Save on LLC Publication by Changing Your County
Introduction
One of the biggest surprises for new business owners in New York is the cost of the LLC newspaper publication requirement. Depending on your county, the total can range from a few hundred dollars to over $1,500.
If you're in an NYC borough (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, or Staten Island), you're likely facing publication costs of $1,000 to $1,500 or more.
That leads many people to wonder:
"What if I change my LLC's county to a cheaper one like Albany? Wouldn't that save me hundreds of dollars?"
The answer is yes, it can—but how you do it matters. Let's explore the county change strategy, the traditional DIY approach, and a simpler turnkey option.
How Address Impacts LLC Publication Cost
Under Section 206 of the New York LLC Law, your publication requirement depends on the county listed in your Articles of Organization. The county clerk designates the newspapers, and rates vary dramatically between counties.
For example:
- Queens County: DIY newspaper costs of $700–$1,200
- Albany County: DIY newspaper costs of $150–$300
So yes, if your LLC's office is listed in Albany County, you'll only need to publish in Albany newspapers—saving hundreds of dollars.
The Traditional DIY Approach
Historically, business owners who wanted to save on publication would:
- Use a registered agent service in Albany to get an address there
- List that Albany address in their Articles of Organization (or file an amendment)
- Complete publication in Albany County at the lower rate
This approach works, but it comes with significant trade-offs.
The Downsides of the DIY Approach
1. Ongoing Registered Agent Costs
To maintain an Albany address, you typically need a registered agent service—$100–$300 per year, every year. Over a few years, those fees can exceed what you saved on publication.
2. Added Complexity
You now have a third party involved in your business filings. Any changes, renewals, or official correspondence flows through them.
3. Contractual Lock-In
If you ever want to stop using the registered agent, you'll need to file another amendment to change your address back—more paperwork and more fees.
4. Potential Upsells
Many registered agent services push add-ons like compliance alerts, mail forwarding, or annual report reminders. Small fees add up over time.
A Better Way: County Change Without the Ongoing Costs
There's a smarter approach that gives you the savings without the ongoing registered agent fees or long-term commitments.
Here's how it works:
- File a county change amendment with NY DOS to temporarily change your LLC's county to Albany
- Complete the publication requirement in Albany County at the lower rate
- Done — Your business address remains exactly as originally registered
The key insight: You don't need to keep an Albany address. You just need it listed in your Articles of Organization at the time you complete publication. Once the publication requirement is fulfilled and your Certificate of Publication is filed, the county of your LLC office doesn't affect anything else.
This approach eliminates:
- No ongoing registered agent fees — It's a one-time process
- No third-party dependency — Your LLC remains fully independent
- No contractual lock-in — Nothing recurring to cancel
LLC Publishers County Change Service
At LLC Publishers, we offer this as a turnkey add-on for NYC borough LLCs. If you select the County Change option at checkout:
- We file the county change amendment with NY Department of State ($60 state fee + $100 service fee)
- We handle the entire publication process in Albany County
- We file your Certificate of Publication
- Total cost: $495 (vs. $1,000–$1,500 in NYC boroughs)
Your original business address stays exactly as registered. We handle all the paperwork. You save hundreds of dollars with no ongoing commitments.
Learn more about our NYC County Change Service →
Bottom Line
Yes, you can save significant money on LLC publication by changing to a lower-cost county like Albany. The question is how you do it:
- DIY with registered agent: Works, but creates ongoing costs and dependencies
- Turnkey county change service: One-time process, no ongoing fees, same savings
For NYC borough LLC owners facing $1,000+ publication costs, the county change strategy makes financial sense—especially when done as a one-time process without ongoing commitments.
Related Questions
Can I change my LLC county after formation?
Yes. Filing an Amendment to Articles of Organization with the New York Department of State costs $60 and typically takes 1-2 weeks to process. This is exactly what the county change strategy involves—and what LLC Publishers handles for you as part of our service.
Does the registered agent's county matter?
Your registered agent's county doesn't directly determine your publication county. What matters is the county of office listed in your Articles of Organization. Learn more in our guide on registered agents and LLC publication.
Will changing my county affect my business address?
No. The county change only affects the county listed in your LLC's Articles of Organization for publication purposes. