LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, and nonprofits file formation documents with the New York Department of State (DOS). An LLC costs $200, a business corporation $125, and a nonprofit $75.
Sole proprietors and general partnerships don’t file with the state at all. If they use a trade name, they file a Business Certificate with the county clerk; in the five NYC boroughs, that costs $100.
After that, every business gets a free EIN from the IRS, registers for sales tax at least 20 days before opening if it sells taxable goods or services, picks up any local licenses, and puts insurance in place before the doors open.
Rather not do it yourself? Weinsurexyz handles New York business registration from start to finish. See our registration services.
Most online guides stop at “file your paperwork.” This one keeps going. For each entity type, you’ll see the exact filing, where it goes, what it costs, and the documents a New York bank will ask for when you open the business account. That last step is where many new owners stall for weeks. We also cover the insurance you need at each stage. Weinsurexyz files New York business registrations and insures the businesses we set up, so we see every step of this process and what trips people up firsthand.
1. Choose your business structure
Your structure decides three things: who is personally on the hook for business debts and lawsuits, how profits are taxed, and which government office you register with. Here is how the options compare for a typical New York owner.
| Structure | Personal liability protection | Where you register | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship | None. Your personal assets are exposed. | County clerk (only if you use a trade name) | Solo, low-risk side businesses testing an idea |
| General partnership | None. Each partner can be liable for the others’ actions. | County clerk | Rarely recommended; most partners choose an LLC instead |
| LLC (single or multi-member) | Yes | Department of State | Most small businesses: contractors, restaurants, salons, cleaning companies, trucking |
| PLLC | Yes, except for your own professional malpractice | Department of State + Education Dept. consent | Licensed professionals such as dentists, optometrists, pharmacists-owners, therapists, architects |
| Business corporation (C or S corp) | Yes | Department of State | Businesses raising outside investment or planning to issue stock |
| Professional corporation (PC) | Yes, except for your own professional malpractice | Department of State + Education Dept. consent | Medical and licensed practices that prefer a corporate form |
| LP / LLP | LP: limited partners only. LLP: all partners, with limits. | Department of State | Real estate ventures (LP); professional firms (LLP) |
| Not-for-profit corporation | Yes | Department of State | Charitable, religious, educational or community organizations |
Tax note: an LLC can elect to be taxed as an S corporation with the IRS (Form 2553) and with New York (Form CT-6). Ask your accountant whether that saves you money before you file.
2. 2026 NYS registration fees at a glance
| Filing | Filed with | State fee |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation (optional) | DOS | $20 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC or PLLC) | DOS | $200 |
| Certificate of Publication (LLC, PLLC, LP, LLP) | DOS | $50, plus newspaper costs (often $1,000+ in Manhattan; far less in most other counties) |
| Certificate of Incorporation (business corp or PC) | DOS | $125 plus organization tax on authorized shares (minimum $10) |
| Certificate of Incorporation (not-for-profit) | DOS | $75 |
| Certificate of Limited Partnership | DOS | $200 |
| Certificate of Registration (LLP) | DOS | $200 |
| Business Certificate (sole prop or general partnership DBA) | County clerk | $100 per NYC county; typically $25–$50 elsewhere |
| Certificate of Assumed Name (LLC or corp DBA) | DOS | $25 plus $100 per NYC county or $25 per other county where you do business |
| Biennial statement (LLCs and corporations) | DOS | $9 every two years |
| Expedited handling (any DOS filing) | DOS | $25 (24-hour), $75 (same day), $150 (2-hour) |
| EIN | IRS | Free |
| Sales tax Certificate of Authority | NYS Tax Dept. | Free |
Fees change. Confirm current amounts on the Department of State’s Division of Corporations site before filing. When comparing filing services, ask for the state fee and the service fee separately so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
Don’t want to file it yourself? Weinsurexyz handles the filing for you. See our NYS business registration services.
