How to Start a New Jersey LLC
New Jersey, the Garden State, is located on the East Coast of the U.S. between New York, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Although it is one of the smallest states, it's the second-wealthiest and the most densely populated state in America, making it a great place to start a business.
New Jersey's economy is boosted by several major industries including tourism, finance and investment, telecommunications, food processing, agriculture, printing, equipment manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and chemical production.
For most business owners, the fastest and easiest way to start a business in New Jersey is by creating a New Jersey LLC. A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a type of business entity that's ideal for startups and small- to medium-sized businesses. You get the advantages and protections of larger New Jersey corporations but with much simpler rules and regulations.
Briefly, the benefits of starting a New Jersey LLC include:
- Separating and limiting your personal liability from your business liability and debts
- Quick and simple filing, management, compliance, regulations and administration of your New Jersey LLC
- Easy tax filing and potential advantages for tax treatment
Learn more about the benefits of the LLC business structure.
Six Quick Steps for Creating Your New Jersey LLC
We've got lots of useful information on starting a business in NJ. On this page you'll find the basic steps of how to form a New Jersey LLC, with more in-depth content throughout the rest of our guide.
First, you need to gather basic information about your LLC, including the names and addresses of the managers or members. The LLC members are typically the people who own and run the business. They are also the ones who can take profits out of the business to pay themselves.
You will need a distinctive and original name for your New Jersey LLC that's not used by any other business in NJ. To find out if another company is using your chosen business name, carry out a New Jersey business entity name search on the NJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services website.
There are a few rules you'll need to follow when choosing an LLC name. You can find out more in our guide to searching for and naming your New Jersey LLC.
Every New Jersey LLC must have a designated street address. That could be your home address (if you're running the company from your residence), your company's office building or any physical address of your preference. The address can be outside the state of New Jersey, but it cannot be a P.O. Box.
Every NJ LLC must have a “Registered Agent” when it is formed. This is an official position; the Registered Agent is someone who receives official legal and tax correspondence and has responsibility for filing reports with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services.
This position can be filled by you, another manager in the business or a dedicated Registered Agent service. Your NJ Registered Agent must have a physical street address in New Jersey and must be present to receive important documents for your company during business hours.
At Incfile, all of our packages include a New Jersey Registered Agent service that is free for the first year and just $119 per year afterward. We also have a dashboard where you can log in and easily view any document your Registered Agent has received on your behalf.
You will need an EIN to identify your business to the IRS. You use this number when filing and paying taxes or when submitting payroll information and payments for your employees. You can obtain one directly from the IRS, or we can get one for you as part of the New Jersey LLC business formation process.
Once you've gathered all the information together for your New Jersey LLC, you'll need to file a formal document with the NJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. This document is known as your “Business Registration Application,” and filing the document creates your New Jersey LLC. This is a long and complex form that requires detailed information.
You can file your New Jersey LLC Business Registration Application online, mail in a form or have Incfile do it on your behalf. There is a fee to file and start an LLC in New Jersey. You only need to file your Business Registration Application once.
Review Information from the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services
The NJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services has plenty of additional information on forming and running a business in New Jersey. These are all the basic steps for forming an LLC in New Jersey. You’ll find other useful information below:
Special Types of New Jersey LLCs
A regular New Jersey LLC is suitable for most business needs, but you also have a few other options to incorporate a special type of LLC.
Some states allow certain occupations to form “Professional LLCs.” These types of business typically have specialized requirements and licensing. New Jersey does not formally recognize professional LLCs, but groups of professionals may form regular LLCs.
If your business is already operating in another state and expanding to New Jersey, you'll need to form a foreign LLC
More information on New Jersey filing and licensing requirements here.
Detailed Information for Your New Jersey LLC
You'll find plenty more insight and guidance on the other pages of this guide, including:
Naming Your New Jersey LLC
How to search the New Jersey business registry of the NJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services and find the right name. Includes information on naming rules, fictitious names, reserving a New Jersey LLC name and more.
New Jersey Registered Agents for Your LLC
How to appoint a New Jersey Registered Agent to your new LLC or change to a different Registered Agent. Includes information on Registered Agent rules and searching for New Jersey Registered Agents.
Fees and Requirements for Your New Jersey LLC
How to understand the various fees you'll need to pay and the requirements you'll need to meet for both federal and New Jersey rules. Includes details of Employee Identification Numbers (EINs), New Jersey and federal business licenses, New Jersey annual reports and more.
Federal, State, Sales and Other Taxes for Your New Jersey LLC
How to understand the various taxes you will need to pay to the federal and New Jersey government. Includes details of federal taxes like income and self-employment and New Jersey taxes like sales tax and income tax.
