How much does it cost to start an LLC in New York?

The New York LLC filing fee is $200. The publication requirement adds $300–$1,500 (varies by county — Manhattan and other NYC counties are most expensive). The biennial statement costs $9 every two years. Total first-year cost: typically $500–$1,700 depending on your county.

What is the New York LLC publication requirement?

After forming your LLC, you must publish a notice in two newspapers (one weekly, one daily) in the county where your LLC is located for six consecutive weeks. Then you file a Certificate of Publication with the NY Department of State ($50). Total publication cost ranges from $300 in upstate counties to $1,500+ in Manhattan.

What happens if I don't publish my New York LLC?

If you don't complete the publication requirement within 120 days of formation, your LLC's authority to conduct business in New York is suspended. You cannot enter into contracts or file lawsuits in NY courts. However, your LLC remains in existence and you can complete publication later to restore your authority.

How to Form an LLC in New York: Costs, Publication & Requirements (2026)

New York is the most complex and expensive state for LLC formation because of its unique publication requirement — you must publish a notice in two newspapers for six weeks after forming.

Quick answer: File Articles of Organization with the NY Department of State for $200. Complete the publication requirement in two newspapers for 6 weeks ($300–$1,500 depending on county). File a Certificate of Publication ($50). File a biennial statement every 2 years ($9). Total first-year cost: $550–$1,750.

New York LLC at a Glance

Detail	Info
Filing fee (Articles of Organization)	$200
Publication requirement	$300–$1,500 (county-dependent)
Certificate of Publication	$50
Biennial statement	$9 every 2 years
State income tax	4%–10.9% (personal)
NYC income tax	3.078%–3.876% (NYC residents)
Processing time	7–10 business days (online)
Expedited filing	$25 (24-hour), $75 (same-day)
Where to file	dos.ny.gov
Operating agreement	Required by law (NY LLC Law §417)
Publication deadline	120 days after formation

Total Cost Breakdown

Item	Cost	Frequency
Articles of Organization	$200	One-time
Publication (2 newspapers, 6 weeks)	$300–$1,500	One-time
Certificate of Publication	$50	One-time
Biennial statement	$9	Every 2 years
Registered agent (optional service)	$100–$300	Annual
Operating agreement (DIY)	$0	One-time
EIN	$0	One-time
Total first year (upstate, minimum)	$550–$600	—
Total first year (NYC/Manhattan)	$1,250–$1,750	—

Publication Costs by County

County	Approximate Cost
Albany	$200–$400
Erie (Buffalo)	$250–$500
Monroe (Rochester)	$250–$400
Onondaga (Syracuse)	$200–$400
Kings (Brooklyn)	$800–$1,200
New York (Manhattan)	$1,000–$1,500
Queens	$800–$1,200
Bronx	$600–$1,000
Richmond (Staten Island)	$500–$800
Suffolk (Long Island)	$400–$700
Nassau (Long Island)	$500–$800
Westchester	$500–$800
Dutchess	$300–$500
Orange	$300–$500

Tip: If you have flexibility on your LLC’s address, forming in an upstate county can save $500–$1,000 on publication costs.

Step-by-Step Formation

Step 1: Choose Your LLC Name

Requirement	Details
Must include	“LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or “Limited Liability Company”
Must be unique	Search at appext20.dos.ny.gov/corp_public
Cannot include	“Corporation,” “Inc.” (wrong entity type)
Restricted words	“Doctor,” “Lawyer,” “Engineer” — must form PLLC instead
Name reservation	$20 for 60 days (optional)

Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent

New York calls this an “Agent for Service of Process.” You can also designate the NY Secretary of State as your agent (standard practice).

Option	Details
Secretary of State (default)	Free, standard in NY. SSNY accepts service and forwards to you
Private registered agent	$100–$300/year, handles mail professionally
Yourself	Must have a NY address and be available

Most common approach: Designate the Secretary of State as your agent and provide a mailing address where legal documents should be forwarded.