3. Registration steps and bank documents by entity type
Find your structure below. Each section lists the filings in order, then the documents a bank will typically ask for. Bank requirements vary a little, so call your branch before your appointment.
Sole proprietorship
- Decide on a name. If you operate under your full legal name (“Maria Lopez”), you file nothing with the state or county.
- File a Business Certificate if you use a trade name (“Maria’s Cleaning Co.”). File with the county clerk in each county where you do business; in Queens, that’s the Queens County Clerk at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica. In Manhattan, the clerk requires a physical business location in the county; P.O. boxes and virtual addresses are not accepted.
- Get an EIN. It’s optional if you have no employees, but most banks and many clients prefer it so you’re not handing out your Social Security number.
- Complete the post-formation steps below.
Government-issued photo ID; SSN or EIN confirmation letter (IRS CP 575 or 147C); certified copy of your Business Certificate if you use a trade name; proof of business address; any professional or trade license tied to the business.
General partnership
- Sign a written partnership agreement. The state doesn’t require one, but without it New York’s default partnership rules decide how profits, losses and exits work. Banks will usually ask to see it.
- File a Business Certificate for Partners with the county clerk. Nearly every partnership needs this, because any name other than all partners’ full legal names counts as a trade name.
- Get an EIN. Partnerships must have one.
- Complete the post-formation steps.
Certified Business Certificate for Partners; partnership agreement; EIN confirmation letter; photo ID for every partner who will sign; proof of business address.
Limited liability company (LLC)
- Search the name in the DOS Corporation and Business Entity database. It must include “LLC,” “L.L.C.” or “Limited Liability Company.” Certain words, such as “Bank,” “Insurance,” “Trust,” “University,” or “Engineering,” need approval from the agency that regulates them, and others are prohibited outright. Check the DOS name rules before you commit to signage or a website domain.
- File Articles of Organization online through New York Business Express or by mail ($200). The Secretary of State automatically becomes your agent for receiving legal papers; you provide the forwarding address. A commercial registered agent is optional.
- Adopt a written operating agreement within 90 days of filing. New York law requires it even for single-member LLCs, and banks almost always ask for it.
- Get an EIN from the IRS the same day your filing is accepted.
- Complete the publication requirement within 120 days. The county clerk of your LLC’s county designates one daily and one weekly newspaper. The notice runs once a week for six consecutive weeks. You then file the publishers’ affidavits with a Certificate of Publication ($50). Skip this, and your LLC’s authority to do business is suspended until you comply.
- Complete the post-formation steps.
Good news on beneficial ownership reporting: New York’s LLC Transparency Act took effect January 1, 2026, but it currently applies only to LLCs formed outside the United States that register to do business here. An LLC you form in New York, or in another U.S. state, doesn’t file a New York beneficial ownership report under the current rules. Watch for changes; the legislature has tried to expand the law before.
DOS filing receipt and filed Articles of Organization; EIN confirmation letter; signed operating agreement listing members and who may sign; photo ID for each signer; ownership details and ID for every person owning 25% or more, plus one person with management control (banks still collect this under federal customer due diligence rules); Certificate of Assumed Name if you use a DBA. Some banks also request the Certificate of Publication, so file it promptly.
Professional LLC (PLLC)
Licensed professionals in fields regulated by the NYS Education Department (dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, nursing, architecture, engineering, accounting and others) generally must use a PLLC or PC rather than a regular LLC.
- Get consent from the NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions (or the Appellate Division for law firms). Every member must hold the relevant license.
- File Articles of Organization for a PLLC with the DOS ($200), attaching the consent certificate. The name must end in “PLLC,” “P.L.L.C.” or “Professional Limited Liability Company.”
- Adopt an operating agreement, get an EIN, and complete publication exactly as a regular LLC does.
- Complete the post-formation steps.
Everything listed for an LLC, plus copies of each member’s professional license and the Education Department consent.
