Yes, must be at least 18 years old and have a New Jersey physical address
Can a company serve?
Yes, any corporation or LLC authorized to conduct business in New Jersey
Can you be your own agent?
Yes, if the owner has a New Jersey physical address and is available during business hours
Best Registered Agent Services for New Jersey LLCs (2026)
Affiliate disclosure: Northwest Registered Agent, Bizee, ZenBusiness and LegalZoom pay us a commission if you sign up through our link, at no extra cost to you. We list only the registered agent services we have an affiliate relationship with, so this is not a survey of the whole market.
This table is not scored. The four are listed cheapest annual renewal first, and the rows below it say which one fits which situation. The scored ranking, and the formula behind it, is on the formation services review, which orders them on three-year cost, BBB rating and Trustpilot score.
Note: Bizee holds a C rating from the BBB and is not accredited. BBB's profile carries a live alert describing a pattern of complaints about unexpected charges, difficulty canceling and filing delays, and Bizee has posted a response to it. We flag this so you can make an informed choice.
Prices are each provider's standard published rates; year-one pricing applies when you form your LLC through the same service. BBB and Trustpilot figures as recorded September 15, 2026, not re-checked since, and both sources update continuously. These are the dates the figures were last written to our dataset, which is the most we can show: they are not verification dates. See how we evaluate these companies in our full formation services review →
Which Registered Agent Is Best for Your New Jersey LLC?
You're forming a new LLC and want the agent bundled
Our pick: ZenBusiness
Registered agent is free for year one with their $0 starter formation plan, backed by an A from the BBB and a 4.8/5 Trustpilot score.
Your LLC already exists and you just need an agent
Our pick: Northwest Registered Agent
A flat $125/yr for registered agent service, the lowest renewal of the services listed here, and a privacy policy that says it does not sell your information. Registered agent customers are enrolled by default in annual report filing at $100 plus state fees, which you can cancel.
You want year one free and the cheaper renewal after it
Our pick: Bizee
Registered agent is free for year one on every Bizee plan and renews at $149/yr, $50/yr less than ZenBusiness, the other service listed here that includes year one free. Northwest renews lower still at $125/yr, but its first year comes inside a paid $39 formation package rather than free. Tradeoff: a C rating from the BBB, which cites a pattern of complaints about charges and cancellation, so read every auto-renewal term.
Complex legal needs alongside your filing
Our pick: LegalZoom
The only one of the services listed here with licensed attorney consultations, and the most expensive registered agent listed here at $249/yr, which is never included in their plans.
Ready to file your annual report?
Go directly to the New Jersey Secretary of State portal.
Best for: Single-member LLCs with owners who work from a New Jersey address and want to save money
Friend or family member
Pros
Usually free or low cost
Trust factor with someone you know
Keeps your address semi-private
Cons
Dependency on another person's availability
Risk if relationship changes
Their address becomes public
Best for: Small family businesses or startups with reliable local contacts in New Jersey
Professional service
Pros
Complete privacy protection
Guaranteed availability
Mail forwarding and scanning services
Compliance expertise
Cons
Annual fee ($100-$300)
Less direct control
Ongoing expense
Best for: LLCs prioritizing privacy, out-of-state owners, or businesses wanting professional handling of legal documents
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It reports what each state publishes about filing deadlines, fees, and the consequences of missing them, with the sources this page cites. It cannot tell you what your own company owes: the date turns on when and where you formed, states change these rules between our reviews, and in several states an entity-level tax falls due in a year when no report does. Confirm your own dates with the filing office named on this page before you rely on one here, because the penalty for missing a deadline can be administrative dissolution of the company.
Frequently Asked Questions
A registered agent is a person or company legally designated to receive official documents, legal notices, and service of process on behalf of your New Jersey LLC. The New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address (not a P.O. Box) located within New Jersey. This registered agent acts as your company's point of contact for government filings, lawsuits, and regulatory communications. If you fail to maintain a registered agent, the state can administratively dissolve your LLC. Most LLC owners either appoint themselves, designate an employee, or hire a professional registered agent service (typically $75 to $300 annually). Your next step: verify your current registered agent on the Division's website using your LLC name, or update it immediately by filing Form L-8 if changes are needed.
