New Mexico LLC Filing Requirements and Fees

How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC in New Mexico?

Legal business registration — and making sure your business is in compliance — involves some necessary expenses. Some of these costs are payable to the New Mexico Secretary of State, while others are due to additional state entities or the federal government. Here are some of the most common requirements and fees.

Please note that New Mexico business license and permit fees may need to be paid when you first form your business, on an ongoing schedule or on an ad hoc basis. Find more details below.

Initial New Mexico LLC Fees

You’ll need to file as an LLC with the New Mexico Secretary of State and pay a filing fee when you first formally form your business. Here are the current New Mexico LLC fees and filing times:

When you form your LLC with us, Bizee will charge you this fee and forward it to the New Mexico Secretary of State when we file your formation paperwork.

Employer Identification Number

Every LLC in the U.S. should obtain a unique Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. You'll use it when you open a business bank account, file taxes and pay employees. It's available at no cost from the IRS or have Bizee obtain one for you.

Foreign LLCs

When you want to do business in a state other than the one where your business is based, you must create a Foreign LLC.

New Mexico Foreign LLC Registration

Foreign companies are those which are formed in another state or country. In order to transact business in New Mexico, these entities must file an Application for Registration with the New Mexico Secretary of State for a Foreign LLC.

The registration must be accompanied by a Certificate of Good Standing or a Certificate of Existence from the domestic state of formation. Register your out-of-state foreign company by filing your Application for Registration with the Secretary of State. The filing fee for a New Mexico Foreign LLC is $100. The state may have additional requirements, so contact the New Mexico Secretary of State for more information.

Foreign Qualification to Operate in Another State

If you plan to expand your New Mexico LLC into another state, you’ll first need Foreign Qualification or a Certificate of Authority or Compliance from that state. This is necessary if you'll have a physical presence, employees or banking in that state.

This process will likely require you to complete an application and pay a filing fee. Each state typically has its own requirements, so you’ll want to contact the state government entity that administers business (usually the Secretary of State) for specific instructions.

If you need assistance, Bizee provides complete Foreign Qualification service for all states.

Annual Report Requirements

Most states require businesses to file an annual (or other periodic) report with the Secretary of State. For LLCs within the State of New Mexico, however, this is not required.

Annual Report

New Mexico Business License and Permit Requirements

As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure you have the proper state, federal or local business licenses to operate your New Mexico LLC. Some of the associated fees only need to be paid once, while others are ongoing charges.

Operating Agreements

The State of New Mexico does not require businesses to have an LLC Operating Agreement in place.

An Operating Agreement is a document that covers the rights and duties of pertinent members, how the business will be run, how managers and members are chosen and several other key areas. It's usually filed with your Certificate of Formation at the time your LLC officially becomes a business.

This document can be extremely helpful in making sure you’re organized and prepared for any future events that may affect your business.

Other Potential New Mexico LLC Fees or Requirements

It is normal for your business to pay and meet several other fees and requirements during the life of your LLC. These ad hoc fees will only be payable in specific circumstances, as listed below.

Obtaining a Trade Name or DBA

Unlike most states, New Mexico does not have any regulation on DBAs or require registration of trade names or assumed names.

If you decide to operate under a trade name, it is wise to discuss the legal ramifications with a lawyer before proceeding.

Changing the Registered Agent

Your LLC needs a New Mexico Registered Agent, which you must appoint when you file your Certificate of Formation. You can also switch to a new Registered Agent later by filing a Registered Agent Change with the New Mexico SOS for a fee of $20.

Reserving a Name for Your LLC

If you don’t want to form your LLC right away, you can reserve a business name for 120 days with the New Mexico Secretary of State by filing an Application for Reservation of Name and paying a filing fee of $20. First, perform a New Mexico business search and learn about business name rules to ensure you choose a name that meets state requirements.

Amending Certain Facts About Your LLC

Your business formation documents state certain facts about your New Mexico business at the time it's formed. Over time, these facts may change. If they do, you'll need to file Articles of Amendment with the New Mexico SOS for a filing fee of $50. You can do this yourself or have Bizee file the form on your behalf.

Getting a New Mexico Certificate of Compliance

Some organizations will request that you prove your LLC’s compliance with laws and tax requirements. Most states refer to this as a Certificate of Compliance, Existence or Good Standing. If you need to prove you have met your commitments, you’ll need a Certificate of Good Standing from the New Mexico Secretary of State. You can order a Certificate of Good Standing from the SOS via the online portal and pay a fee of $25.

The fees listed above detail many of the charges a standard LLC will be required to pay in New Mexico. In some unusual circumstances, there may be other one-off, periodic or ad hoc fees not listed above.

Of course, your LLC will also probably need to pay self-employment, payroll, federal, state and sales taxes. More information about taxes can be found on the New Mexico Business Tax page.