A PLLC does not protect you from claims over your own professional work. That’s what professional liability (malpractice) insurance is for.
Business corporation (C corp or S corp)
- Search and choose a name ending in “Inc.,” “Corp.,” “Corporation,” “Incorporated,” or “Limited.” The same restricted-word rules described for LLCs apply.
- File a Certificate of Incorporation with the DOS ($125 plus organization tax on authorized shares).
- Hold an organizational meeting. Adopt bylaws, elect directors and officers, and authorize issuing shares.
- Issue stock and record it in a stock ledger.
- Get an EIN. For S corporation status, file IRS Form 2553 and New York Form CT-6; New York doesn’t automatically follow your federal election.
- Complete the post-formation steps. Corporations have no publication requirement.
Filed Certificate of Incorporation and DOS filing receipt; EIN confirmation letter; bylaws; a corporate resolution naming the bank and authorizing the account and its signers; a list of officers and directors; photo ID for each signer; 25%+ owner and control-person information; Certificate of Assumed Name if applicable.
Professional corporation (PC)
- Obtain Education Department (or Appellate Division) consent. All shareholders, directors, and officers must be licensed in the profession.
- File a Certificate of Incorporation for a PC with the DOS ($125 plus share tax). The name must end in “P.C.” or “Professional Corporation.”
- Adopt bylaws, issue shares, get an EIN, and complete the post-formation steps.
Everything listed for a business corporation, plus professional licenses for each shareholder and the consent certificate.
Limited partnership (LP) and limited liability partnership (LLP)
- LP: file a Certificate of Limited Partnership with the DOS ($200). You need at least one general partner, who carries personal liability.
- LLP: file a Certificate of Registration with the DOS ($200). LLPs are generally used by licensed professional firms, so Education Department or Appellate Division requirements apply.
- Both must complete the same six-week publication requirement as LLCs and file a Certificate of Publication.
- Sign a partnership agreement, get an EIN, and complete the post-formation steps.
Filed certificate and DOS receipt; partnership agreement; EIN letter; IDs for signing partners; 25%+ owner information.
Not-for-profit corporation
- File a Certificate of Incorporation under the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law with the DOS ($75). Some purposes, such as schools or health-related activities, need prior approval from another state agency.
- Adopt bylaws, elect directors and appoint officers at an organizational meeting.
- Get an EIN, then apply for federal tax exemption (IRS Form 1023 or 1023-EZ).
- If you’ll solicit donations, register with the NY Attorney General’s Charities Bureau. Apply separately for NY sales tax exemption (Form ST-119.2) if you qualify.
Filed Certificate of Incorporation; bylaws; board resolution authorizing the account and signers; EIN letter; IRS determination letter once issued; IDs for signers.
Out-of-state (foreign) LLC or corporation doing business in New York
- Get a certificate of good standing from your home state.
- File an Application for Authority with the DOS. Foreign LLCs also complete the publication requirement.
- If the LLC was formed outside the U.S., file a beneficial ownership disclosure or attestation of exemption within 30 days under the NY LLC Transparency Act.
- Register for NY taxes, licenses, and insurance just as a domestic business would.
Home-state formation documents; NY Application for Authority filing receipt; certificate of good standing; EIN letter; governing agreement; IDs and 25%+ owner information.
4. Steps every business takes after forming
Once your entity exists (or you’ve decided to operate as a sole proprietor), work through this list in order.
- Get your EIN at IRS.gov. It’s free and issued instantly online. Save the confirmation letter as a PDF; you’ll need it for the bank, payroll, and insurance applications.
- Register for sales tax if you sell taxable goods or services, including most restaurants, retail, salons selling products, and many repair services. Apply for a Certificate of Authority through New York Business Express at least 20 days before you start doing business. Operating without one carries penalties.
