New York LLCs are relatively inexpensive — especially when you consider that an LLC can protect your personal assets and help grow your business. That’s why forming an LLC is the best choice for most small businesses.
The cost to form an LLC in New York is $200. This covers the primary cost of officially registering your LLC with the state.
Read our LLC Cost in New York guide below to learn more about LLC costs and other fees associated with all New York businesses.
Save Time With a Professional Service:
You can form an LLC yourself and save a little money or use a professional service and save a lot of time.
Northwest ($29 plus state fees)
How Much Is an LLC in New York?
New York LLC Filing Fee: $200
To form an LLC in New York, you'll need to file the Articles of Organization (Form DOS 1336-f) with the Department of State. The New York Department of State charges a $200 fee to process and record this document online, by mail, by fax, or in person.
You can complete this process yourself with our How to Start an LLC guide or use an LLC formation service.
Registered Agent Fee
If you have a physical address within the state of New York, you do not actually need to have a registered agent to form your LLC. This is because the New York Department of State acts as a statutory agent for service of process to your LLC.
Nevertheless, every New York LLC can choose to appoint a New York registered agent that is capable of receiving service of process during normal business hours at a designated street address.
You can be your own registered agent in New York, or you can use a registered agent service for a minimal cost.
Recommended: Get free registered agent services for one year when you form an LLC with Northwest ($29 plus state fees).
New York Biennial Statement Fee: $9
New York requires LLCs to file a biennial statement with the New York Department of State every two years and pay a $9 filing fee.
New York LLC Publication Fee: $50+
New York State law requires all NY LLCs to publish either:
- A copy of the Articles of Organization in two newspapers (one weekly and one daily)
- A notice related to the formation of the LLC in two newspapers (one weekly and one daily)
This needs to be done within 120 days of the LLC’s registration.
You will need to file a Certificate of Publication, in conjunction with the affidavits of publication of the newspapers that you have used, with the Department of State and pay the $50 filing fee.
Additionally, you will need to pay in order to get your LLC’s information published in NY newspapers. The charge for this can range significantly depending on your location and choice of newspaper.
See our guide to the New York LLC publication requirement to learn more.
Cost to Form a Foreign LLC in New York: $250
LLCs registered in another state that want to expand into the state of New York must register 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 DOS 1361-f-a).
Business Licenses and Permits
Your business might need federal, state, and local permits/licenses to legally operate in New York, depending on your industry and geographical location. This is true whether you form an LLC or any other type of business structure.
Learn more about state and local licensing in our New York business license guide.
Other New York Business Filing Fees
There are fees associated with other, optional business filings in New York.
LLC Name Reservation
You can reserve a business name for your LLC for up to 60 days by filing an Application for Reservation of Name with the New York Division of Corporations and paying the $20 fee.
"Doing Business As" (DBA) Name
When an LLC is registered with the state, the LLC’s name is also officially registered. Some business owners choose to also file for a DBA name, known as an assumed name in New York.
You can file a Certificate of Assumed Name with the New York Division of Corporations and pay the $25 filing fee to create a name other than your legal LLC business name.
Learn more in our New York DBA guide.
Certified Document Copies
You can get certified copies of your New York business documents by ordering through the Division of Corporations. The fee for this is $25 for each plain copy and $10 for each certified copy.
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 lenders.
Recommended: Learn more about LLC formation services in our Best LLC Services review.
How to Start an LLC in New York
Forming an LLC yourself is easy; just follow the five steps below.
Five 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 a Articles of Organization
Step 4: Create an Operating Agreement
Step 5: Publish LLC Notice of Formation
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:
- Is available for use in the state of New York
- Meets New York naming requirements
- Is available as a web domain
Check web domain (URL) availability with GoDaddy:
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our free LLC name generator.
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
If you have a physical address within the state of New York, you do not actually need to have a registered agent in order to form your LLC. This is because the New York Secretary of State acts as a statutory agent for service of process to your LLC.
Nonetheless, New York LLCs may appoint any New York resident that is 18 years or older and is available during normal business hours at a specified address registered agent to receive service of process.
Recommended: Northwest offers one full year of registered agent services with their $29 (plus state fees) LLC formation package.
