Filed with
New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services
Document
Certificate of Formation
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your New Jersey LLC
New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services business filings →The name must include "limited liability company", "L.L.C." or "LLC" ("Limited" may be abbreviated "Ltd." and "company" "Co."). It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the New Jersey register.
Search the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every New Jersey LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in New Jersey, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Certificate of Formation
New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services →The Certificate of Formation is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
New Jersey operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
New Jersey business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether New Jersey requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for New Jersey sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your New Jersey LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →New Jersey LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due by the last day of the anniversary month of formation each year.
LLCs taxed as partnerships that have New Jersey source income and more than two owners pay an annual per-owner partnership filing fee to the Division of Taxation with Form NJ-1065.
Worth knowing in New Jersey
- The business is responsible for filing the annual report even if the state sends no reminder.
- Missing two consecutive annual reports can lead to revocation of the LLC.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Certificate of Formation with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services and pay the state fee, act as your New Jersey registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
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Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in New Jersey?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in New Jersey, and file a Certificate of Formation with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in New Jersey?
New Jersey charges a filing fee for the Certificate of Formation. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our New Jersey LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a New Jersey LLC have to file an annual report?
New Jersey LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due by the last day of the anniversary month of formation each year.
What is the Certificate of Formation?
The document filed with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in New Jersey, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in New Jersey?
Yes, if you have a physical address in New Jersey and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