- Get local licenses and permits. New York has no general statewide business license; what you need depends on your industry and location. Use the permit search on New York Business Express for state licenses, such as liquor, pharmacy, cosmetology or home inspection. In NYC, check the NYC Business portal. Common examples are Department of Consumer and Worker Protection licenses (home improvement contractors, car washes, tow trucks, secondhand dealers), Health Department permits for food service, and Department of Buildings registrations for contractors. Many licenses require proof of insurance before they’re issued. See our NYC car wash license guide for an example.
- Open your business bank account using the checklist in the next section. Never run business money through a personal account; it weakens the liability protection your LLC or corporation gives you.
- Buy insurance before you sign a lease, start a job, or open your doors. Details are in section 7.
- Register as an employer before your first hire. This covers NYS unemployment insurance and withholding registration, new-hire reporting, and mandatory workers’ comp, disability, and Paid Family Leave coverage. It’s a separate process covered step by step in our guide to hiring employees in New York State.
5. Master checklist: opening a business bank account in New York
Banks follow federal “know your customer” rules, so expect to prove who owns and controls the business. Bring originals or certified copies, and bring every signer in person unless the bank says otherwise.
| Document | Sole prop | Partnership | LLC / PLLC | Corp / PC | Nonprofit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photo ID for each signer | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| EIN confirmation letter (CP 575 / 147C) | If obtained | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Business Certificate (county) | If using a trade name | ✔ | — | — | — |
| DOS filing receipt + formation document | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Operating agreement/partnership agreement/bylaws | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Resolution authorizing account and signers | — | Sometimes | Sometimes | ✔ | ✔ |
| 25%+ owners and control person, with IDs | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Control person |
| Certificate of Assumed Name (if DBA) | — | — | If used | If used | If used |
| Professional license/consent | If licensed | If licensed | PLLC | PC | — |
| Proof of business address | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Tip: your bank account name must match your filed documents exactly, including punctuation such as “LLC” vs. “L.L.C.” A mismatch is the most common reason business account applications get sent back.
6. Let Weinsurexyz register your business
Every step in this guide can be done yourself. If you’d rather hand it off, our Queens office handles New York State business registration for all entity types, and we explain each step in plain English (or Russian).
- Entity formation: LLCs, PLLCs, corporations, professional corporations, LPs, LLPs, and not-for-profit corporations, filed with the Department of State.
- Name search and reservation before you file.
- Business Certificates and Certificates of Assumed Name (DBAs) with the county clerk or the Department of State.
- LLC publication: arranging the newspaper notices and filing your Certificate of Publication on time.
- EIN and sales tax Certificate of Authority registration.
- Out-of-state businesses: Applications for Authority to do business in New York.
- Ongoing filings: biennial statements, amendments, name and address changes.
- Bank-ready document package: we organize your filings so you walk into the bank with everything on the checklist above.
Because we’re also a licensed insurance broker, your coverage can be quoted while your paperwork is processing. Your certificates of insurance will be ready for your landlord, license applications, and first contracts.
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7. Insurance you need before you open
Registering your business doesn’t insure it. Here is what New York owners typically need, and when.
- General liability insurance: needed when you sign a lease (almost every NYC landlord requires it), bid on contracts, or apply for many city licenses.
- Business owner’s policy (BOP): bundles general liability with coverage for your equipment, inventory, and business interruption, usually for less than buying them separately.
- Workers’ compensation, disability, and Paid Family Leave: mandatory under state law once you have employees, including part-time and family workers in most cases. Some licenses require a certificate or an exemption form even if you have no employees.
- Commercial auto: required for any vehicle registered to the business. Personal auto policies typically exclude business use.
- Professional liability or malpractice: essential for PLLCs, PCs, and consultants, since your entity doesn’t shield you from your own professional errors.
- License and permit bonds: some DCWP and trade licenses require a surety bond at application.
Register and insure your business in one place
Weinsurexyz files your New York business registration and shops your insurance with carriers including The Hartford, Travelers, CNA, Chubb, Guard, and NEXT. We know which filings your bank wants and which certificates NYC landlords, the DCWP, and general contractors will ask for.
