How to Form an LLC in New York
Quick Start Guide ← you are here
This Quick Start Guide is a brief overview of how to form an LLC in New York.
Detailed Lessons:
6. Publication Part 2
7. Cert. of Publication
8. Biennial Statements
9. Taxes
10. Cert. of Change
New York LLC Costs:
New York state fee: $200
Certificate of Publication: $50
Newspaper fees: vary by county (read lesson 2)
Biennial Statements: $9, every two years
Need to save time?
Hire a professional to form your LLC in New York:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
(check out Northwest vs LegalZoom)
A New York Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a legal structure used to protect your personal assets (home, car, bank account) in the event your business is sued.
An LLC can be used to operate a business, or an LLC can be used to hold assets (such as real estate, vehicles, boats, or aircraft).
Forming an LLC in New York is simple. Search your New York LLC name in the state database, file your LLC Articles of Organization and pay the state filing fee ($200), then publish 2 ads to meet the NY Publication Requirement.
After your New York LLC is approved, file your Certificate of Publication ($50), complete your Operating Agreement, obtain a Federal Tax ID Number, and file your Biennial Statements.
We’ve created a free video course that will walk you through forming your own New York LLC, step-by-step.
On desktop, the video lessons are listed on your right. On mobile, the video lessons are listed at the bottom of the page.
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
(check out Northwest vs LegalZoom)
71 Comments
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Hello
I had accidentally input the wrong zip code for my registered agent while filing my Articles of Org. I am using Northwest, and the only thing wrong on it is that I wrote my home zip code by accident. Is this a problem? How would I remedy this if so?
Hi Anisa, is the LLC already approved, or did you just recently mail in the forms?
We got our bill for almost $1300 when we formed our LLC in upstate NY. Does this seem high or is this average?
Hi Rebecca, where did you receive the bill from? Is this from an attorney or a newspaper for publishing ads?
It was from an attorney
It was from our attorney
Thanks. Curious, did it include the newspaper publication requirement (runnings ads, and filing the Affidavits of Publication with your Certificate of Publication)? Either way, that’s pretty standard for an attorney to handle the process. Hope that helps.
Hi Rebbeca:
I want to register a LLC Business in NY, I am looking for a atorney for that, can you kindly send me the information of the atorney who help yoy with your company? I am really appreciate that…thanks
I followed the steps for forming LLC from your youtube video for NY state Albany County. I received a confirmation email with the digital copy of the company certificate copy. Does that mean that I am all set and the company is formed successfully? Do they send any documents to me or my agent?
Hey Silas, yup, you’re all set! The state will actually be emailing you your stamped and approved Articles of Organization. It arrives within a few minutes of filing online. Nothing is sent to the Registered Agent.
Thanks for your great videos.
Do I need to file for a trademark with NYS before filing for my llc?
What is the link to file my llc?
If you want your trademark owned by your LLC (and not you), then you’d form the LLC first. Also, filing a trademark with the state only offers statewide protection (not national protection). If you want national protection on a trademark, you’d file with the USPTO. Either way, we strongly recommend working with an IP attorney. Regarding the online filing for LLCs in NY, visit this link: https://www.dos.ny.gov/corps/index.html, then look under “Select Links” in the right sidebar. Under “Online Filings”, click “LLC Formation”.
Hello
I am planning to start an LLC with a lengthy name. (like for example Alice wonderful Services llc) . But for my LLC email i will be using a shortcut of my LLC (for example [email protected]). For registration purposes in NY State, should i need to use both the names like Alice wonderful Services ( ( AWC ) LLC or can i use ONLY the Alice wonderful Services LLC to register and use the AWC.com as my company’s email address. If i register only the Alice wonderful Services LLC, will there be a chance that someone can register their company as AWC LLC after my registration.
I am planning to apply for the government services as AWC LLC.
In the paper advertisements do i need to advertise both the names?
