What Is the Cost of a Registered Agent in New Jersey?
For any LLC, corporation, or partnership registered in New Jersey, registered agent expenses fall into two categories that should never be confused: one-time or event-driven state filing fees collected by the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, and annual commercial service fees paid to a professional agent provider.
State filing fees are statutory amounts that apply only at the time a document is filed, formed, changed, or resigned. These fees are published on the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services registry fee schedule and do not vary by provider. New Jersey imposes no recurring annual state fee dedicated solely to the maintenance of a registered agent.
Commercial service fees represent the annual charge a professional registered agent company collects for serving as the entity’s designated agent. Fees from commercial providers in New Jersey generally range from $49 to $300 per year, depending on the provider and service tier. An entity that names an individual New Jersey resident — such as a member, officer, or director — as its registered agent pays no commercial fee.
New Jersey law does not mandate the use of a commercial service. Under the New Jersey Business Corporation Act (N.J.S.A.) § 14A:4-1, any natural person age 18 or older may serve as a registered agent, as may any domestic corporation or foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the state.
New Jersey State Filing Fees for Registered Agent Appointments
The registered agent is designated within the entity’s certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, or equivalent organizing document filed with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. New Jersey does not assess a separate line-item state fee for the registered agent designation at formation — the appointment is part of the formation filing and covered by the standard formation fee.
The following table lists the state formation filing fee for each entity type recognized by the Division.
| Entity Type | Form | Filing Fee |
| Domestic For-Profit Corporation | Certificate of Incorporation | $100 |
| Domestic Professional Corporation | Certificate of Incorporation | $100 |
| Domestic Nonprofit Corporation | Certificate of Incorporation (Nonprofit) | $50 |
| Domestic LLC | Certificate of Formation | $100 |
| Domestic Professional LLC | Certificate of Formation | $100 |
| Domestic Limited Partnership (LP) | Certificate of Limited Partnership | $100 |
| Domestic Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) | Certificate of Registration | $100 |
| Foreign For-Profit Corporation | Certificate of Authority | $100 |
| Foreign Professional Corporation | Certificate of Authority | $100 |
| Foreign Nonprofit Corporation | Certificate of Authority (Nonprofit) | $100 |
| Foreign LLC | Certificate of Registration (Foreign LLC) | $100 |
| Foreign Limited Partnership (LP) | Certificate of Authority (Foreign LP) | $100 |
| Foreign Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) | Certificate of Registration (Foreign LLP) | $100 |
For-profit entity fees, including corporations and limited partnerships, are listed in the first section of the registry fee schedule. LLC and LLP fees appear in dedicated sections on the same page. The reduced $50 formation fee for domestic nonprofit corporations is set out separately under the nonprofit section of the fee schedule; a foreign nonprofit, by contrast, pays the standard $100 certificate of authority fee.
Formation filings are submitted online through the New Jersey Business Formation portal. Payment is accepted by credit card or electronic check (eCheck). Credit card transactions carry a $3.00 processing fee, and eCheck transactions carry a $0.50 fee.
State Filing Fee to Change a Registered Agent
Replacing a registered agent or updating a registered office address after formation requires filing a certificate of change with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. The filing fee is $25 regardless of entity type; the same amount applies to for-profit corporations, nonprofit corporations, LLCs, LLPs, and limited partnerships.
| Action | Form | Filing Fee |
| Change of registered agent and/or registered office (all entity types) | Certificate of Change | $25 |
| Resignation of registered agent without appointment of successor (corporation, LP) | Certificate of Resignation | $25 |
| Resignation of registered agent without appointment of successor (LLC, LLP) | Certificate of Resignation (without successor) | $25 |
| Resignation of registered agent with appointment of successor (LLC, LLP)—certificate | Certificate of Resignation (with successor) | $25 |
| Resignation of registered agent with appointment of successor (LLC, LLP)—per-entity affidavit | Affidavit for each affected LLC or LLP | $10 each |
The $25 change-of-agent fee is consistent across all entity types and is confirmed in each section of the registry fee schedule. For LLCs and LLPs, the resignation fee structure is slightly more complex: an agent resigning with a named successor pays $25 for the resignation certificate plus $10 for each affected entity’s affidavit. An agent resigning without a successor pays $25 alone.
Changes to the registered agent can be filed online through the Annual Reports & Change Services portal, either as a standalone filing or as part of the entity’s annual report. When filed as a standalone transaction, the $25 statutory fee is supplemented by a $3.00 credit card fee or a $1.00 eCheck fee. Resignation forms, which are not available for direct online filing, must be submitted through the Division’s alternate filing forms upload service.
Note: If the registered agent change is made simultaneously with the annual report, the $25 agent-change fee is added to the annual report fee. No additional service fee is charged beyond the single credit card or eCheck fee for the combined transaction.
What Is Included in a Registered Agent Service Fee?
