How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in New Jersey?
Last updated: March 2026
New Jersey Business Overview
LLC Filing Fee
$125
Sales Tax Rate
6.6%
Minimum Wage
$16.61/hr
Cost of Living Index
125.1
Workers Comp
Required
Annual Report Fee
$75
Starting a Business in New Jersey
New Jersey businesses register with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. Local municipalities have their own licensing requirements.
New Jersey has a graduated income tax with rates from 1.4% to 10.75% — the second highest top rate nationally. Corporate Business Tax is 9% on income over $1 million.
New Jersey's proximity to NYC and Philadelphia creates strong demand for professional services. Very high property taxes and regulatory compliance costs must be factored into pricing.
For official formation documents, visit the New Jersey Secretary of State.
Startup Costs for 100 Business Types in New Jersey
The table below shows estimated startup costs for every major business type, adjusted for New Jersey’s cost of living index of 125.1. Click any column header to sort. Click a business name to see full cost breakdowns, calculator, and licensing requirements.
| Accounting Firm | Professional Services | $8,750 | $25,000 | $57,500 |
| Airbnb / Vacation Rental | Real Estate | $13,750 | $37,500 | $112,500 |
| Ambulance Service | Transportation & Logistics | $100,000 | $250,000 | $625,000 |
| App Development Company | Tech & Online | $12,500 | $37,500 | $100,000 |
| Architecture Firm | Professional Services | $25,000 | $68,750 | $162,500 |
| Auto Detailing Business | Automotive | $6,250 | $37,500 | $125,000 |
| Auto Repair Shop | Automotive | $93,750 | $250,000 | $625,000 |
| Bakery | Food & Beverage | $25,000 | $118,750 | $375,000 |
| Bar & Nightclub | Food & Beverage | $125,000 | $437,500 | $1,062,500 |
| Barbershop | Beauty & Personal Care | $18,750 | $81,250 | $218,750 |
| Beauty Supply Store | Beauty & Personal Care | $37,500 | $125,000 | $375,000 |
| Bookstore | Retail | $31,250 | $125,000 | $375,000 |
| Brewery / Microbrewery | Food & Beverage | $125,000 | $500,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Cannabis Dispensary | Specialty & Regulated | $155,625 | $415,000 | $1,556,250 |
| Car Wash | Automotive | $155,625 | $680,000 | $1,942,500 |
| Carpentry & Woodworking Shop | Construction & Trades | $13,125 | $35,000 | $87,500 |
| Catering Business | Food & Beverage | $15,000 | $66,250 | $162,500 |
| Chiropractic Office | Health & Wellness | $50,000 | $150,000 | $375,000 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $1,875 | $13,750 | $46,250 |
| Clothing Boutique | Retail | $37,500 | $125,000 | $375,000 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Beverage | $31,250 | $150,000 | $437,500 |
| Concrete Business | Construction & Trades | $31,250 | $81,250 | $187,500 |
| Consulting Business | Professional Services | $2,500 | $11,250 | $32,500 |
| Convenience Store | Retail | $62,500 | $350,000 | $937,500 |
| Courier & Delivery Service | Transportation & Logistics | $10,000 | $27,500 | $68,750 |
| Cybersecurity Firm | Tech & Online | $25,000 | $68,750 | $187,500 |
| Dance Studio | Childcare & Education | $25,000 | $100,000 | $312,500 |
| Daycare Center | Childcare & Education | $75,000 | $225,000 | $625,000 |
| Demolition Company | Construction & Trades | $37,500 | $100,000 | $250,000 |
| Dental Practice | Health & Wellness | $312,500 | $625,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Digital Marketing Agency | Tech & Online | $5,000 | $15,000 | $40,000 |
| E-Commerce Store | Tech & Online | $6,250 | $18,750 | $62,500 |
| Electrical Business | Home Services | $18,750 | $68,750 | $200,000 |
| Esthetics & Skincare Business | Beauty & Personal Care | $10,000 | $50,000 | $150,000 |
