By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist
Quick answer: Your Articles of Organization get approved instantly online, but you’re not truly “done” for 6-8 weeks. Welcome to New York, where even forming an LLC has more complexity than a Broadway show.
After helping over 1,200 entrepreneurs navigate LLC formation nationwide—including hundreds in the Empire State—I can tell you that New York is genuinely unique. The state approval is lightning fast, but there’s a mandatory publication requirement that adds weeks and hundreds of dollars to the process.
Let me break down the real New York LLC timeline, including the gotchas that trip up most first-time founders.
New York’s Two-Phase LLC Formation Process
Unlike most states where you file and you’re done, New York has a two-phase process:
Phase 1: State Approval (Instant to 3 weeks)
- Online filing: Instant approval during business hours
- Mail filing: 2-3 weeks plus mail time
- Cost: $200 state filing fee
Phase 2: Publication Requirement (6-8 weeks)
- Publication period: 6 consecutive weeks in approved newspapers
- Cost: $300-$1,200+ depending on county
- Certificate filing: Additional $50 fee
The reality: You can start operating after Phase 1, but you must complete Phase 2 within 120 days or face potential penalties.
Breaking Down New York’s Filing Speeds
Online Filing (Recommended)
- Processing time: Instant approval during business hours (9 AM – 5 PM EST)
- After hours filing: Approved first thing next business day
- Weekend filing: Approved Monday morning
- Download time: Immediate access to approved documents
Mail Filing (Not Recommended)
- Standard processing: 2-3 weeks
- Plus mail time: Add 1-2 weeks each way
- Total time: 4-7 weeks for mail option
Expedited Mail Filing Options
- 24-hour processing: +$25 (currently delayed due to high volume)
- Same-day processing: +$75
- 2-hour processing: +$150
Jake’s take: The expedited options are for mail filings only. Since online filing is already instant, there’s zero reason to pay extra for expedited service unless you’re masochistic about paperwork.
The Publication Requirement: New York’s $500+ Surprise
Here’s what most formation guides bury in the fine print: New York requires all LLCs to publish their formation notice in approved newspapers for 6 consecutive weeks.
How It Works
- Find approved newspapers in your county (the state provides a list)
- Publish formation notice for 6 consecutive weeks
- Obtain affidavits from both newspapers
- File Certificate of Publication with the state ($50 fee)
Real Costs by County
- Manhattan: $1,000-$1,500+ (because of course it’s expensive)
- Brooklyn/Queens: $800-$1,200
- Bronx/Staten Island: $600-$900
- Upstate counties: $300-$600
- Rural counties: $200-$400
The kicker: You can’t just pick the cheapest county. You must publish in the county where your LLC’s office is located.
Complete New York LLC Timeline Breakdown
Here’s what actually happens from start to finish:
Week 1: Articles of Organization Filing
- Day 1: File Articles of Organization online (instant approval)
- Day 1-2: Apply for EIN from IRS (free, takes 10 minutes online)
- Day 2-3: Research approved newspapers in your county
- Day 3-5: Contact newspapers and arrange publication
Weeks 2-7: Publication Period
- Week 2: First publication week begins
- Weeks 2-7: Continue weekly publications (6 consecutive weeks)
- Week 7: Final publication week
- Week 8: Obtain affidavits from newspapers
Week 8-9: Certificate of Publication
- Week 8: File Certificate of Publication with state ($50)
- Week 8: Process typically takes 1-2 weeks
- Week 9: Receive stamped Certificate of Publication
Throughout: Business Setup
- Any time after filing: Open business bank account
- Any time: Create operating agreement
- Any time: Apply for necessary business licenses
Total timeline: 8-10 weeks from start to complete compliance.
When You Can Actually Start Operating
Good news: You can legally operate your LLC as soon as your Articles of Organization are approved (Day 1 for online filing).
The catch: You must complete the publication requirement within 120 days, or the state can suspend your LLC’s authority to do business.
Jake’s recommendation: Start the publication process immediately after filing. Don’t wait—newspapers need lead time, and delays can push you past the 120-day deadline.
New York County Considerations
Your county choice affects both cost and complexity:
Manhattan (New York County)
- Publication cost: $1,000-$1,500+
- Newspapers: Limited options, all expensive
- Processing: Fast but costly
Brooklyn (Kings County)
- Publication cost: $800-$1,200
- Newspapers: More options than Manhattan
- Processing: Moderate cost and speed
Queens County
- Publication cost: $700-$1,100
- Newspapers: Good selection
- Processing: Reasonable costs
Bronx County
- Publication cost: $600-$900
- Newspapers: Several affordable options
- Processing: Lower cost alternative
Staten Island (Richmond County)
- Publication cost: $500-$800
- Newspapers: Limited but cheaper options
- Processing: Most affordable NYC option
Upstate Counties
- Publication cost: $300-$600
- Newspapers: Usually 2-3 approved options
- Processing: Much more affordable
Reality check: You can’t LLC shop based on publication costs. Your office address determines your county, and the state will verify this.