The annual fee paid to a commercial registered agent provider covers the core operational duties the agent performs on the entity’s behalf. Inclusions vary by provider and pricing tier, but the industry shares a standard set of baseline services.
Core services (generally included at all price levels):
- A physical street address in New Jersey to serve as the entity’s registered office on file with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, satisfying the statutory requirement for a New Jersey location where process can be served.
- Receipt of service of process, legal notices, tax correspondence, and other official communications during normal business hours.
- Same-day or next-day scanning and uploading of received documents to an online client portal.
- Email notification alerts when a document arrives on behalf of the entity.
Additional services (included by some providers or at higher tiers):
- Compliance reminders for annual report filing deadlines — New Jersey’s annual report is due at the end of the anniversary month of the entity’s formation, and a $75 annual report fee applies to most entity types.
- Use of the registered agent’s address on formation documents to keep the owner’s personal home address off the public record.
- Mail forwarding for general business correspondence beyond legal and government documents.
- Pre-populated New Jersey state forms and filing tools are accessible within the provider’s online account.
What is NOT included in a standard registered agent service fee:
- State filing fees — formation fees, the $25 change-of-agent fee, annual report fees, and other statutory amounts are paid separately to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services.
- Preparation or filing of annual reports or other periodic compliance documents, unless purchased as a separate add-on.
- Legal advice or representation.
- Expedited over-the-counter processing at the Division’s offices (which carries its own per-filing surcharge ranging from $15 to $1,000 depending on turnaround time).
Registered Agent Cost When Forming a New New Jersey Business
When forming a new entity in New Jersey, the registered agent is designated within the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation submitted to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. No separate state fee is assessed for the agent designation itself — the cost is folded into the standard formation filing fee. The first-year cost is therefore the sum of the state formation fee and any commercial registered agent fee the entity incurs.
| Entity Type | State Formation Fee | Commercial RA (Year 1) | Total Year 1 Cost |
| Domestic For-Profit Corporation | $100 | $0–$300 | $100–$400 |
| Domestic Professional Corporation | $100 | $0–$300 | $100–$400 |
| Domestic Nonprofit Corporation | $50 | $0–$300 | $50–$350 |
| Domestic LLC | $100 | $0–$300 | $100–$400 |
| Domestic Professional LLC | $100 | $0–$300 | $100–$400 |
| Domestic Limited Partnership (LP) | $100 | $0–$300 | $100–$400 |
| Domestic Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) | $100 | $0–$300 | $100–$400 |
The $0 figure in the Commercial RA column applies to entities where an individual resident serves as the entity’s own registered agent, eliminating the annual commercial service fee, an option available under N.J.S.A. § 14A:4-1 for corporations and N.J.S.A. § 42:2C-14 for LLCs.
Many commercial registered agent services bundle the first year of agent service into a formation package at a promotional rate. Before committing to a formation package, confirm whether the quoted price includes:
- The state filing fee is payable to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services.
- The registered agent service fee for year one.
- The renewal price for subsequent years — some providers advertise low introductory rates but charge significantly higher renewal fees beginning in year two.
This section’s fees can be verified on the registry fee schedule and through the New Jersey Business Formation portal.
Cost of Serving as Your Own Registered Agent in New Jersey
Under N.J.S.A. § 14A:4-1 for corporations and N.J.S.A. § 42:2C-14 for LLCs, any natural person age 18 or older with a New Jersey address may serve as a registered agent. A domestic corporation or foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the state may also serve as agent for another entity, and a domestic LLC or authorized foreign LLC may serve in the same capacity.
Cost of self-designation:
- Commercial service fee: $0.
- State filing fee at formation: Included in the standard formation fee. No additional charge.
- State filing fee to update address: A Certificate of Change must be filed for $25.00 (plus a $3.00 credit card fee or a $1.00 eCheck fee).
Tradeoffs of self-designation versus commercial service:
| Factor | Self as Registered Agent | Commercial Service |
| Annual cost | $0 | $49–$300 per year |
| Privacy | A personal name and address appear on the public record | The provider’s name and address appear on the public record |
| Business hours availability | Must be available at the registered office during regular business hours | The provider maintains a staffed New Jersey office during business hours |
| Service of process delivery | Delivered to the individual in person at the registered office | Scanned and uploaded to an online account with email notification |
| Address updates | Must file Certificate of Change ($25) each time the address changes | The provider handles internally; there is no state filing unless the provider itself changes |
| Compliance monitoring | An individual must independently track annual report deadlines and filing obligations | Most providers include compliance reminders for annual reports and other deadlines |
| Eligibility requirement | Must be a natural person age 18 or older with a New Jersey address | Provider maintains a qualifying New Jersey office |
Frequently Asked Questions About Registered Agent Costs in New Jersey
Is there a fee to designate a registered agent when forming a New Jersey LLC or corporation?