Step 3: File Articles of Organization

Field	What to Enter
LLC name	Full legal name including “LLC”
County	County of principal office
Agent for Service of Process	Usually “Secretary of State”
Address for agent forwarding	Where the SSNY should send documents
Duration	“Perpetual” (default) or specific date
Effective date	Filing date or future date (up to 60 days)
Organizer	Name, address, and signature

How to file:

Go to dos.ny.gov
Navigate to “Business Filings” → “LLC” → “Articles of Organization”
Complete the online form
Pay $200 filing fee
Receive filed articles (7–10 business days standard)

Expedited options:

Speed	Extra Fee	Processing Time
Standard	$0	7–10 business days
24-hour	$25	Next business day
Same-day	$75	Same day (filed by 1 PM)
2-hour	$150	2 hours (filed by 2 PM)

Step 4: Complete the Publication Requirement

This is the unique (and expensive) New York requirement.

Step	Details
1. Get county clerk assignment	Your county clerk assigns two newspapers
2. Contact newspapers	Arrange for publication of your LLC notice
3. Publish for 6 weeks	One daily + one weekly newspaper in your county
4. Get affidavits of publication	Each newspaper provides an affidavit after 6 weeks
5. File Certificate of Publication	File with NY Department of State ($50)
Deadline	120 days after LLC formation

The publication notice must include:

LLC name
Date of formation
County of office
Secretary of State as agent (and address for forwarding)
Character of business

What happens if you don’t publish:

Consequence	Details
Authority suspended	Cannot enter into contracts
Cannot bring lawsuits	LLC loses access to NY courts
LLC still exists	It’s not dissolved — just suspended
Can cure later	Complete publication and file Certificate of Publication to restore authority
No penalty fee	Just the publication costs + $50 certificate

Step 5: Create an Operating Agreement

New York requires all LLCs to adopt an operating agreement within 90 days of formation (NY LLC Law §417). It does not need to be filed with the state.

Step 6: Get an EIN

Detail	Info
Apply at	irs.gov/ein
Cost	Free
Processing	Instant (online)

Step 7: Open a Business Bank Account

Bring your filed Articles of Organization, EIN, operating agreement, and government ID.

New York LLC Taxes

Tax	Rate	Notes
NY state income tax	4%–10.9%	Pass-through to members
NYC income tax	3.078%–3.876%	Only NYC residents
NY LLC filing fee	$25–$4,500/year	Based on NY-source gross income
Federal income tax	Pass-through	On member’s personal return
Self-employment tax	15.3%	Federal, on active member income
Sales tax	4%–8.875%	State 4% + local (NYC = 8.875%)

New York LLC Filing Fee (Based on Gross Income)

New York Gross Income	Annual LLC Fee
Under $100,000	$25
$100,000–$249,999	$50
$250,000–$499,999	$175
$500,000–$999,999	$500
$1,000,000–$24,999,999	$1,500
$25,000,000 or more	$4,500

New York vs. Other Popular States

Factor	New York	California	Texas	Florida
Filing fee	$200	$70	$300	$125
Publication requirement	$300–$1,500	None	None	None
Annual/biennial fee	$9/2 years + LLC fee	$800+	$0	$138.75
State income tax	Up to 10.9%	Up to 13.3%	0%	0%
First-year total	$550–$1,750	$870+	$300	$263.75

Ongoing Compliance

Requirement	Due Date	Cost
Biennial statement	Every 2 years (formation anniversary month)	$9
NY LLC filing fee	With tax return	$25–$4,500
Federal tax return	March 15 (multi-member) or April 15 (single-member)	N/A
NY state tax return	March 15 or April 15	N/A
NYC tax return	Same as state	N/A (NYC residents only)

Common Mistakes in New York

Mistake	Consequence
Skipping publication requirement	LLC authority suspended — can’t sue or contract
Publishing in wrong county	Must redo in correct county
Missing 120-day deadline	Authority suspended until publication completed
Not adopting operating agreement within 90 days	Violates NY LLC Law §417
Not designating agent for service of process	Cannot receive legal notices
Forgetting biennial statement	Administrative dissolution

Bottom Line

New York is the most expensive state for LLC formation due to the publication requirement ($300–$1,500 depending on county). Total first-year costs range from $550 (upstate) to $1,750+ (Manhattan). Despite the costs, if you live and operate in New York, you should form your LLC there — the publication requirement is a one-time cost, and ongoing expenses ($9 biennial + LLC fee) are manageable. Forming in another state doesn’t save money if you’re doing business in NY, since you’d still need to register as a foreign LLC.