ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
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If you’re looking for an excellent New York LLC service then choose ZenBusiness. We’ve already formed 700,000+ businesses since 2017!
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Northwest Registered Agent charges $225 (plus state fee) for LLC filing services. That said, Northwest’s personalized customer support is a feature that could make their prices worth paying for some entrepreneurs.
Overall, Northwest does have some points in its favor. However, keep in mind that it charges $225 (plus your state’s required fee) for its LLC filing services.
Want to learn more? See this Northwest LLC review.
LegalZoom is one of the biggest names in the industry, with millions of customers served and frequent advertising efforts. LegalZoom provides an LLC filing package for free (plus the state’s fee).
LegalZoom is a huge company, so while it offers extended support hours, the quality of its customer support may vary a bit from representative to representative.
Want to learn more? See this LegalZoom LLC review.
Incfile/Bizee offers LLC formations for free, as long as you pay your state’s fee. Incfile and ZenBusiness have some similar characteristics, but there are also some significant differences that set the two apart.
If you’re looking for a cheap LLC formation service in New York and ZenBusiness doesn’t feel right for some reason, Incfile/Bizee could be worth a closer look.
Want to learn more? See this Incfile/Bizee LLC review.
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*Processing times are based on receiving complete information. ZenBusiness processing times do not include Secretary of State processing times, which can vary.**SPECIAL OFFER – Get Starter for $0 plus state fees. Includes one optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance that renews at $199/yr.† ZenBusiness is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC.
Technically speaking, you don’t have to use an LLC formation service like ZenBusiness or LegalZoom. These services are incredibly helpful, but you can save money by completing the process yourself.
You can read our complete guide to DIY an LLC setup in New York, but here’s a quick look at the process:
Every LLC in New York needs a name that’s memorable and gives potential clients a good idea of what goods or services are available. The name also needs to be unique — both for legal reasons and so your business stands out from the competition.
As we’ve mentioned in this guide, every LLC needs an agent who can accept service of process on your behalf. In all states, you can act as your own registered agent as long as you have a physical address in the state. That said, we generally recommend that you appoint someone else (like an online service) to act as your agent.
This document, once filled out and filed, officially forms your business in the state of New York. You’ll need to provide some important information, including your contact information, your business address, signatures for your LLC’s members, and more. New York charges $200 for the Articles of Organization. You will also file a Certificate of Publication, which requires you to publish a notice about your business in local newspapers. The fee for the Certificate is $50, meaning your total cost to register will be $250, plus the cost of the newspaper advertisements.
Setting up the LLC is as easy as 1-2-3; it’s the maintenance requirements that are a bit more complicated:
If you have employees, you’ll need to get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS. Then there are state-specific taxes, too. Understandably, one of your largest tax burdens will be the state’s income taxes. Currently, New York has a flat corporate rate of 6.5%; individual rates fall between 4% and 8.82%. You’ll also need to account for the state sales tax (4%). You can learn more about these and other miscellaneous taxes at the New York Department of Taxation and Finance.
There’s no general state business license in New York, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need to get professional licenses, such as those listed on New York’s Licenses Database. There are more than 1,200 licenses across the state, so there’s a good chance at least one will apply to your business.
Even single-member LLCs should create a “master document” that sets out how the business will operate, both now and in the future.
Every other year (on odd-numbered years), your LLC will need to file a biennial report to update the state about the standing of your business. It’s due by the end of your LLC’s anniversary month, and there is a $9 filing fee.
Every business with employees needs to maintain workers’ compensation insurance and a commercial vehicle policy for company-owned vehicles. You may also want to get a general business liability policy, too.
You should sign up for a business bank account so you can write checks and make purchases in the name of the business instead of pulling from your personal accounts (a legal no-no).
This is just the tip of the iceberg, though. For more detailed guidance, we recommend contacting an attorney or checking out the full New York LLC Formation Guide.
LLCs are formal legal entities that are typically taxed similarly to sole proprietorships and general partnerships, in that the owners include any company profits or losses into their personal returns — the LLC itself does not owe income taxes. For more a more in-depth description see: What is an LLC?
In addition to the costs of a business formation service or hiring an attorney (which are optional, as we’ve discussed), there are quite a few other required and optional expenses when forming and maintaining a New York business. You cannot form an LLC in New York without filing the Articles of Organization, the document that officially registers your business within the state. This document has a $200 filing fee.
You will also need to submit a Certificate of Publication ($50), which requires you to post an ad in your local paper alerting the public about who you are and what your new business is. You must post this ad once a week for six weeks in two local papers before you can submit the publication certificate.
Another common requirement is the Biennial Statement, which New York requires you to submit every other year. This simple filing keeps the state up-to-date about some basic but vital business information, such as your address and registered agent. The filing costs just $9. Read more about New York costs – New York LLC costs.
FAQ's
Where Can I Get More Information About Forming LLCs in New York?
We invite you to take a look at our comprehensive guide to forming a limited liability company in New York. This article walks you through the LLC formation process in this state step by step, ensuring that you don’t miss any crucial elements.
What Is New York’s Publication Requirement?
New York is one of a small handful of states that requires entrepreneurs to publish proof of their LLC formations in area newspapers. When you form your LLC, you’ll need to take out advertisements in two local newspapers within 120 days of filing your Articles of Organization document with the state.
Once you’ve completed this requirement, each newspaper will send you an affidavit of publication to submit to the Department of State. At this point, the Department of State will provide you with a Certificate of Publication to certify that you have fulfilled the publication step.
If you would like to find a service to tackle this step on your behalf, take a look at our guide to the best New York publication services.
How Can I Search New York’s Business Name Database?
One of the most important steps in forming a New York LLC is choosing a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the state’s Corporation and Business Entity Database to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in New York, check out our full article on the topic.
Where Can I Find the New York Articles of Organization?
You can complete your Articles of Organization on New York’s Business Express website, or you can print off a paper form to fill out and mail in.
What Are New York’s Ongoing LLC Maintenance Requirements?
New York requires all LLCs transacting business in the state to pay an annual filing fee. You will also need to file a biennial report every other year, which you can file online.
Where Can I Get Information on Licensing for My New York LLC?
To find out which permits and licenses are applicable to your business, head on over to the New York Business Express site, where you can find extensive information about licensing requirements in this state.
How Long Does It Take New York to Process My LLC Formation?
The typical filing time for an LLC in New York is around seven business days. However, if you would like to expedite your formation, they offer the following options for faster service:
Which Company Provides the Best New York Registered Agent Service?
If you want more details about what these companies can offer in this state, or you’d like to take a look at some other options, check out our complete guide to New York registered agents.
How Can I Dissolve My New York LLC?
Unfortunately, not all businesses last forever. If the time comes when you need to close your LLC’s doors, you’ll need to do so in a manner consistent with the state’s regulations. That’s why we wrote our guide to New York LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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