How to Form an LLC in New Jersey

Starting an LLC in New Jersey is easy

To form an LLC in New Jersey you will need to file the Certificate of Formation with the State of New Jersey, which costs $125. You can apply online, by mail, or in-person. The Certificate of Formation is the legal document that officially creates your New Jersey Limited Liability Company.

Follow the step-by-step guide below to start your New Jersey LLC today and get your business up and running.

STEP 1: Name your New Jersey LLC

Choosing a company name is the first and most important step in forming an LLC in New Jersey. Be sure to choose a name that complies with New Jersey naming requirements and is easily searchable by potential clients.

1. Follow the naming guidelines:

• Your name must include the phrase “limited liability company” or one of its abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.).
• Your name cannot include words that could confuse your LLC with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
• Restricted words (e.g. Bank, Attorney, University) may require additional paperwork and a licensed individual, such as a doctor or lawyer, to be part of your LLC.
• Your name must be distinguishable from any other New Jersey limited liability company, corporation, or limited partnership.

2. Is the name available in New Jersey? Make sure the name you want isn't already taken by doing a name search on the State of New Jersey's website.

3. Is the URL available? We recommend that you check online to see if your business name is available as a web domain. Even if you don't plan to make a business website today, you may want to buy the URL in order to prevent others from acquiring it.

After registering a domain name, consider setting up a professional email account (@yourcompany.com). Google's G Suite offers a business email service that comes with other useful tools, including word processing, spreadsheets, and more. Try it for free

Not sure what to name your business? Check out our LLC Name Generator.

FAQ: Naming a New Jersey LLC

STEP 2: Choose a Registered Agent in New Jersey

You are required to nominate a New Jersey registered agent for your LLC.

What is a registered agent? A registered agent is an individual or business entity responsible for receiving tax forms, legal documents, notice of lawsuits, and official government correspondence on behalf of your business. Think of your registered agent as your business's point of contact with the state.

Who can be a registered agent? a Registered Agent must be a resident of New Jersey or a corporation, such as a registered agent service, authorized to transact business in New Jersey. You may elect an individual within the company including yourself.

Recommended: ZenBusiness provides the first year of registered agent service free with LLC formation ($39 + State Fees)

FAQ: Nominating a New Jersey Registered Agent

STEP 3: File the New Jersey Certificate of Formation

To register your New Jersey LLC, you will need to file the Certificate of Formation with the New Jersey Division of Revenue. You can apply online, by mail, or in-person. Some states refer to the Certificate of Formation as the Articles of Organization or Certificate of Organization.

The Certificate of Formation for an LLC (limited liability company) in New Jersey is a legal document to officially form your business. You’ll be expected to provide the name of your LLC, choose a registered agent, list the services your LLC will offer, and pay the state filing fee. After you file the Certificate of Formation, we recommend you obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) if you plan to hire employees and open a business bank account. 

Now is a good time to consider whether your New Jersey LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed. We recommend learning more about member-managed vs manager-managed LLCs before you file.

If you’re expanding your existing LLC to the State of New Jersey, you will need to form a Foreign LLC.

FAQ: Filing New Jersey LLC Documents

STEP 4: Register your Business for Tax & Employer Purposes

All LLCs in New Jersey are required to register with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services for business entity and tax filings within 60 days of LLC formation. 

This will ensure your business receives a New Jersey tax identification number, allowing you to receive all proper returns and notices. You can do this either online or by mail. 

STEP 5: Create a New Jersey LLC Operating Agreement

In New Jersey, LLCs are not required to have an operating agreement but it's a good practice to have one.

What is an operating agreement? An operating agreement is a legal document outlining the ownership and operating procedures of an LLC.

Why are operating agreements important? A comprehensive operating agreement ensures that all business owners are on the same page and reduces the risk of future conflict.

For more information, read our New Jersey LLC operating agreement guide.

FAQ: Creating a New Jersey LLC Operating Agreement

STEP 6: Get a New Jersey LLC EIN

What is an EIN? EIN stands for Employer Identification Number. EINs are a nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to help identify businesses for tax purposes. It is essentially a social security number for a business.

An EIN is sometimes referred to as a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Federal Tax Identification Number (FTIN).

Why do I need an EIN? An EIN is required to:

• Open a business bank account
• File and manage Federal and State Taxes
• Hire employees

Where do I get an EIN? You can get an EIN for free from the IRS. Getting an EIN is an easy process that can be done online or by mail.

FOR INTERNATIONAL EIN APPLICANTS: You do not need a SSN to get an EIN. For more information, read our How to Get an EIN as a Foreign Person guide.

FAQ: Getting a New Jersey LLC EIN

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Protect Your Business & Personal Assets

Business Banking for Personal Asset Protection

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your New Jersey LLC is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Additionally, learning how to build business credit can help you get credit cards and other financing in your business's name (instead of yours), better interest rates, higher lines of credit, and more.

You can protect your business with these two steps:

1. Opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

2. Getting a business credit card:

• Helps you separate personal and business expenses.
• Builds your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise capital later on.

Get Insurance for Your New Jersey LLC

Business insurance helps you manage risks and focus on growing your business. The most common types of business insurance are:

• General Liability Insurance: A broad insurance policy that protects your business from lawsuits. Most small businesses get general liability insurance.
• Professional Liability Insurance: A business insurance for professional service providers (consultants, accountants, etc.) that covers claims of malpractice and other business errors.
• Workers' Compensation Insurance: A type of insurance that provides coverage for employees’ job-related illnesses, injuries, or deaths. In New Jersey, businesses with one or more employees, including LLC members and corporate officers, are required by law to have workers' compensation insurance.

