Best New Jersey LLC Formation Service in 2026

New Jersey has a two-step formation process that catches a lot of founders off guard: first you file the Public Records Filing for New Business Entity ($125), then within 60 days you must also complete the Business Registration Application (NJ-REG) with the Division of Revenue. Miss the second step and you can't legally do business in NJ — but the state will still happily charge you the annual report fee.

The formation service you pick decides whether both steps are filed correctly, and — for non-US founders — whether you also exit with an EIN and a working US bank account.

Quick verdict

Service	Best for	Filing fee (NJ)	Service fee	Reg. Agent	EIN included	Non-US friendly
Doola	Non-US founders, one-person company	$125	from $297 (Starter)	✅ 1 yr	✅ (incl. SS-4 paper filing)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Northwest	US residents wanting privacy	$125	$39 + state	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$50)	⭐⭐⭐
ZenBusiness	US residents, low budget	$125	$0 (Starter)	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$99)	⭐⭐
LegalZoom	Brand recognition	$125	$0 (Basic)	$249/yr	❌ (+$79)	⭐⭐
Bizee (formerly IncFile)	US residents, free starter	$125	$0 + state	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$70)	⭐⭐
DIY (NJ Division of Revenue)	US founders with SSN	$125	$0	❌ ($125+/yr separately)	DIY (free with SSN)	⭐

Our recommendation for non-US founders: Doola — bundles LLC formation + NJ-REG handling + EIN (with SS-4 paper filing for non-SSN founders) + Registered Agent + US business address + Mercury Bank introduction.

Disclosure: We have an affiliate relationship with Doola — code LLCCLASS10 gives 10% off and supports our work at no extra cost to you.

New Jersey LLC basics — the two-step structure

Step 1 — Public Records Filing for New Business Entity: $125 (one-time, filed online via NJ Portal)
Step 2 — NJ-REG (Business Registration Application): $0 fee but mandatory within 60 days of formation. This is the step DIYers forget.
Annual report: $75/year, due on the LLC's anniversary date
Multi-member LLC tax: $150/year minimum Partner Tax per member (multi-member LLCs only; single-member LLCs skip this)
State income tax: Pass-through to members; NJ personal income tax up to 10.75% on NJ-sourced income
Privacy: Registered Agent address is public; members not required on the public filing itself
Processing: 1 business day online; 5–7 business days by mail

NJ's $75 annual report is moderate, but stacked with the per-member partner tax (if multi-member) and one of the highest personal income tax rates in the country, NJ is genuinely expensive for any LLC with NJ-sourced income. Form here if you actually operate in NJ — otherwise look at our best state for LLC comparison.

Service-by-service breakdown

1. Doola — best for non-US founders forming a New Jersey LLC

Pricing: Starter $297/yr, Total Compliance $799/yr
What's included: Public Records Filing + NJ-REG follow-up + EIN (handles SS-4 paper filing for non-SSN founders) + Registered Agent (1 year) + US business address + Mercury Bank introduction
Turnaround: 2–4 weeks for non-US founders (EIN bottleneck), 1–2 weeks for US founders (NJ approves filings in 1 business day)
Why we use it: NJ's two-step formation is the second-most-likely-to-fail-DIY structure in the US (after Nevada). Doola files both steps as a single onboarding flow. The Total Compliance plan also tracks the anniversary-date annual report.
Caveat: If you don't actually operate in NJ, picking NJ as your domicile is rarely the right call. Doola won't talk you out of it — but a 10-minute conversation with a tax advisor might.

→ Doola signup with LLCCLASS10 code (10% off)
→ Full Doola 2026 review

2. Northwest Registered Agent — best for US residents who value privacy

Pricing: $39 service fee + $125 state filing + $125/yr registered agent (after year 1)
What's included: Public Records Filing + 1 year registered agent + privacy-by-default
EIN: NOT included, +$50
NJ-REG: They will walk you through it but most users complete the actual NJ-REG themselves
Why pick: Privacy and clean US support

3. ZenBusiness — US founders on a budget

Pricing: Free Starter (state fee only), Pro $199, Premium $349
EIN: +$99
Caveat: Year-2 renewal upsells; NJ-REG handling varies by tier

4. LegalZoom — brand recognition, expensive

Pricing: Basic $0 + state, Pro $249, Premium $349
EIN: +$79
Why pick: Brand for US investor optics
Why skip: NJ already has the partner tax + high personal income tax; LegalZoom's pricing piles on

5. Bizee (formerly IncFile) — free starter

Pricing: Free + state, Gold $199, Platinum $299
EIN: +$70
Caveat: NJ-REG follow-up often left to the user; users have reported missed deadlines

6. DIY — for founders with US SSN, address, and patience

Cost: $125 state filing + ~$125/yr registered agent + EIN free via IRS online (with SSN)
Why pick: Cost optimization
Why skip if non-US: SS-4 paper filing + the NJ-REG step both stack against DIY

Step-by-step New Jersey LLC formation

Choose a name — must include "Limited Liability Company", "LLC", or "L.L.C." Check availability at the NJ Business Name Search.
Designate a Registered Agent — must have a physical New Jersey street address. PO boxes not allowed.
File the Public Records Filing for New Business Entity — $125 online via NJ Portal. 1 business day approval.
File the NJ-REG (Business Registration Application) — within 60 days of formation. No filing fee, but you cannot legally conduct business in NJ without it. This is the step that gets missed.
Get EIN from IRS — free online for US residents with SSN (5 minutes). Non-US founders file SS-4 by fax/mail (4–8 weeks).
Open a US business bank account — Mercury Bank; 3-hour approval once your LLC, EIN, and NJ-REG confirmation are in hand.
File the Annual Report — $75, due on the LLC's anniversary date every year, filed online via NJ Portal.

FAQ

What is NJ-REG and why do I need it?
NJ-REG is the Business Registration Application filed with the NJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. It registers your LLC for state tax purposes (sales tax, employer withholding, etc.) and is required within 60 days of formation. Without it you can't legally do business in NJ — even though the Public Records Filing alone creates the LLC entity.

Does the $150 multi-member partner tax apply to me?
Only if your NJ LLC has multiple members. Single-member LLCs (the typical one-person company) skip this. Each additional member adds $150/year capped at $250,000 total. For a 2-member LLC: $300/year. For a 10-member LLC: $1,500/year.

Is New Jersey good for a non-US founder?
Generally no. Unless you have actual NJ business activity, the personal income tax + partner tax + two-step formation make NJ one of the highest-friction states. Wyoming or Delaware is almost always better for a remote non-US founder.

Can I form a single-member LLC in NJ as a non-US resident?
Yes. No citizenship requirement. You still need a NJ-based registered agent and the NJ-REG follow-up filing — both handled by Doola in one onboarding flow.

Contents