| Excavation Company | Construction & Trades | $62,500 | $162,500 | $437,500 |
| Financial Planning Practice | Professional Services | $25,000 | $68,750 | $162,500 |
| Flower Shop | Retail | $25,000 | $93,750 | $250,000 |
| Food Delivery Service | Food & Beverage | $12,500 | $65,000 | $162,500 |
| Food Processing Business | Food & Beverage | $93,750 | $312,500 | $937,500 |
| Food Truck | Food & Beverage | $56,250 | $150,000 | $250,000 |
| Freight Brokerage | Transportation & Logistics | $20,000 | $45,000 | $100,000 |
| Furniture Store | Retail | $62,500 | $250,000 | $750,000 |
| General Contracting Business | Construction & Trades | $25,000 | $68,750 | $162,500 |
| Ghost Kitchen | Food & Beverage | $25,000 | $75,000 | $187,500 |
| Gift Shop | Retail | $25,000 | $87,500 | $250,000 |
| Gym & Fitness Center | Health & Wellness | $62,500 | $312,500 | $1,250,000 |
| Hair Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $18,750 | $93,750 | $312,500 |
| Handyman Business | Home Services | $2,500 | $12,500 | $41,250 |
| Home Health Care Agency | Health & Wellness | $50,000 | $162,500 | $375,000 |
| HVAC Business | Home Services | $25,000 | $87,500 | $250,000 |
| Ice Cream Shop | Food & Beverage | $25,000 | $93,750 | $250,000 |
| Insurance Agency | Professional Services | $18,750 | $50,000 | $112,500 |
| IT Services Business | Tech & Online | $18,750 | $50,000 | $125,000 |
| Juice Bar & Smoothie Shop | Food & Beverage | $31,250 | $112,500 | $312,500 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $12,500 | $50,000 | $150,000 |
| Laundromat | Real Estate | $125,000 | $312,500 | $750,000 |
| Law Firm | Professional Services | $15,000 | $42,500 | $101,250 |
| Limousine & Car Service | Transportation & Logistics | $50,000 | $112,500 | $275,000 |
| Liquor Store | Retail | $62,500 | $225,000 | $625,000 |
| Marketing Agency | Professional Services | $6,250 | $22,500 | $62,500 |
| Martial Arts Studio | Childcare & Education | $25,000 | $87,500 | $250,000 |
| Meal Prep Business | Food & Beverage | $25,000 | $81,250 | $250,000 |
| Med Spa | Health & Wellness | $125,000 | $437,500 | $1,250,000 |
| Medical Practice | Health & Wellness | $187,500 | $500,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Mental Health Practice | Health & Wellness | $18,750 | $62,500 | $187,500 |
| Moving Company | Home Services | $37,500 | $125,000 | $375,000 |
| Music School | Childcare & Education | $12,500 | $62,500 | $187,500 |
| Nail Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $25,000 | $112,500 | $312,500 |
| Painting Business | Home Services | $6,250 | $31,250 | $100,000 |
| Personal Training Business | Health & Wellness | $6,250 | $31,250 | $125,000 |
| Pest Control Business | Home Services | $12,500 | $50,000 | $150,000 |
| Pet Store | Retail | $37,500 | $125,000 | $375,000 |
| Pharmacy | Health & Wellness | $187,500 | $500,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | Health & Wellness | $75,000 | $225,000 | $562,500 |
| Pizza Shop | Food & Beverage | $62,500 | $218,750 | $500,000 |
| Plumbing Business | Home Services | $18,750 | $62,500 | $187,500 |
| Podcast Production Company | Tech & Online | $2,500 | $7,500 | $22,500 |
| Preschool | Childcare & Education | $62,500 | $187,500 | $500,000 |
| Property Management Company | Real Estate | $13,125 | $30,000 | $68,750 |
| Real Estate Agency | Professional Services | $12,500 | $35,000 | $87,500 |
| Real Estate Investing (Rental) | Real Estate | $31,250 | $93,750 | $312,500 |
| Restaurant | Food & Beverage | $218,750 | $468,750 | $937,500 |
| Roofing Company | Home Services | $18,750 | $75,000 | $225,000 |
| SaaS Company | Tech & Online | $25,000 | $75,000 | $250,000 |
| Spa & Massage Therapy | Health & Wellness | $12,500 | $87,500 | $312,500 |
| Staffing Agency | Professional Services | $25,000 | $68,750 | $187,500 |
