QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Everything people ask us,
answered plainly.
If yours isn't here, call or text and a person will tell you straight — including when the answer is that you don't need us.
LLC publishing
What is the New York LLC publishing requirement?
Under New York LLC Law § 206, every newly formed LLC must publish a notice in two newspapers — one daily, one weekly — once a week for six consecutive weeks. Affidavits from the papers and a Certificate of Publication then go to the Department of State.
It has to be done within 120 days of formation. In the expensive counties — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island — the newspapers alone can charge $1,200 or more, which makes publication the single most expensive part of starting an LLC in New York.
How much do you charge, and what does it cover?
$399 flat. That covers both newspapers, the full six-week run, all newspaper charges, the affidavits, the Certificate of Publication, the state's filing fee for it, and a year of registered agent service. There is nothing else to pay.
How long does the whole process take?
The newspaper run is six weeks. The rest is the Department of State's processing queue.
With expedited processing, about 9 to 10 weeks start to finish. With regular processing it currently runs closer to 3-4 months, entirely because of the state's backlog.
You can operate your business normally the whole time. Nothing is on hold while this runs.
How does the process actually work?
You place the order. We pull your LLC's details straight from the state's corporations database, appoint ourselves as your registered agent in Rockland County, draft and place both notices, track the six-week run, collect the affidavits, file the Certificate of Publication and pay its fee, then email you the state's filing receipt. The full step-by-step is here.
What do I get at the end?
An electronic copy of the state-issued filing receipt. That receipt is the only official proof that the publication requirement has been met.
Is there anything for me to file afterwards?
Nothing. Some services mail you the affidavits and leave you to file the certificate yourself. We handle it start to finish, including paying the state's fee.
How will I know where and when my notices are running?
Email us about two weeks after you order and we'll tell you the exact newspapers and dates. You'll normally hear back the same day.
Can I do this myself?
You can. The trouble is knowing where to start, which papers qualify, and what the notice has to say — and one mistake can mean republishing and paying the newspapers all over again.
Most people also find it costs them more than our fee once the newspaper invoices land. We work on volume and don't make much per order.
Deadlines and suspended LLCs
The most common situation we deal with, and the least alarming.
I'm past the 120 days. What now?
Start anyway, today. It is never too late — whenever your LLC was formed, the requirement stands and the cure is identical. Simply placing the order heads off the problems.
What does it mean that my LLC is suspended?
If the process isn't complete by the 120-day mark, your LLC's authority to carry on business in New York is technically suspended. This is extremely common — most people start late or never knew about the requirement at all, and the process itself often runs past the window.
How do I get out of suspended status?
Complete the publication. Your LLC is reinstated automatically once the process finishes — there's no separate application. And being underway is itself protection in the meantime.
A bank is asking for proof right now. Can you help?
Yes. Tell us and we'll send an “underway” letter confirming your publication is in progress, which is usually all a bank or a closing needs to move forward.
My LLC was formed years ago and never published. Still fixable?
Yes, and it's routine here. It usually surfaces at a closing, a financing, or a sale. Same process, same price.
Forming an LLC
For people who don't have the LLC yet.
I haven't formed my LLC yet. What should I do?
Use our formation package instead — $599 covers formation and publishing together, including all state filing fees, the certified copy, your EIN and an operating agreement.
You get the formation documents same or next day, which is the packet a bank wants to open your account. LegalZoom can't turn that around in a day.
What's included in the $599?
Articles of Organization filed, all state fees, unlimited name searches, certified copy, EIN, operating agreement, a year of registered agent service, expedited processing, and the entire $399 publishing service.
I'm a licensed professional. Is this different for me?
Yes. Licensed professionals need a PLLC or a PC, which requires preapproval from the State Education Department first. Details and pricing here.
Do you work outside New York?
We handle formations in all 50 states. The publication requirement is a New York peculiarity, and New York is our specialty.
Registered agent
What it is, and why it's part of publishing.
What is a registered agent and why do I need one?
Most importantly, we need to establish ourselves as your registered agent in order to give you an address we can use to publish in Rockland County. A registered agent is the person or company appointed to accept service of process — lawsuit papers — on your business's behalf, at a physical address in the state during business hours.
It matters more than it sounds: if nobody is available to accept service, a case can proceed without you ever knowing you'd been sued.
What does it cost?
The first full year is free with any order. After that it's $99 a year, which you can cancel at any time. For comparison, LegalZoom charges $249.
Can I take the agent role back after publishing?
Yes, at no charge once the process is complete. You choose how you'd like it handled on the order form.
Payment, discounts and guarantees
How can I pay?
All major credit cards, PayPal, or by check. Payment plans are available — four payments, one a week.
Do you discount multiple LLCs?
Yes. Two or more publishing at once and we'll quote you a better price. Just ask.
Do you discount for attorneys and accountants?
Yes. If you form LLCs for clients regularly, tell us and we'll work out volume pricing — and we can invoice rather than take payment per order. More for professionals here.
What's the guarantee?
If we can't deliver your filing receipt, you get a full refund. It has never happened. The state has never permanently rejected a publication we've filed.
About us
How much experience do you have?
More than 25,000 New York LLCs since 2005, and well over 200,000 legal notices placed. We don't know of anyone in New York who has done more of this. More about us here.
What about the other companies that mail me about publishing?
Most are considerably more expensive, and many are out-of-state operations working from a law they don't deal with daily. We're in Rockland County and this is the whole business.
Are you a law firm?
No. Our founder is a former New York attorney, but the company is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services. When something genuinely needs a lawyer, we'll tell you.
My question isn't here.
Email contact@nyllc.com or call or text (845) 200-2641. Emails are answered quickly during business hours.