Register your New York LLC Online
Complete the form below in 2–3 minutes. Your LLC and EIN come at no extra cost — you only pay New York’s own $210 state fee.
- Enter your desired LLC name
- Choose your state
- Receive your LLC and free EIN by email
Trusted by Thousands Nationwide
What is an LLC in New York?
An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a simple structure for running your business under a professional name. It separates your business from your personal name, and it's the most common way to add a partner, sell the business, or look like a real company instead of a side project.
That separation goes further than the name. If the business owes money or gets sued, your house, car, and personal bank accounts are generally off-limits — as long as you run the LLC properly. It doesn't protect you from something you personally did wrong.
A sole proprietorship skips all of that. You're doing business under your own name or a DBA, and everything stays tied to you personally.
A corporation does the same separation as an LLC, but it's built for a different job: issuing stock and bringing in outside investors. An LLC is simpler to run and cheaper to keep up if that's not you right now.
Benefits of an LLC in New York
- Add partners or co-owners whenever you're ready
- Transfer ownership if you sell the business
- “New York Company, LLC” shows you’re a real business
- Shows you’re registered (New York Department of State)
- Get a matching domain like NewYorkCompanyLLC.com
- Simpler upkeep than forming a corporation
What's different about a New York LLC
New York doesn't guarantee a turnaround for standard processing. Need a firm date? New York sells 3 tiers: $25 for 24-hour service, $75 for same-day, $150 for 2-hour service.
New York also skips the private registered agent most states require. The Secretary of State is automatically your LLC's agent for service of process, built into the filing itself, at no extra cost. You can still name your own registered agent later — mainly to keep your personal address off the public record.
New York has no separate state-level franchise tax on a standard LLC — the Biennial Statement and the Tax Department filing fee above are the 2 recurring costs every New York LLC actually owes.
Cost to start an LLC in New York
$210 to the New York Department of State — that's it. We don't charge a filing fee on top of it. A New York corporation runs $135 through the same process.
| What you get |  | Others |
|---|---|---|
| EIN (Tax ID) | Free | up to $99 |
| Registered agent | Freefirst year | up to $249per year |
| Name check | Free | usually free |
| New York state filing feespaid to the state — newspaper publication is extra | $210 | $210 |
Free EIN with your New York LLC
Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) is what opens a business bank account and identifies your company to the IRS — it's like a Social Security Number for your LLC. It's included at no extra cost, right alongside your LLC.
LLC vs Corporation in New York
An LLC is simpler and more flexible, and keeps “LLC” in your business name. A corporation is a more formal structure built for issuing stock and outside investment, and keeps “Inc” or “Corp” in the name instead. 97% of our clients choose an LLC.
What is a Sole Proprietor in New York?
A sole proprietorship means you're doing business as an individual. You can file a DBA with your city or county to use a name other than your own. As an individual, you can't add a partner to the business, because everything is tied to your personal name and Social Security Number. If you later want to add partners or sell the business, you'll need to start an LLC or corporation.
File a DBA Under Your LLC
New York calls a DBA a Certificate of Assumed Name. It lets one LLC operate under more than one business name. You file it with the same Department of State that formed your LLC, for $25, with no extra county fee.
An Assumed Name Certificate isn't required if you're fine using your LLC's own name.
Example: New York Company, LLC dba New York Auto Brokers.
DBA vs LLC in New York
A DBA only gives you another name to use. The LLC is the actual business entity that owns the DBA name and holds all legal rights.
Common Questions
Why start an LLC in New York?
It separates the business from your own name, lets you add or remove owners as the business grows, and reads as a real, established company — to customers, banks, and anyone you do business with.
Do I have to publish my New York LLC in a newspaper?
Yes, most new LLCs do. You publish notice for 6 straight weeks in 2 newspapers the county clerk designates, then file a $50 Certificate of Publication with the state within 120 days. The newspapers set their own price, and it varies a lot by county — often a few hundred dollars, sometimes well over $1,000 in the New York City boroughs. Miss the 120 days and the state suspends your LLC's authority to do business until you file.
How long does it take to get a New York LLC?
Filing takes a few minutes on this page. New York doesn't guarantee a turnaround for standard processing. If you need a firm date, New York's own paid rush options run 24-hour, same-day, or 2-hour service.
Do I need an EIN for my New York LLC?
Yes, for a business bank account and for the IRS to recognize your company. It's included free when you file here.
What's a registered agent, and do I need one?
No, not by law — New York automatically makes the Secretary of State your LLC's agent for service of process the moment you file, at no extra cost. Naming your own registered agent is optional; most people still do it to keep a personal address off the public record, and it's included free for your first year when you file here.
Do I need an operating agreement?
Yes, by law — New York requires every LLC to adopt a written operating agreement, generally within 90 days of filing. It never gets filed with the state, so nothing here checks for it, but you're still required to have one. You can add it when you file, or write your own after.
Still deciding on a name?
Try the free name generator — type a word you like, get real available options back, then come straight here to file.
Page updates (1)
- January 1, 2026 — New York's LLC Transparency Act took effect, but after a gubernatorial veto narrowed it, it only requires beneficial-ownership disclosure from LLCs formed outside the U.S. that are authorized to do business in New York. A New York-formed LLC isn't required to file. New York Department of State →
Sources (6)
Every fact on this page was checked directly against New York's own filing agency, tax agency, and statutes — verified September 20, 2026.
- NY Department of State — Articles of Organization for Domestic LLCs — the $200 filing fee, expedited processing tiers
- NY Department of State — Certificate of Publication — the $50 state filing fee, 120-day deadline
- NY LLC Law §206 — the 6-week, 2-newspaper, county-clerk-designated publication requirement and its suspension penalty
- NY Department of State — Biennial Statements — the $9 fee, every-2-years cycle
- NY Department of Taxation and Finance — Form IT-204-LL Instructions — the separate annual LLC filing fee, $25 minimum
- NY Department of State — Beneficial Ownership Disclosure FAQ — confirms domestic LLCs are exempt from the LLC Transparency Act