| Storage Unit Facility | Real Estate | $250,000 | $750,000 | $2,500,000 |
| Tattoo Shop | Beauty & Personal Care | $25,000 | $73,750 | $250,000 |
| Tax Preparation Business | Professional Services | $4,375 | $12,500 | $33,750 |
| Thrift Store | Retail | $25,000 | $93,750 | $250,000 |
| Tire Shop | Automotive | $62,500 | $187,500 | $500,000 |
| Towing Company | Automotive | $62,500 | $187,500 | $500,000 |
| Trucking Company | Transportation & Logistics | $37,500 | $100,000 | $250,000 |
| Tutoring Business | Childcare & Education | $2,500 | $30,000 | $125,000 |
| Used Car Dealership | Automotive | $62,500 | $250,000 | $750,000 |
| Vape Shop | Retail | $31,250 | $93,750 | $250,000 |
| Web Development Agency | Tech & Online | $4,375 | $15,000 | $41,250 |
| Welding Business | Construction & Trades | $18,750 | $50,000 | $125,000 |
| Winery | Food & Beverage | $187,500 | $952,500 | $3,750,000 |
| Yoga Studio | Health & Wellness | $18,750 | $100,000 | $250,000 |
Most Popular Business Types in New Jersey
Licenses & Permits in New Jersey
General Business License
New Jersey requires businesses to register with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services through the Business Registration Certificate process. Businesses must also register for sales tax collection with the Division of Taxation. New Jersey's 565 municipalities have their own business license requirements. New Jersey requires a Certificate of Authority to collect sales tax, and businesses with employees must register with the Division of Revenue for payroll taxes.
Industry-Specific Licenses
- Retail Food Establishment License — New Jersey Department of Health or Local Health DepartmentCost: $50-$500 • Renewal: Annual
- Home Improvement Contractor Registration — New Jersey Division of Consumer AffairsCost: $110 • Renewal: Biennial
- Cosmetology Shop License — New Jersey Board of Cosmetology and HairstylingCost: $50-$150 • Renewal: Biennial
- Real Estate Broker License — New Jersey Real Estate CommissionCost: $160-$400 • Renewal: Biennial
- Child Care Center License — New Jersey Division of Children and Families — Office of LicensingCost: $50-$200 • Renewal: Annual
- Plenary Retail Consumption License — New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage ControlCost: $1,000-$15,000 • Renewal: Annual
- Motor Carrier Operating Authority — New Jersey Division of Taxation — Motor CarrierCost: $150-$500 • Renewal: Annual
- Electrical Contractor License — New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs — State Board of Examiners of Electrical ContractorsCost: $100-$300 • Renewal: Biennial
Home-Based Business Rules
New Jersey municipalities regulate home-based businesses through local zoning ordinances under the MLUL. Most New Jersey municipalities allow home occupations in residential zones with restrictions on customer traffic, signage, and commercial activity visible from the street. New Jersey's dense suburban character means home-based business regulations are actively enforced. New Jersey's cottage food law permits limited home-based food production and direct consumer sales.
New Jersey Business Resources
SBA District Office
New Jersey SBA District Office — Newark
Secretary of State
https://www.njportal.com/DOR/BusinessFormationZoning Information
New Jersey municipalities control zoning. The state has some of the densest commercial zoning regulations in the country, especially in the NYC metro region.
Health Department Notes
Food establishments are licensed by the local board of health. New Jersey has strict food safety requirements with mandatory food safety manager certification.
Workers Compensation
Required for all employers. New Jersey has one of the most complex workers comp systems in the US with high rates.