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The explanation · New Jersey

3 Best LLC Services in New Jersey (2026), Explained

For 2026, the LLC formation services we would use in New Jersey are Mainstay Filing ($199), New Jersey Registered Agent.co ($199) and Registered Agent NJ.org ($199), ranked in that order. Expect $100 for the state and $397 to $597 to the service over three years.
Formation Explained editorial team

The essentials

State filing charge
$100, one-off
Following years
$75 once a year
Registered agent
Must be named
Services we suggest
Mainstay Filing, New Jersey Registered Agent.co then Registered Agent NJ.org

New Jersey: the ranked picks

Best first. See how we pick for the reasoning.
1 Our first choice

1. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who want the annual report handled

$199 per year ($299 at signup including the state fee)

Mainstay Filing comes out on top: you pay $199 a year and get the formation, the registered agent and the annual report taken care of.

New Jersey Registered Agent.co does come in $200 lower, yet we put the fuller service first.

Filing the annual report is included, and the $75 state fee is passed along as is.

Includes

  • Articles prepared and submitted
  • Registered agent for twelve months
  • Annual report filed by Mainstay
  • The EIN application
  • No markup on the state fee

Points in its favor

  • One yearly price: $199
  • Includes the EIN application
  • Costs $199 when it renews

Where it falls short

  • From year two it costs $100 a year more than New Jersey Registered Agent.co
2 New Jersey specialist

2. New Jersey Registered Agent.co: best for keeping three-year cost down

Year one costs $199; later years cost $99

New Jersey Registered Agent.co ranks second. In short, year one costs $199 and each later year $99.

Its price leaves out the annual report.

Includes

  • Formation filing handled
  • A first year of agent service

Points in its favor

  • A formation fee of $199
  • The agent renews at $99
  • Year-one agent service is included

Where it falls short

  • You file the annual report on your own
  • Applying for an EIN costs $99 extra
3 New Jersey specialist

3. Registered Agent NJ.org: best for owners comfortable doing their own reports

Year one costs $199; later years cost $99

Registered Agent NJ.org ranks third. In short, year one costs $199 and each later year $99.

Its price leaves out the annual report.

Price for price, it matches New Jersey Registered Agent.co.

Includes

  • Formation filing handled
  • A first year of agent service

Points in its favor

  • The agent renews at $99
  • Year-one agent service is included
  • A formation fee of $199

Where it falls short

  • You file the annual report on your own
  • Applying for an EIN costs $99 extra

The picks compared

#CompanyYear oneRenewal priceOver three yearsCovers
1 Mainstay Filing $199$199/yr$597articles prepared and submitted; registered agent for twelve months; Annual report filed by Mainstay Check Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 New Jersey Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397formation filing handled; A first year of agent service Check New Jersey Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Registered Agent NJ.org $199$99/yr$397formation filing handled; A first year of agent service Check Registered Agent NJ.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Company prices as of November 13, 2026, excluding state fees.

What owners want to know

How much does it cost to start an LLC here?

The state charges $100. A service adds $199 in the first year.

By the end of year three the state will have taken $250. see pub.njleg.gov, October 2026

Which form do I file, and with whom?

To get started, file the Certificate of Formation with the New Jersey Secretary of State, as the state instructs.

Authority: N.J.S.A. 42:2C-18. see pub.njleg.gov, October 2026

Does the LLC need a registered agent?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

A New Jersey resident, or a business with authority to do business in New Jersey, such as a corporation registered and in good standing with the State Treasurer.

see pub.njleg.gov, October 2026

Are there costs every year?

Plan on $75 every year for the annual report. The state sets the deadline as last day of the LLC's anniversary month; put it in your calendar.

see njportal.com, August 2026

Can I skip the service?

Yes, and the cost is then the state's $250 over three years.

Services charge $397 to $597 over three years for that work.

What decided the ranking?

It is how much work the price handles, weighted at 28%, that puts Mainstay Filing first.

Our weighting leans on what three years cost first and how much work the price handles second, then three smaller factors.

We give weight to a report that gets filed on time, so the bundle ranks first.

Read how we pick

Official New Jersey requirements

What it coversFee or ruleOfficial source
State charge to form$100see pub.njleg.gov, October 2026
Registered agentMust be namedsee pub.njleg.gov, October 2026
Annual report$75 every yearsee njportal.com, August 2026
What the state collects in three years$250The rows above, added
The three-year line combines the filing fee, the reports for years two and three and any yearly minimum tax. Costs with no set amount, like a newspaper notice, are not counted.

Further questions

Will they apply for my EIN?

Mainstay Filing applies for it at no extra charge. New Jersey Registered Agent.co adds $99; Registered Agent NJ.org adds $99.

What is the three-year price of each?

Mainstay Filing: $597 | New Jersey Registered Agent.co: $397 | Registered Agent NJ.org: $397, and state fees come extra.

Are the figures official?

Official schedules for state fees, company pricing for service fees, and every figure carries a date.

Could I skip the service?

Not required. Services charge to do the paperwork for you.

What repeats annually?

Plan on $75 every year for the annual report. The state sets the deadline as last day of the LLC's anniversary month; put it in your calendar.

Who would you hire first in New Jersey?

Mainstay Filing, because the annual report is built into its $199 annual price alongside formation and the registered agent. Then New Jersey Registered Agent.co and Registered Agent NJ.org.

Sources used on this page

  1. New Jersey Division of Revenue via njportal.com, as of August 2026
  2. New Jersey Division of Revenue via njportal.com, as of August 2026
  3. New Jersey report due date via njleg.state.nj.us, as of August 2026
  4. New Jersey DORES, Getting Registered via nj.gov, as of October 2026
  5. New Jersey formation fee: Filing via pub.njleg.gov, as of October 2026
  6. New Jersey registered agent statute via pub.njleg.gov, as of October 2026
  7. Mainstay Filing New Jersey service page, read November 13, 2026
  8. New Jersey Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026
  9. Registered Agent NJ.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026