31 of the following year—giving you nearly 12 months. But if you form in October, your first report is due by October 31 of the following year—about 13 months after formation. You’ll pay a prorated fee based on the number of months in your first reporting period. **Can I reduce costs by serving as my own registered agent?** Yes. New Jersey allows any individual who is at least 18 years old with a physical address in New Jersey to serve as a registered agent. This includes LLC members or managers. Using yourself or a trusted colleague eliminates the $100-$300 annual fee for professional services. However, your registered agent’s name and address become public record, and you must be reliably available at that address during business hours to receive legal service of process. **Are there any hidden fees I should know about?** The state fees are transparent, but consider these additional costs: business bank accounts often require your LLC formation documents ($0-$25 for certified copies), some banks charge monthly fees for business accounts ($10-$30/month), professional licenses vary by industry ($100-$500+), and business insurance is highly recommended ($400-$1,500/year for general liability). Also budget for tax preparation—even if your LLC has no activity, you may need to file returns. These costs aren’t “hidden” but are separate from state LLC filing fees.