Hi Alice, there’s a few things going on here. First, the email address does not matter at all, so you can use anything you’d like. But more importantly, you can’t register with 2 LLC names (unless you filed 2 different LLCs). You’d have to either pick the long version or the short version. You can however, form an LLC with the long name (ex: “Alice Wonderful Services LLC”), and then file an Assumed Name for the short name/abbreviation (ex: “AWS”). But you cannot include the letter “LLC” in the Assumed Name since an Assumed Name and an LLC are two different things. You also cannot form an LLC called “Alice Wonderful Services LLC” and then apply for government services using “AWS LLC”, since you don’t own an LLC by the name “AWS LLC”. You can apply under your Assumed Name though (“AWS”). However, on a lot of government registrations, they’ll want both the full legal name (the LLC name) and any Assumed Names (also known as DBA or Fictitious Name). Further, if you form an LLC called “Alice Wonderful Services LLC”, then yes, someone else can form an LLC called “AWS LLC”. There is no way to control “Alice Wonderful Services LLC” and “AWS LLC” unless you formed 2 LLCs. Hope that helps.
Matt,
Thanks for all the valuable information your site has to give.
If I form a LLC in New York and then move to Delaware, how difficult is it to move my LLC to Delaware? What needs to be done?
Thanks,
Rich
Hey Rich, thanks for the kind words! When are you moving to Delaware? “Moving” the LLC is usually a pain in the ass, so let me know your timeframe and I should be better able to point you in the right direction. There are usually 3 ways to move an LLC: 1) Shut down NY LLC + form new DE LLC, then transfer assets, setup new bank account, get new EIN, and close account with NY Dept. of Revenue. 2) File Foreign LLC registration in DE. You’ll technically be operating a NY LLC in DE with this filing. 3) Domestication, which is filing a Certificate of Conversion along with a Certificate of Formation (filed at the same time), then dissolving your NY LLC later. But why setup a NY LLC only to shut it down/convert/transfer it so soon. You might drive yourself crazy. If your moving to DE relatively soon, it’ll be easiest/simplest to just form a Domestic LLC in Delaware. Hope that helps.
Hi Matt,
Thanks for your quick responce.
I hope to have my New York house sold and be down in Delaware within the next 6 months.
Will I need to set up a Foreign LLC in NY during the 6 months and if so how do I do that?
I’m lost when it comes to this and would greatly appreciate any additional advice you can share with me.
Thanks again,
Rich
Hey Rich, you should be okay to just set up a DE LLC and not worry about the NY foreign registration. It’ll be quite a hassle to file a foreign LLC in NY, meet their publication requirements (which takes a couple months), then cancel the foreign registration. Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any followup questions.
Hi Matt, so happy to have found this site! I had paid to form my first LLC and it cost me $1600 and the lawyer went awol after he finished up to getting me an ein but never published and file for certification of publication so did that myself.
I’m creating a new online business with a partner this time and we have a question about publishing for 6 weeks. We are going to give NYS Queens county address for mails but would like to publish in Albany. Do we absolutely need an Albany Agent? In NYS I read it is not necessary on another online article to have an agent.
Hello Ahreum, apologies for the slow reply. First, thanks for the kind words! Second, bummer to hear about your crappy experience. You don’t need a Registered Agent in New York, since the Secretary of State serves as the Agent for Service of Process, but hiring a Registered Agent allows you to state that you have an office in Albany, so you can publish there, and then “move” your office back to Queens County. Hope that helps.
Hi, you are doing such great work with this site! I thank you very much for all the information! I am about to use IncFile’s service and realized that after entering Northwest Registered Agency’s address as my office address (yes, I ordered their services through their site – thank you so much!), IncFile is now asking me for my Registered Agency’s address or if I wish to use their address. Do I repeat the same address I gave as my office address in this section or should I claim myself as my own registered agency for now since I am using my RA’s address as my office address? I don’t want to delay my application by fumbling this part. Any help would be great! Thank you!
Hi Marlo, thanks so much! I appreciate the kind words. I can’t guarantee that IncFile will file everything correctly, so I’m not 100% sure. You might want to contact them and double-check. They are faster by email than by phone. Also, have you considered filing the Articles of Organization yourself? You’ll get it more precise this way.