DIY vs. Professional Formation Services
DIY Timeline
- Articles filing: Instant (if you know what you’re doing)
- Publication setup: 2-5 days (researching newspapers, making calls)
- Publication management: 6 weeks (tracking, following up)
- Certificate filing: 1-2 days
- Total time investment: 10-15 hours over 8-10 weeks
Professional Service Timeline
- Articles filing: 1-3 business days (they handle everything)
- Publication setup: Same day (they have established relationships)
- Publication management: Hands-off (they handle all coordination)
- Certificate filing: Automatic (included in service)
- Total time investment: 30 minutes (providing information)
Service Costs
- Basic formation: $300-$500 + state fees + publication costs
- Full service with publication: $800-$1,500 (includes publication costs)
- Premium services: $1,000-$2,000+ (with additional features)
My New York Formation Service Recommendations
After testing dozens of providers for New York-specific performance:
For Complete Publication Handling: Northwest Registered Agent
- Formation cost: $225 + state fees
- Publication service: Additional $400-$800 (depending on county)
- Why I recommend them: They handle the entire publication process, have relationships with approved newspapers, and provide privacy protection
- Best for: Entrepreneurs who want hands-off publication management
For Budget-Conscious Founders: ZenBusiness
- Formation cost: $149 + state fees
- Publication handling: You handle it yourself (they provide guidance)
- Why they work: Good balance of service and cost for straightforward formations
- Best for: DIY-minded entrepreneurs comfortable managing publication
For Full-Service Support: LegalZoom
- Formation cost: $299 + state fees
- Publication service: Available as add-on ($500-$1,000+)
- Additional features: Ongoing compliance support, legal advice access
- Best for: Entrepreneurs wanting comprehensive business support
Skip: Any service that doesn’t clearly explain the publication requirement upfront. If they’re not talking about it, they don’t understand New York.
Common New York LLC Timing Mistakes
Mistake #1: Ignoring the Publication Requirement
Filing your Articles and thinking you’re done. The publication requirement is mandatory, not optional.
Mistake #2: Waiting to Start Publication
Delaying publication until “later.” Newspapers need lead time, and you only have 120 days to complete the process.
Mistake #3: Underestimating Publication Costs
Budgeting only for the $200 filing fee without accounting for $300-$1,500 in publication costs.
Mistake #4: County Shopping
Trying to use a cheaper county’s newspapers when your office is elsewhere. The state will catch this.
Mistake #5: DIY Without Research
Attempting to handle publication yourself without understanding the newspaper approval process or affidavit requirements.
The Real Cost of New York LLC Formation
Let’s run the complete numbers:
Manhattan LLC (DIY)
- Articles of Organization: $200
- Publication costs: $1,200 (average)
- Certificate of Publication: $50
- Total: $1,450
Upstate LLC (DIY)
- Articles of Organization: $200
- Publication costs: $400 (average)
- Certificate of Publication: $50
- Total: $650
Professional Service (Average)
- Service fee: $400
- State fees: $250
- Publication costs: $600 (they negotiate better rates)
- Total: $1,250
Jake’s assessment: For most New York entrepreneurs, professional service is worth it purely for publication management. The time saved and stress avoided typically justify the additional cost.
Ongoing New York LLC Requirements
After formation, New York LLCs have minimal ongoing requirements:
Biennial Reports
- Due: Every 2 years
- Fee: $9
- Deadline: Anniversary month of formation
Annual Tax Filings
- Due: Various deadlines
- Requirements: Depend on business activity and elections
Good news: Unlike some states, New York doesn’t require annual reports or franchise taxes for basic LLCs.
Professional Limited Liability Companies (PLLCs)
For licensed professionals, New York offers PLLCs with additional requirements:
PLLC Formation Timeline
- Articles approval: Same as LLC (instant online)
- Professional license verification: 2-4 weeks
- Publication requirement: Same 6-week process
- Total timeline: 10-12 weeks
Additional PLLC Requirements
- Professional license: Must be current and valid
- Professional service description: Required in Articles
- Ongoing compliance: Professional licensing board requirements
FAQ: Your New York LLC Timing Questions
Can I operate before completing publication?
Yes, but you must complete publication within 120 days or face potential suspension of your LLC’s authority.
What happens if I miss the 120-day publication deadline?
The state can suspend your LLC’s authority to do business in New York. Reinstatement requires completing publication and paying penalties.
Can I use any newspapers for publication?
No. You must use newspapers approved by the county clerk in your LLC’s county. The state provides official lists.
Do I need a New York registered agent?
Yes, but you can serve as your own registered agent if you have a New York address and are available during business hours.
Can I speed up the publication process?
No. The publication must run for 6 consecutive weeks. You cannot compress this timeline.
What if there are no approved newspapers in my county?
Very rare, but contact the county clerk. They can designate alternate publication methods.
Making the Right Choice for Your New York LLC
After 15 years of helping entrepreneurs navigate complex formation requirements, here’s my New York framework:
Go DIY if:
- You have time to research and manage the publication process
- You’re comfortable dealing with newspaper requirements and deadlines
- You want to minimize service costs
- You’re forming in a county with straightforward publication options
Hire a professional service if:
- You want hands-off publication management
- You’re forming in expensive counties like Manhattan
- You value your time more than the service cost
- You want someone else to handle the complexity
My general New York recommendation: Unless you’re really comfortable with bureaucratic processes and have time to manage publication logistics, hire a professional service. New York’s publication requirement is complex enough that the professional handling typically pays for itself in time saved and stress avoided.
The publication requirement makes New York one of the more complex states for LLC formation. Don’t let the instant state approval fool you—plan for the full 8-10 week process and budget accordingly.
Ready to form your New York LLC with proper timeline planning? I’ve personally tested every service mentioned for New York-specific performance, including publication handling. Check out my complete New York LLC formation guide or my detailed comparison of the best LLC formation services for 2025.
Questions about New York’s publication requirements, county-specific costs, or formation timing? Send me a message—I personally read and respond to every inquiry within 24 hours.