Step 3: File a New York Articles of Organization
To form an LLC in New York, you must file the Articles of Organization with the Department of State. This can be done online through the New York Department of State’s website or by filing Form DOS 1336-f by mail, by fax, or in person.
For a closer look at the filing process, check out our New York Articles of Organization guide.
Step 4: Publish LLC Notice of Formation
New York requires all NY LLCs to publish either:
- A copy of the Articles of Organization in two newspapers (one weekly and one daily)
- A notice related to the formation of the LLC in two newspapers (one weekly and one daily)
This needs to be done within 120 days of the LLC’s registration.
You will need to file the Certificate of Publication, in conjunction with the affidavits of publication of the newspapers that you have used, with the Department of State and pay the $50 filing fee.
Step 5: Create an LLC Operating Agreement
Unlike most states, New York requires LLCs to draft operating agreements. This can be done before, at the time, or up to 90 days after your LLC’s registration.
Even if it wasn’t a legal requirement, an LLC operating agreement is always highly recommended. This is because it outlines the ownership and operating procedures of an LLC, ensuring that all members are on the same page and reducing the risk of conflict down the line.
Learn more in our New York LLC Operating Agreement guide.
Step 6: Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number issued by the IRS to identify businesses for tax purposes. Think of an EIN as a Social Security number for your LLC.
To learn how to get an EIN for free, visit our How to Get an EIN Number guide.
LLC Cost in New York FAQ
What is the cheapest way to start an LLC in New York?
The cheapest way to start an LLC in Texas is to handle the registration process individually. In order to do this, you will need to follow these steps:
- Name your LLC
- Choose a registered agent: This can be a registered agent service or an individual.
- File the New York Articles of Organization: The filing fee for this is $200 and can be done online, by mail, by fax, or in person.
- Create an LLC operating agreement: This is usually not a legal requirement, but it is highly recommended.
- Publish LLC Notice of Formation
- Get an EIN: This is basically your business’s Social Security number (SSN).
How much does an LLC cost per year in New York?
All New York LLCs are required to file a biennial statement every two years. The filing fee for this is $9, bringing the cost per year to $4.50.
For a more in-depth analysis, see our How Much Does an LLC Cost? article.
How much does an LLC license cost in New York?
An LLC is not a business license, but a business entity. Forming an LLC in New York costs $200.
You will also need to publish your LLC formation or Articles of Organization in two NY newspapers within 120 days of your LLC’s formation. The filing fee for this is $50, which does not include the cost of actually publishing your LLC’s information in two newspapers.
Additionally, all New York LLCs have to file a biennial $9 filing fee.
You may be required to pay additional fees if you choose to pay for a registered agent service, an LLC formation service, or an LLC attorney.
See our How to Start an LLC in New York for more information on registering your business as an LLC.
Do LLCs pay taxes in New York?
Yes, LLCs are a “pass-through” tax entity. This means that the LLCs profits are “passed through” directly to its owner(s), who then pay income taxes independently.
This is advantageous compared to a corporation’s tax structure because it means that LLC members are not taxed twice.
Having said that, readers should keep in mind that LLCs are very flexible when it comes to how they can be taxed, and — depending on the specifics — they can choose to be taxed as a pass-through entity, a C corp, and an S corp.
For more information, see our How Is an LLC Taxed guide.
What are the tax benefits of an LLC?
The tax benefits of an LLC will depend on how you choose to be taxed, as well as on whether you are operating as a single or multi-member LLC.
Generally speaking, LLCs can choose to be taxed in several different ways, including:
- As a sole proprietorship or general partnership
- As a C corporation
- As an S corporation
See our Single-Member LLC Taxes guide for a detailed overview of the tax benefits of having an LLC as a small business.
Do I need to open a business bank account for my LLC?
Even though you do not necessarily “need” to open a bank account for your LLC, this is generally highly recommended for several reasons.
For one, having a separate bank account can allow you to maintain your LLC’s corporate veil — meaning that you will not risk losing your limited personal liability under the law. A business bank account also offers financial benefits, including the ability to build business credit more quickly and access to larger business loans.
Interested in opening a business bank account? See our review of the best banks for startups in 2024.