You suggested using Northwest as a Registered Agent. Why do they charge for EIN when it free? I’m thinking about signing up with them but the fees don’t make since after watching videos
Pretty much any company doing work for you will charge money. Although the cost if free from the IRS, I’ve never seen someone or a company offer to do the work for you at no cost. It’s sort of the “norm” in this industry. But we have a free guide on how you can get it yourself here: LLC Federal Tax ID Number. Make sure your New York LLC is approved first before getting your EIN. Hope that helps.
Hi Matt,
First, I’d like to thank you for providing all of this information for free! It’s really been a huge help. Secondly, I plan on using the registered agent method but I also want to have a dba. I checked out the form from the offical website and it asks about the counties the business will be conducting business. My question is whether or not I should wait until after the publication requirements are met and i change the business address to file for the dba? Or should I file after forming the llc and use the registered agent address and the intended future address?
Again thanks for providing such great content!
Hey Deja, thanks for the nice comment. You’re very welcome! If you can, it’ll make things easier if you wait until the publication requirement is met and your address is changed back before filing the DBA. Hope that helps.
Yes, this definitely helps. Thank you!
You’re welcome Deja :)
Hi Matt, I’ve already filed for my LLC in NYC through Legal Zoom and am using their recommended Registered Agent. Is it possible to change my RA to the recommended one in Albany for the publication process and then change both my address and agent back again after receiving the newspaper affidavits? Thanks!
Hi DG, yes, you can do that. You’ll need to get in touch with LZ and see how they handle the process of cancelling their Registered Agent services (and hopefully providing you a refund). If you’ll be filing the changes yourself (the “change to” and the “change back”), you’ll use the Certificate of Change form. Just make sure to review how your Articles of Organization is completed in order to make sure you are editing/changing the correct items. Hope that helps.
Good afternoon der Sir
I posses LLC formed in Delaware with EIN and registered agent adress.
I pay in time franchise tax and registered agent fee, also FBAR report in time.
Do not work any bussines in USA, all my works are in Europe, basicaly my residency and physical adress is Serbia.
Please advice, what is the procedure to transfer my company from Delaware to New York and what would be the costs for transfer and what costs I will have in New York?
Also plase advice can you be my agent in New York?
Thank you
Ivica
Hi Ivica, New York doesn’t allow for “redomestication” (transferring/moving an LLC form one state to another). You’ll need to either register your Delaware LLC as a Foreign LLC in New York or dissolve your LLC in Delaware and form a Domestic LLC in New York. If you want to keep the bank account and EIN, it may be easier to register as a Foreign LLC. Keep in mind, either way, you’ll still need to meet New York’s newspaper publication requirement. If you do the Foreign LLC registration, you’ll need to maintain both LLCs and keep them good standing (by filing Annual Reports). We don’t offer Registered Agent services directly, but we do have recommendations on our website. Hope that helps.
Hallo Dear Mr Horowitz, thank you for your kind reply.
In adittion can you please advice which state allows “redomestication” (transferring/moving an LLC form one state to another)? Is it possible at all to move llc from state to state without dissiolving it?
Ragrds
I
H Ivica, we don’t have a list of states (yet) that allow redomestiction and I don’t have the list memorized, but where are you thinking of moving the LLC to? I’m also curious, what is the reason you want to move your LLC out of Delaware?
Can I start using my LLC to set up bank accounts and conduct business as soon as it is approved or do I need to obtain the Cert of Publication first?
Thanks for your generous work!
Hey Kevin, you’re very welcome! As soon as your LLC is approved, you can start using your LLC, conducting business, and setting up your LLC bank account. You don’t have to wait for your Filing Receipt for Certificate of Publication. Of course though, you’ll also need your LLC’s EIN before opening the LLC bank account :) Hope that helps!
Yes, that helps – Thanks again!
Awesome. You’re welcome!
Hi! I’m starting an e-commerce business soon. Do I need to go through the whole process before I start selling. How soon can I start selling
Hi Kathy, if you’re going to run this e-commerce business through your LLC, then yes. The good news is that if you form your New York LLC online, it’s approved within minutes. Hope that helps.