Operating without a registered agent in New Jersey violates state law under N.J.S.A. 14A:1-1 and exposes your LLC to immediate administrative dissolution by the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. Beyond dissolution, you'll miss critical notices including legal summons, tax correspondence from the New Jersey Department of Treasury, and annual report reminders. Missed service of process can result in default judgments against your business worth thousands without your knowledge. The state can revoke your LLC's good standing status, blocking you from conducting business, obtaining licenses, or renewing permits. Additionally, you become personally liable for unpaid taxes and compliance violations. New Jersey requires a registered agent with a physical street address (not a P.O. Box) available during business hours. File Form LL-104 immediately with the Division to designate or update your agent, or hire a service provider like a professional registered agent company costing $50 to 150 annually to ensure compliance and protect your business.
You can serve as your own registered agent for free in New Jersey if you maintain a physical office address within the state. Professional registered agent services typically cost $100 to $300 annually, though premium providers may charge up to $500 depending on features like mail forwarding, document scanning, and legal compliance monitoring.
When filing with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, you'll designate your agent on the Certificate of Formation or your Annual Report. Choosing a professional agent eliminates the risk of missing critical legal notices. The state requires agents to be available during business hours at their registered address, and missed deadlines can result in administrative dissolution.
Most New Jersey LLCs benefit from professional agents because they provide a stable business address separate from your home, reducing liability exposure. Next, compare quotes from established New Jersey registered agent providers and verify they're authorized by the state before making your selection.
Yes, using a professional registered agent service in New Jersey protects your privacy by keeping your personal address off public records. When you serve as your own agent, your home or business address becomes publicly accessible through the New Jersey Division of Revenue's business entity search portal. This means anyone, competitors, solicitors, or unwanted contacts, can find your location. Professional registered agent services charge $75 to $150 annually and provide their own address as your official service address instead. This separation protects you from privacy risks while maintaining compliance with the New Jersey Business Corporation Act requirement that all LLCs maintain a designated agent with a New Jersey street address. The practical benefit is that your business can receive legal documents and official notices without exposing your private residence. To implement this protection, register with a licensed New Jersey registered agent service provider before filing your Certificate of Formation with the Division.
To change your registered agent in New Jersey, file Form BA-4 (Statement of Change of Registered Agent) with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. The filing fee is $125, payable by check or money order. You must provide your LLC's name and New Jersey filing number, along with your new agent's full name and New Jersey street address. A PO box alone is insufficient. An authorized member or manager must sign the form under penalty of perjury. Processing typically takes 5 to 7 business days. This change is critical because your registered agent receives legal documents on your LLC's behalf; failure to maintain a valid agent can result in missed service of process and default judgments against your business. Submit your completed Form BA-4 to the New Jersey Division of Revenue, P.O. Box 308, Trenton, NJ 08646, or file electronically through the New Jersey Online Business Registration System (NJOBRS) for faster processing.
Sources
Each entry below is a document recorded in our verified New Jersey sources, and each entry says what the document is. Some statutory text is read from an accurate mirror rather than from the state's own host, and those say so.
nj.gov/treasury/revenue/New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services: business entity filings
See how Northwest Registered Agent, Bizee, ZenBusiness and LegalZoom, the formation services we partner with, compare on 3-year cost, BBB rating and Trustpilot score before you choose.
Edmond Hui is a software engineer and serial entrepreneur based in New York who has founded multiple online businesses across e-commerce, media, and information publishing. Before transitioning into tech, he spent years as a commercial real estate professional closing deals totaling over 100,000 square feet, giving him firsthand experience with business formation and entity structuring. He built MyStateLLC to provide the free, state-specific LLC guidance he wished existed when forming his own companies.