No separate state fee exists for the registered agent designation at formation. The agent appointment is made within the certificate of formation (LLC) or certificate of incorporation (corporation) and is covered by the standard formation filing fee of $100 for an LLC or for-profit corporation, and $50 for a domestic nonprofit corporation.
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in New Jersey?
The state filing fee is $25 for all entity types, filed through the Annual Reports & Change Services portal. When filed online, the transaction also incurs a $3.00 credit card fee or a $1.00 eCheck fee. The change can be filed as a standalone filing or combined with the entity’s annual report. For paper submissions, filings are processed through the Division’s upload service. Questions can be directed to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services at 609-292-9292 or by email at NJ.CorpFilingUnit@treas.nj.gov.
Can I designate myself as a registered agent to avoid the annual service fee?
Yes. Any natural person age 18 or older with a New Jersey address may serve as a registered agent for a corporation, LLC, LP, or LLP. Self-designation eliminates the annual commercial service fee. The tradeoff is that the individual’s name and home address become part of the public record maintained by the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, and the individual must be available at the registered office during regular business hours. If the individual’s address changes, a Certificate of Change must be filed for $25 per the fee schedule.
What is the annual cost of Northwest Registered Agent in New Jersey?
Northwest Registered Agent charges $125 per year for registered agent service in New Jersey. The fee includes a physical New Jersey street address on file as the entity’s registered office, receipt and scanning of service of process and official documents, email notification alerts, a free domain name, a business email address, a phone number, and mail scanning with no per-document charges or hidden fees.
Does the registered agent service fee include the state filing fee?
No. The annual registered agent service fee and the state filing fee are entirely separate charges paid to different parties. The service fee is paid to the commercial provider for maintaining the agent designation. State filing fees, such as the $100 formation fee, the $25 change-of-agent fee, or the $75 annual report fee, are paid directly to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services as listed on the Annual Reports FAQ page.
Is there a fee to file the consent of registered agent form?
New Jersey does not require a separate consent form to be filed with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. The registered agent’s acceptance is documented within the formation filing itself, and the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation includes a section identifying the agent and office. Because no standalone consent document is filed with the state, no separate fee applies. The requirement to designate and continuously maintain a registered agent is established by N.J.S.A. § 14A:4-1 for corporations and N.J.S.A. § 42:2C-14 for LLCs.
Is there a fee for the registered agent to resign?
Yes. The filing fee for a registered agent resignation in New Jersey is $25. For corporations and limited partnerships, the resignation is filed as a Certificate of Resignation at a cost of $25. For LLCs and LLPs, if the agent resigns without appointing a successor, the fee is $25; if the agent resigns with a named successor, an additional $10 affidavit fee applies for each affected entity. Resignation forms must be submitted through the Division’s alternate filing forms page. Upon filing, the corporation has 60 days to appoint a replacement agent before the State Treasurer may take action against the entity’s certificate.
How does the cost compare for a nonprofit corporation versus a for-profit corporation?
Nonprofit corporations pay reduced state filing fees for formation and annual reporting, though registered-agent-specific fees are identical across entity types.
| Transaction | For-Profit Corporation | Nonprofit Corporation |
| Formation (certificate of incorporation) | $100 | $50 |
| Foreign entity registration | $100 | $100 |
| Change of registered agent | $25 | $25 |
| Resignation of registered agent | $25 | $25 |
| Annual report | $75 (annual) | $30 (annual) |
The domestic nonprofit formation fee is half the for-profit rate, and the annual report fee is $30 compared to $75, resulting in a $45 annual savings on reporting alone.
Are there any hidden fees associated with registered agent services?
State filing fees in New Jersey are fixed and publicly available on the Division of Revenue’s registry fee schedule; there is nothing hidden about the government side of the cost. Commercial registered agent pricing deserves closer attention. Common pricing traps include promotional first-year rates that double or triple at renewal, formation packages that do not clearly break down the state filing fee versus the agent service fee, limited document-scanning allowances with per-scan surcharges, and upsells for compliance monitoring or mail forwarding that may already be included by other providers at the base rate. Requesting a written breakdown of all first-year costs, renewal pricing, and any per-document fees before purchasing eliminates most surprises.
Does the cost change if I move my business to a new address in New Jersey?
Whether a filing fee is triggered depends on which address changes and what function it serves.
- Entity’s principal business address only: If the entity’s main business address changes but the registered agent and registered office remain the same, no registered-agent-related filing is needed. The updated address is reported on the next annual report filed through the Annual Reports & Change Services portal.
- Registered agent’s address change: If the individual or company serving as registered agent relocates to a new New Jersey address, a Certificate of Change must be filed for a $25 fee to update the registered office on the public record.
- Replacing the registered agent entirely: Appointing a different person or company as the registered agent also requires a Certificate of Change at $25.
- Using a commercial service: If a commercial provider serves as the entity’s registered agent, the entity’s own address changes have no effect on the registered agent filing. The provider’s address remains on file, and no additional state fee is triggered unless the entity decides to switch providers.