How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC in New York?

New York LLC Online Filing Fee: $200

The main cost to start an LLC is the $200 fee to file your LLC's Articles of Organization online with the New York Department of State.

For a look at LLC costs in every state, read our other Cost to Start an LLC and How to Form an LLC guides.

New York Biennial Statement Fee: $9

New York requires LLCs to file a biennial statement, also called a biennial report, with the Department of State.

You can submit this form through the New York Department of State website. It is due every two years by the end of the month in which the business was formed.

Registered Agent Fee

In New York you can be your own registered agent, but using a registered agent service helps keep your company in compliance and reminds you of important filing deadlines and avoid late fees.

• If you need to form a new business and get a registered agent, the best package is by Northwest Registered Agent $29 + state fees

OR:

• If only a registered agent is required, Northwest Registered Agent provides an excellent service: $125

Read our guide to learn more about New York Registered Agents. You can also read our full guide on the best registered agent services.

New York LLC Publication Fee: Varies

New York requires that within 120 days of formation all LLCs publish a copy of the Articles of Organization or a notice related to the formation of the LLC in two newspapers (one weekly and one daily).

You must submit your Certificate of Publication (Form 1708-f) along with your affidavits of publication to the New York Department of State. The filing fee is $50.

The actual publishing fee varies depending on location. New York City has fees upwards of $1500 to $2000 for newspaper publishing, while typical fees in Albany are between $80 and $100.

Cost to Form a Foreign LLC in New York

If you already have an LLC that is registered in another state and you’d like to expand your business into New York, you’ll need to register your LLC as a foreign LLC in New York.

The cost for registering a New York foreign LLC is $250. You can register a foreign LLC in New York by filing an Application for Authority (Form 1361-f-a).

Business Permits and Licenses

Depending on your industry and geographical location, your business might need federal, state, and local permits/licenses to legally operate in New York. This is true whether you form an LLC or any other type of business structure.

Learn more about state and local licensing with our guide to getting a New York business license.

Other LLC Filing Costs

There are optional fees associated with LLC formation:

LLC Name Reservation:
Reserve your name for up to 60 days prior to LLC formation by filing an Application for Reservation of Name (Form 1233-f) and paying the $20 filing fee.

Doing Business As (DBA) Name:
File a Certificate of Assumed Name (Form 1338-f) and pay the $25 filing fee to create a name other than your legal LLC business name.

Certified Document Copies:
Obtain certified copies of your New York business documents by ordering through the Department of State and paying the $10 filing fee.

Certificate of Status:
Also known as a New York certificate of good standing, you can obtain this document by ordering through the Department of State and paying the $25 fee. A certificate of status is often required by banks and lending institutions.

Six Basic Steps to Start an LLC in New York

Step 1: Name Your New York LLC
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
Step 4: Complete Publication Requirements
Step 5: Create an Operating Agreement
Step 6: Get an EIN

Step 1: Name Your New York LLC

When you name your New York LLC, you’ll need to choose a name that:

1. Is available for use in the state of New York
2. Meets New York naming requirements
3. Is available as a web domain

Recommended: Visit our Start an LLC in New York guide for detailed naming rules and instructions for registering a business name in New York.

Not sure what to name your business? Check out our How to Name a Business guide and free LLC Name Generator.

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 create a business website today, you may want to buy the URL in order to prevent others from acquiring it.

Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent

In New York, the Secretary of State acts as the registered agent for all New York LLCs by default. You can, however, choose to designate someone in addition to the Secretary of State as the registered agent for your New York LLC.

A registered agent primarily acts as your LLC’s main point of contact with the state. But most importantly, they are responsible for accepting service of process in the event your business is sued.

If you choose to use a registered agent service, the Secretary of State will still be the first point of contact for the state and for anyone who might serve your LLC with legal action.

Your New York registered agent must be:

• At least 18 years or older
• Have a physical address in New York
• Available during normal business hours to accept service of process

Step 3: File the Articles of Organization

New York Form 1336-f: Articles of Organization is a document that is filed with the New York Department of State to form an LLC. The fee for filing Articles of Organization is $200 online, by mail, by fax, or in person.

For detailed instructions for completing the Articles of Organization, visit our How to File the New York Articles of Organization guide.

Step 4: Complete Publication Requirement

New York requires that within 120 days of formation all LLCs must publish a copy of the Articles of Organization or a notice related to the formation of the LLC in two newspapers (one weekly and one daily).

You must submit your Certificate of Publication along with your affidavits of publication to the New York Department of State.

The Certificate of Publication fee (Form 1708-f) is $50.

The actual publishing fee varies depending on location. New York City has fees upwards of $1,500-$2,000 for newspaper publishing, while typical fees in Albany are between $80 and $100.

Step 5: Create an Operating Agreement

An operating agreement is legally required for New York LLCs.

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 on operating agreements, read our New York LLC operating agreement guide.

Step 6: Get an EIN

What is an EIN? An EIN or Employer Identification Number is a nine-digit number issued by the Internal Revenue System (IRS) to identify a business for tax reporting purposes. An EIN is essentially a Social Security number (SSN) for your company.

Why do I need an EIN? An EIN number is required for the following:

• Opening a business bank account
• Hiring employees