Properly Sign Legal Documents

Improperly signing a document as yourself and not as a representative of the business can leave you open to personal liability. When signing legal documents on behalf of your company, you could follow this formula to avoid problems:

1. Formal name of your business
2. Your signature
3. Your name
4. Your position in the business as its authorized representative

See the image below for an example.

This ensures that you are signing on behalf of your LLC and not as yourself.

Keep Your Company Compliant

New Jersey LLC Permits & Licenses

Does my New Jersey LLC need business licenses and permits?

To operate your New Jersey LLC you must comply with federal, state, and local government regulations. For example, restaurants likely need health permits, building permits, signage permits, etc.

The details of business licenses and permits vary from state to state. Make sure you read carefully. Don't be surprised if there are short classes required as well.

Fees for business licenses and permits will vary depending on what sort of license you are seeking to obtain.

Find out how to obtain necessary licenses and permits for your business or have a professional service do it for you:

• Federal: Use the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guide.
• State: Visit The State of New Jersey's Business Portal.
• Local: Contact your local county clerk and ask about local licenses and permits.

New Jersey LLC Taxes

Depending on the nature of your business, you may be required to register for one or more forms of state tax.

New Jersey Sales Tax

If you are selling a physical product, you’ll typically need to register for a seller's permit through the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services Business Registration website.

This certificate allows a business to collect sales tax on taxable sales.

Sales tax, also called "Sales and Use Tax," is a tax levied by states, counties, and municipalities on business transactions involving the exchange of certain taxable goods or services.

Read our sales tax guide to find out more.

New Jersey Employer Taxes

If you have employees in New Jersey, you will have to register for Unemployment Insurance Tax and Employee Withholding Tax on the New Jersey Department of Revenue website.

Federal LLC Tax Requirements

Most LLCs will need to report their income to the IRS each year using:

• Form 1065 Partnership Return (most multi-member LLCs use this form)
• Form 1040 Schedule C (most single-member LLCs use this form)

How you pay yourself as an owner will also affect your federal taxes. Visit our guide to learn more about how to pay yourself from your LLC.

File Your New Jersey LLC Annual Report

New Jersey requires LLCs to file an annual report with the New Jersey Division of Revenue.

Avoid Automatic Dissolution

LLCs may face fines and even automatic dissolution when they miss one or more state filings. When this happens, LLC owners risk the loss of limited liability protection. A quality registered agent service can help prevent this outcome by notifying you of upcoming filing deadlines and by submitting reports on your behalf.

Make Running Your Business Easier

After starting a business, two of the most important things you can do are get professional accounting and hire the right employees. Streamlining these processes can save you time and money as your business grows.

Hiring Employees in New Jersey

If you plan to hire employees for your New Jersey LLC, stay compliant with the law by following these steps:

• Verify that new employees are able to work in the US
• Report employees as "new hires" to the State
• Provide workers' compensation insurance for employees
• Withhold employee taxes
• Print workplace compliance posters and place them in visible areas of your workspace

Find more information using the State of New Jersey's Employer Handbook. 

FAQ: Hiring Employees in New Jersey

Accounting For Your New Jersey LLC

It’s critical to get your books in order, even if you haven’t officially opened for business. A well-managed accounting system will help you:

• Track your business finances, including bills, expenses, and income.
• Simplify your annual tax filings.

You can maintain your accounting in two ways:

• Use a DIY accounting software. This can come with an increased risk of errors especially when starting a new business.
• Hire an accounting service. They can provide comprehensive advice to help optimize your bookkeeping and taxes as well as additional services such as payroll etc.

Interfacing with Clients and Customers

In the day-to-day of running a business, it's hard to be readily available for new clients or customers who want to contact you. For service-based businesses that don’t already have a brick-and-mortar location, a virtual office can solve this problem. You can get a dedicated business mailing address and a business phone number with call-forwarding so that you never need to worry about losing a potential customer.

Women in Business Tools and Resources

If you have a woman-owned business, many resources are available to help you concentrate on your business’s growth:

• Funding - (ie. grants, investors, loans)
• Events - (ie. conferences, meetups)
• Guides - (ie. business formation, personal growth)
• Support - (ie. advice, communities, business strategies)

Our information and tools will provide educational sources, allow you to connect with other women entrepreneurs, and help you manage your business with ease.

More Information

Foreign LLCs

Forming a foreign LLC allows your company to operate as one entity in multiple states. If you have an existing LLC and want to do business in New Jersey, you will need to register as a foreign LLC. This can be done online.

How to Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing

A Certificate of Good Standing, known in New Jersey as a Standing Certificate, verifies that your LLC was legally formed and has been properly maintained. Several instances where you might need to get one include:

• Seeking funding from banks or other lenders
• Forming your business as a foreign LLC in another state
• Obtaining or renewing specific business licenses or permits

You can order a New Jersey LLC Standing Certificate online or by mail. 

Dissolve Your New Jersey LLC

If at any point in the future you no longer wish to conduct business with your New Jersey LLC, it is important to officially dissolve it. Failure to do so in a timely fashion can result in tax liabilities and penalties, or even legal trouble. To dissolve your New Jersey LLC, there are two broad steps:

• Close your business tax accounts
• File the New Jersey Articles of Dissolution

When you are ready to dissolve your LLC, follow the steps in our New Jersey LLC Dissolution Guide.