Greetings! I am a retired NYState (tax home) resident residing in the Caribbean. I would like to engage in a Business Yacht Management program as an active participant. There seems to be a push on forming this type of LLC in Delaware and placing the asset in the LLC. If the LLC is getting clients not just the USA but also worldwide, is it still a good option to go with the NY LLC?
Hi Les, I don’t know the answer to this question. I recommend running it by a few business attorneys. Thanks for your understanding.
My question might be very overboard but I have been following your educational series since last year and I thought I give it a shot. Sorry in advance.
I formed (one member) LLC in NY (Suffolk County), I have registered agent in Albany as you suggested in one of your youtube videos. (mainly for publication)
I moved to MA and nature of my work is the internet. I change states every year due to nature of my main job. Should I file the change of address everytime or keeping the registered agent is enough?
Thank you
Hi Silas, changing your NY LLC address (I’m assuming you mean the “address for forwarding service of process”) doesn’t “move” your LLC from state to state. It just allows you to get forwarded service of process if it’s served on your LLC. Hope that helps.
I reside in New York and have a sole proprietorship (assumed name) and want to convert it to an LLC and then apply to be certify as Minority Business which must be one year old My question is how do I change or update the existing sole proprietorship to an LLC without loosing my EIN and bank account because I believe those are what will give the history of the business ( I need the history of the sole prop to reflect in the new LLC
Hi Gbenga, you’ll want to check with the certifying authority for how they determine history, because I doubt it will be via a bank statement. We have info on changing from a Sole Proprietorship to an LLC here: change from Sole Proprietorship to LLC. You can keep the EIN (and transfer it over to the LLC by sending a letter to the IRS) or you can get a new one after your LLC is approved. Regarding the bank account, I’d visit a branch and see if they can “convert” your Sole Proprietorship bank account over to one in the name of the LLC. Hope that helps.
Thank you Matt, God bless!
Hi Matt,
I am trying to amend the name of a NY State C Corporation. I have already submitted the form twice and followed your information about completing the form but it has been rejected again. Is the procedure different for a C Corporation?
I have no idea what I am doing wrong.
Hi Phyliss, we don’t have links or instructions for New York C-Corporation name changes, however, you’d need to file an amendment. The official name of the form is a Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation. Hope that helps.
Hi Matt,
I recently opened an llc in NY, now im hearing its better if i file for s-corp tax status since i would need to pay ss and medicare tax on total net vs s-corp i will only have to pay on payroll i take, I.E. if i net 500k in llc i will have to pay 15.3% on 500k but s-corp if i take 100k salary i will only pay 15.3% on 100k, is that true?
or there’s a limit on llc for how much SS and medicare taxes i pay?
Hey Al, yes, those are the basics and that is true. There are a bit more details to it though, however, we’ve written about all that here: LLC taxed as S-Corp. Hope that helps.
Hi Matt,
I would like to have a prayer line, where people can meet to pray. it is not a church but we would like to be able to spread the gospel in the streets by distributing flyers or talking to people who want to hear what the word of God says. and helping my community by giving food and clothes to those in need. I want it to be done properly and legally. Here are my questions for you:
1) do I need more than 2 people to start it? (if 2 is ok could it be me and my wife)
2) which one I need to take LLC, corporation or incorporate
Hi Marcel, no, you don’t need 2 people to start an LLC. All states allow for a Single-Member LLC (1 owner). A Corporation (noun) and incorporate (verb) are the same thing. When one incorporates they are forming a Corporation. As far as which to choose, we have that info here: LLC vs Corporation. Hope that helps!
hi
I filled an NY LLC and mistakenly wrote a wrong County
what do i do now ?
You can file a Certificate of Change to make the correction.
How do i obtain a sealed certificate of organization? An attorney created the LLC for me, gave me my EID #, but the bank said they couldnt create a business bank acct with just the #. They need a sealed certificate of organization and the attorney isn’t responding timely.
Hi David, you would need to send a written request to the New York Division of Corporations for a Certified Copy of your Articles of Organization. The state has instructions here: ordering copies from the Division. Do you have a plain/regular copy of the Articles of Organization? The majority of the time, your stamped and approved Articles of Organization (non-certified), EIN Number (not EID), and Operating Agreement are all that’s need to open an LLC business bank account. Hope that helps.
