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New Jersey CorporationForm a Corporation or S-Corp in New Jersey for $0 service fee plus the $125 state fee. Articles, bylaws, 10M authorized shares, founder stock with vesting, EIN, BOI included.
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New Jersey Corporation Formation, 2026
Incorporating live in New Jersey · C-Corp & S-Corp supported

How to form a corporation in New Jersey for $0 service fee.

New Jersey state filing fee is $125. Standard processing 1 to 3 business days. We file Articles of Incorporation with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, issue 10M authorized shares (QSBS-eligible), prepare New Jersey corporate bylaws, issue founder common stock with vesting and 83(b) templates, obtain your EIN, and file your BOI report.

$0 service fee QSBS preserved 60-day money-back
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
New Jersey C-Corporation
Authorized shares10,000,000
Par value$0.0001
State fee$125
Processing1 to 3 business days
NJ
SEAL
2026
$125
New Jersey incorporation fee
10M
Authorized shares (standard)
QSBS
Capital gains exclusion
$0
Our service fee
$0
Service fee
we file it free
$125
New Jersey state fee
passed through at cost
3-5 biz days
Processing
state office turnaround
C-Corp + S-Corp
Both supported
with S-Corp election
SOC 2 Type II · 2025 report 4.9 · 8,200+ reviews E&O Insured · carrier on request 51 Jurisdictions 220,000+ Formed
See disclosures + carrier names →
Bylaws + minutesNew Jersey-specific corporate governance ready
Founder stock + 83(b)Vesting agreement, 83(b) template included
Cap table toolFree under 50 stakeholders, SAFE-ready
Is a New Jersey corporation right for you

When the corporation structure fits.

FORM A CORPORATION IN NEW JERSEY IF
  • You plan to raise venture capital (institutional investors require C-Corp)
  • You want to issue stock options to employees (ISOs)
  • You want QSBS eligibility for capital gains tax exclusion
  • You expect significant retained earnings (C-Corp can retain at 21% federal rate)
  • You want clear separation between operators and shareholders
FORM AN LLC INSTEAD IF
  • You are a solo operator or small business not raising outside capital
  • You want pass-through taxation with no corporate formalities
  • You prefer minimal annual compliance burden
  • You will own real estate (LLCs are standard for property holding)
  • You want simpler ownership transfer without share certificates
The New Jersey business environment

Why New Jersey for your corporation.

Densest US state. Heavy pharma cluster (Merck, J&J, BMS, Bayer, Pfizer all have major NJ operations). Heavy regulation. State income tax up to 10.75%.

State GDP$735BTotal state output
Population9.3MCensus estimate
Small businesses~995,000Per SBA
NotableDensest US state by populationEconomic distinction
Top industries in New Jersey
Pharmaceuticals (Big Pharma cluster)Financial servicesLogistics (Port Newark)HealthcareTelecom
Top cities

Where New Jersey corporations are headquartered.

Newark
Largest city. Logistics (port), insurance (Prudential HQ), Newark Airport.
Jersey City
Financial services (NYC overflow), growing tech.
Paterson
Manufacturing, growing residential.
Elizabeth
Port logistics, manufacturing.
Edison
Pharma, manufacturing.
Trenton
State capital. Government.
Ready to incorporate in New Jersey?5 minutes. $0 service. $125 state fee at cost. C-Corp default with 10M authorized shares.
What is included on Starter

Free with your New Jersey corporation LLC formation.

Starter is genuinely $0. We pass through the $state New Jersey corporation state fee at cost. Everything below is included free.

  • Articles filed with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, our service fee $0
  • IRS EIN application (Form SS-4) filed for you
  • New Jersey corporation-specific Operating Agreement or Bylaws template
  • New Jersey corporation Registered Agent service: first year free, then $99/year
  • Basic New Jersey corporation compliance calendar (annual report dates)
  • Document storage, 5 GB
Upgrade to Growth · $49/mo

Add the operating stack most New Jersey corporation businesses need.

BOI filing + annual report filing + custom domain (1 free) + business email (3 mailboxes) + business phone line + brand kit (logo + 100 cards) + website builder + books + CRM + e-signature unlimited + document vault unlimited + audit trail + priority support. See full Growth features →

Or pay as you need

BOI filing $249 · S-Corp election $99 · Annual report filing $149 + state fee · Foreign qualification $149/state · Trademark $249/class + USPTO fee · Custom Operating Agreement $199 · Expedited state filing state fee + $50 service. Full add-on pricing →

Filing timeline

From form to filed in New Jersey.

1
Day 0
Tell us about your businessEntity name, incorporators, share structure, founder allocations
2
Day 1
We file with New JerseyArticles submitted to the New Jersey Department of the Treasury
3
Day 2-5
EIN + governance docsEIN issued. Bylaws, board minutes, founder stock prepared
4
Day 5-30
83(b) + cap table83(b) mailed (30-day deadline). Cap table populated. Ready to operate
Skip the New Jersey paperwork.Articles, bylaws, founder stock, 83(b), EIN, BOI, all done end to end.
Compare to alternatives

New Jersey corp vs other formation states.