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8. Ongoing compliance so you stay in good standing
- Biennial statement: LLCs and corporations file every two years in the anniversary month of formation ($9). Missing it can make your entity show as “past due” in the state database, which lenders, landlords, and some banks check.
- Sales tax returns: file on the schedule the Tax Department assigns (quarterly for most new businesses), even when you owe nothing.
- Annual NYS filing fee: LLCs and partnerships with New York income pay an annual filing fee based on gross income (Form IT-204-LL).
- NYC business taxes: unincorporated businesses in the city may owe Unincorporated Business Tax, and corporations owe NYC Business Corporation Tax. Talk to an accountant who files in the city.
- Insurance renewals and audits: workers’ comp and general liability premiums are often audited after the policy year based on actual payroll or sales. Keep clean records. See our business insurance renewal checklist.
- Changes: file an amendment with the DOS or county clerk when you change your name, address or trade name, and tell your insurance broker at the same time.
9. FAQs: How to register a business in New York
How long does it take to register a business in New York?
Online DOS filings for LLCs and corporations are often accepted within a few business days, and paid expedited service can cut that to hours. A county Business Certificate can often be filed the same day in person. The LLC publication requirement adds at least six weeks, but you can operate and open a bank account while it’s in progress.
Do I need to register my business if I use my own name?
No state or county filing is required for a sole proprietor using their full legal name. You still need an EIN if you hire, a sales tax Certificate of Authority if you sell taxable items, and any licenses your trade requires.
What happens if my LLC skips the publication requirement?
If you don’t file the Certificate of Publication within 120 days of formation, your LLC’s authority to do business in New York is suspended. The LLC still exists, but it can’t bring lawsuits in New York courts until it complies. Filing the certificate late reinstates it.
Do New York LLCs have to report beneficial owners in 2026?
Under current rules, no. The NY LLC Transparency Act, effective January 1, 2026, applies only to LLCs formed outside the United States that are authorized to do business in New York. Your bank will still collect owner information when you open an account.
Can I register a business in New York if I don’t live here?
Yes. You can form a New York LLC or corporation from anywhere. Because the Secretary of State serves as your agent for legal papers, you only need a forwarding address, though many non-residents hire a registered agent for a local address. For county Business Certificates, some clerks require a physical business location in the county.
What documents do I need to open a business bank account in New York?
At minimum: photo ID for each signer, your EIN confirmation letter, your formation or county filing, and your operating agreement, partnership agreement or bylaws. Corporations usually also need a signed resolution authorizing the account. Banks will also ask for information on anyone owning 25% or more. See the full checklist in section 5.
Do I need insurance to register a business in New York?
Not to form the entity. But you’ll need insurance before you hire (workers’ comp, disability, and Paid Family Leave are mandatory), register a business vehicle, sign most commercial leases, or get many NYC licenses.
Can Weinsurexyz register my business for me?
Yes. We handle New York State business registration for every entity type. That includes LLC and corporation formation, DBAs, LLC publication, EIN and sales tax registration, and ongoing filings like biennial statements. Call (888) 540-7374 or visit our Queens office at 186-34 Midland Parkway, Jamaica.
Is an LLC or a corporation better in New York?
For most small, owner-operated businesses, an LLC is simpler: fewer formalities and flexible taxation. The trade-off is the publication cost, which is highest in Manhattan. A corporation makes more sense if you plan to raise equity investment. An accountant can model the tax difference for your numbers.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Filing rules and fees are set by New York State and may change; confirm with the Department of State, the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, or a licensed attorney or CPA before filing. Weinsurexyz provides business registration filing services and is a licensed insurance broker; we are not a law firm and do not give legal advice. By the licensed team at Weinsurexyz, a division of Liability Advisors Inc. (NY License #1810943), Jamaica, Queens. Fees verified September 2026.
