LLC for Beginners

LLC for Beginners › New York

Forming an LLC in New York for the first time

The New York filing fee is $200. For a beginner the best service is Mainstay Filing: $199 a year covers the filing, agent, EIN application and the annual report, so year 1 comes to $399.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026

Your New York checklist

  1. File the Articles of Organization (DOS-1336-f). $200 to the New York Secretary of State.
  2. Registered agent. The Secretary of State is the agent for service of process for every New York LLC; naming a registered agent is optional. Mainstay Filing includes it.
  3. EIN. Free from the IRS; included in the application Mainstay Filing prepares.
  4. Operating agreement. Write one even for a single owner. No upcharge at Mainstay Filing.
  5. Annual report. Biennial Statement, every two years, $9. Due: During the calendar month in which the Articles of Organization were filed, every 2 years.
  6. Anything else. Publication: within 120 days, a notice runs for six weeks in two county newspapers (the papers set their own charges), then a Certificate of Publication is filed for $50. Tax Department LLC fee (Form IT-204-LL): $25 a year for a single-member LLC with New York-source income; partnership LLCs pay more.
Best for beginners

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year + $200 state fee

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
  • Compliance reminders and stored documents

Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.

Total for the first three years

$806 with Mainstay Filing, state fees included. Others: Northwest Registered Agent $498; ZenBusiness $706; Bizee $507; LegalZoom $956 (these totals leave out any charge for filing the annual report).

Questions

What is the best LLC service for a beginner in New York?

Mainstay Filing. First year $399 including the $200 New York filing fee; $208 in year 2.

Can a beginner file an LLC in New York without a service?

Yes: file the Articles of Organization (DOS-1336-f) with the New York Secretary of State for $200. Optional registered agent: If one is designated: a person who lives in New York or has a business address there, an LLC formed or authorized in New York, or a corporation formed or authorized in New York.

Sources