[0:00] The short answer Dan: The 5 best registered agents in New Jersey in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest Registered Agent, Registered Agent NJ.org, Bizee, and New Jersey Registered Agent.co. Maya: You're listening to The Business Formation Podcast. What should a New Jersey founder keep in mind? Dan: That the state wants an agent and an office both, and a change of agent is a $25 statement that takes effect the moment it's filed. [0:31] The agent and the office Maya: So which one is which? Dan: Under the New Jersey LLC Act, a company designates and continuously maintains an office in the state, which doesn't have to be where it does business, and an agent for service of process. Maya: Who can be the agent? Dan: An individual who lives in New Jersey, or another person with authority to transact business here. For a corporation, the Division of Revenue says it must be registered and in good standing with the State Treasurer. You enter one agent only, and no age is mentioned. Maya: Any trouble with the address? Dan: It has to be a New Jersey street address. A PO box is allowed only if the street address is listed as well. Maya: Does the agent sign something? Dan: No. The statute has no consent filing, and the state's form has no signature line for the agent. Any authorized representative can sign the LLC's filing. Maya: That's easier than some states. Dan: It is. Now the five. Maya: Quick introduction first: I'm Maya, here with Dan. Dan: Thanks, Maya. Number one. [1:37] Mainstay Filing Maya: Where do we begin? Dan: Mainstay Filing: $149 a year, and still $149 when it renews. Maya: What do I get? Dan: Its New Jersey address is on the public record in place of yours. Court papers served on your company are scanned and uploaded the same business day, no fee, and the first three government mailings a year are scanned free. Maya: What about the switch? Dan: Mainstay files the change of agent for you. The $25 state fee goes through at cost. Maya: And the trade-off? Dan: The two companies at $99 are $50 a year cheaper. Mainstay's pitch is the stable price and the filing done for you. [2:17] Northwest Registered Agent Maya: Second place? Dan: Northwest Registered Agent at $125 a year. Its page says that hasn't changed in 20 years, and up to 10 pieces of regular business mail are scanned free each year. Maya: Where's the catch? Dan: Sign-up automatically enrolls you in its annual report service, at $100 plus state fees per filing, unless you cancel. Its page says you can add or cancel any time. Maya: New Jersey's report is $75, so that matters. Dan: It does. With the service on, one filing is $100 of service plus the $75 state fee, which is $175, on top of the $125 for the agent. Cancel, and the report is just your $75. [3:05] Registered Agent NJ.org Maya: Number three. Dan: Registered Agent NJ.org, $99 a year, the same at renewal. The office address on file, same-day scanning of court papers and alerts ahead of deadlines. Maya: To change over? Dan: Their fee is zero, and New Jersey charges $25. The catch is the familiar one: annual report filing is separate. Maya: Three years of that? Dan: $297, compared with $447 at Mainstay. [3:35] Bizee Maya: Four. Dan: Bizee, formerly Incfile. The agent is free for year one with a formation package, then $149 a year, with automatic renewal. Maya: And if I formed the LLC last year? Dan: Then you don't get the free year, since it's tied to a formation order. You'd start at $149. [3:59] New Jersey Registered Agent.co Maya: And the fifth? Dan: New Jersey Registered Agent.co, at $99 flat. It lists the office address on your filings, same-day scanning of legal mail and reminders for state deadlines. Maya: Same catch? Dan: The same one. Annual report filing costs extra. [4:16] Dollars and dates Maya: What are the state's own costs? Dan: The Certificate of Formation is $100 since July 1, 2026. The annual report is $75, filed online in your anniversary month. Maya: What if I forget? Dan: Two consecutive missed years can move a New Jersey LLC to the inactive list. The state says liability isn't affected, but the name becomes available to someone else. Maya: And how will the state reach me? Dan: DORES says it sends a reminder to your registered agent 60 days before the report is due. When you form online, you're asked for an email address to receive those agent notifications. Maya: Give me the yearly totals with Mainstay. Dan: Year one is the $100 formation plus $149, which is $249. After that, the $75 report plus $149 is $224. [5:13] Changing your agent Maya: Show me how the change works. Dan: It's a statement of change under section 15 of the Act. Online, you go to the Division of Revenue's annual reports and change services and choose to change the registered agent or office. On paper, it's the Business Entity Amendment form, section G. Maya: What does it cost? Dan: $25 per filing for LLCs. Effective when filed. Maya: Do I need to amend my certificate? Dan: No. The statute says filing the statement counts as an amendment of the certificate of formation, and the company doesn't have to take any further action. [5:49] When the agent resigns Maya: And if the agent quits on me? Dan: It files a statement of resignation, and the state mails a copy to your registered office, or your principal office if that's on record and different. Maya: When does it end? Dan: On the earlier of the 31st day after the filing, or when a new agent is designated. The fee is $25, plus $10 for each additional LLC affected. Maya: Is there an older form floating around? Dan: The state still posts form L-123, which says 30 days and certified mail to the last-known member or manager. It refers to the repealed act, so I'd follow the statute's 31 days. [6:28] If there's no agent Maya: What if nobody's there to accept papers? Dan: The Division of Revenue becomes your agent for service. Papers are delivered to it in duplicate and it forwards them to your registered or principal office. Maya: When does service count? Dan: At the earliest of receipt, the date on the return receipt, or five days after it's mailed to the right address. So the clock may run before you've opened the envelope. [6:50] What the agent actually does Maya: Let me ask the basic question. What is the agent for, legally? Dan: Under the statute, the agent is the company's agent for service of any process, notice or demand that the law requires or permits to be served on it. That's the whole job description. Maya: And the office? Dan: The registered office is the street and mailing address on the certificate, along with the name of the initial agent at that office. Your formation filing also records the main business or principal address, which is a different line. Maya: So I could run the business from anywhere. Dan: As long as the office on file is a New Jersey street address. It doesn't need to be where you work. Maya: Which is why a lot of out-of-state owners hire one. Dan: Right, and why the change is so lightweight when you move. [7:39] Picking one Maya: Last question: how do I choose? Dan: Check whether the price repeats, whether the state's $25 change gets filed for you, and whether the company adds services that New Jersey doesn't require of you. Maya: And the winner? Dan: Mainstay Filing. Our pick for New Jersey, at $149 a year. [7:59] The five in a row Maya: One more run-through? Dan: One, Mainstay Filing: $149 a year, same at renewal. Two, Northwest: $125, with the report enrollment to cancel. Three, Registered Agent NJ.org: $99 flat. Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. Five, New Jersey Registered Agent.co: $99 flat. Maya: The links are in the show notes. Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.