Delaware (default for VC-backed)$89+Required by most VCs. Foreign qualification in New Jersey still needed.
New York$200Larger NYC economy, publication adds cost
Pennsylvania$125Similar fees, lower density
Delaware$110Lower fees, used by NJ operating companies sometimes
New Jersey Corp$125Form here if you operate in New Jersey.
Local resources

New Jersey corporate resources.

New Jersey Economic Development AuthorityState business support
NJ SBDC NetworkStatewide centers
Choose New JerseyState EDC
Newark Regional Business PartnershipMetro EDC
60day promise

The File.Business Promise

If we miss a filing deadline on a service you pay us to manage, we pay the state penalty. If you change your mind in the first 60 days, we refund our service fee in full. Your data stays yours, always.

60-day money-back Penalty-free filings Cancel anytime QSBS preserved
FAQ

New Jersey Corporation questions.

Should I form my New Jersey corporation as a C-Corp or S-Corp?
Most New Jersey corporations start as C-Corps (default federal tax treatment). S-Corp is a federal election (Form 2553) you file later, typically when net profit crosses $60-80k. For venture-backed startups, C-Corp is required: S-Corp cannot have institutional investors, non-US shareholders, or multiple share classes. We file the New Jersey corporation; you can elect S-Corp anytime by filing Form 2553.
What is the difference between forming an LLC and a corporation in New Jersey?
LLCs are simpler (no shares, fewer formalities, pass-through tax by default). New Jersey corporations have shareholders, a board of directors, officers, bylaws, board minutes, and double taxation by default. Corporations are the standard structure for raising venture capital because investors require preferred stock, ESOPs, and other corporate-specific instruments LLCs cannot provide.
Do I need bylaws for my New Jersey corporation?
Yes. New Jersey corporations are governed internally by bylaws (board structure, officer roles, meeting requirements, voting rules) plus the Articles of Incorporation filed with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury. We include New Jersey-appropriate bylaws with every formation, along with initial board minutes and a corporate governance binder.
How many shares should my New Jersey corporation authorize?
Standard for a new C-Corp: 10,000,000 authorized shares of common stock with a small percentage actually issued to founders. The 10M structure leaves room for an option pool (typically 10-20%) and future preferred stock issuances in financing rounds. We file the 10M authorized share structure by default; you can specify a different number.
What is QSBS and does my New Jersey corporation qualify?
Qualified Small Business Stock (IRC Section 1202) lets shareholders exclude up to $10M (or 10x basis) of capital gains on qualifying C-Corp stock held more than 5 years. New Jersey C-Corps qualify if they meet the active business test (80% of assets used in qualified trade) and the gross asset test (under $50M at issuance). We preserve QSBS eligibility from day one.
Do I need to issue founder stock with vesting?
Highly recommended. New Jersey founder stock without vesting means a co-founder who leaves after 6 months keeps 100% of their shares. With standard 4-year/1-year-cliff vesting, the company can reclaim unvested shares. We issue founder stock with vesting and prepare Section 83(b) election forms (due to IRS within 30 days of issuance).
When should my New Jersey corporation elect S-Corp status?
S-Corp election (IRS Form 2553) can save self-employment tax when net profit crosses ~$60-80k. Restrictions: 100 shareholders max, US individuals only (no entities, no non-resident aliens), single class of stock. If you plan to raise venture capital, stay C-Corp. Our service fee for filing Form 2553 is $99.

Start your New Jersey Corporation in 5 minutes.

Tell us a few details. We file with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, prepare your bylaws, issue founder stock with vesting, file your 83(b) reminder, obtain your EIN, and file BOI.

Pay only state fee QSBS preserved 60-day money-back

Related searches: form a corporation in New Jersey · New Jersey C-Corp · New Jersey S-Corp · New Jersey incorporation cost 2026 · how to incorporate in New Jersey · New Jersey Secretary of State corporation · New Jersey corporate bylaws · New Jersey QSBS · Delaware vs New Jersey C-Corp

Built for real businesses

Corporations we have formed in New Jersey.

Funded startup · New Jersey
Funded startup · New Jersey
C-Corp + 83(b)
C-Corp + 83(b)
S-Corp election
S-Corp election
$129/yr Compliance Annual Filings · penalty-free

On the $129/yr Compliance Annual Filings plan, we cover state late fees.

When you autofile your annual report through the $129/yr plan and we miss the deadline, we pay the state's late fee. The guarantee applies to that specific plan and the filings it includes. Other File.Business services are billed at the prices on this page.

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File.Business is a private business filing and compliance service. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with any Secretary of State office. You may file directly with the appropriate state agency. SOC 2 Type II audited. 220,000+ businesses formed since 2017.
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