Say I was making a business called Tomorrow For Two and I wanted to use a shortened version of T4T, would that need another LLC and separate trademark?
Thanks in advance!
Hey Justin, that would be neither another LLC nor a trademark. That would be a DBA (“Doing Business As”). It allows your LLC to legally operate and do business under a name that is different than your LLC’s true and legal name. By the way, DBA is the more commonly used name, but in New York, they are are referred to as Assumed Names. Also, they are filed at the county-level and not with the Department of State. If anyone else is reading this and would like to learn more about if a DBA is necessary for their LLC, check out our article here: Do I need a DBA? Hope that helps!
Hello Matt! in January 2018, I was able to do just 1-4 steps of your lessons and got online filing receipt from NYS Department of State. Then the situation changed and I moved out of State. What variants do I have now with that LLC ? Should I close it or transfer to my current State? It never got Tax ID number, I never opened a bank account for that LLC. And never provided any service. Please advice. Thank you so much!
Hey Kate! Will you be changing your residency to the new state? If so, the easiest route to take would be to dissolve the New York LLC and set up an LLC in the new state where you’ll be living and doing business from. Hope that helps.
Hi Matt, my fiance and I filed a DBA partnership in the county where she lives, Cook, county IL; I reside in NYC. We also have an EIN for the partnership. However, we have not opened a business bank account or conducted any business under the name of the partnership yet. We plan to move to Maryland before the end of 2018, and will start to generate business activity/revenue in NY, MD and IL over the next couple of months. We have done some branding (we are a consulting/ marketing business) in the name of the partnership and would like to keep it as we look to form the LLC. My question is which state should we form the LLC in and can we retain the existing name and EIN?
Hi Ron, in which state will most of the business activity be ran from? That’s likely the state where you’ll be doing business from (and where you should form the LLC). You’ll want to get a new EIN for your LLC after it’s approved. Hope that helps.
Hi Matt
I want to register a LLC Business in New york but I will be working with this overseas of the country, how much I must pay for the state fee each year?
Even though I am read about wyoming state and the beneficts, which of both is better for me?
I am a sole owner and foreign, non US Resident….
Hi Herluy, for ongoing fees and taxes in NY for non-resident business owners, you’ll want to speak to an accountant. We’re unable to provide that information as it depends on multiple factors. Once you decide on where to form your LLC, we have infomration on EIN and banking for non-US residents: How to apply for an EIN without an SSN and Non-US residents opening US LLC bank account. Hope that helps.
Hi Matt, my LLC registered in New York and we planning to have some remote workers outside the US. How we do about that? Is that going as an extended office?
Hey Kushan, I don’t fully understand the context of your question. You could just hire them as contractors on behalf of your LLC. Keep track of what your LLC pays them as it is a business expense. You won’t have to issue them 1099s at the end of the year since they are non-US persons. Hope that helps.
Hi Matt,
I am trying to form an LLC with two organizers/members. When I fill out the LLC articles of organization form, I don’t see an option to select a multi-member LLC.
Should I just add two names within the ‘organizer’ section of the document?
Your advice is greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Hey Michael, an LLC Organizer is not automatically an LLC Member by nature of being listed in the Articles of Organization. In fact, the New York LLC Articles of Organization doesn’t ask for Member information. That would be included in the New York LLC Operating Agreement. For more info, please see LLC Organizer vs LLC Member. Hope that helps!
HI Matt,
I filed an LLC document and created a business accnt with my bank. My bank is now asking for a Beneficiary Ownership Declaration. Do you have any suggestion on who could contact to get this document. One accnt said it would cost $650 and it looked very steep. Do you have any suggestions?
ty!
Hi Ash, first, it’s weird that the bank doesn’t have their own form (most major banks do). And second, it’s crazy that someone wants to charge you $650 to prepare the form. You can find a free Beneficial Ownership Declaration Form from FinCEN (the bureau responsible for these new banking regulations). We linked it on this page: Beneficial Ownership Rule and LLC Bank Accounts. Hope that helps!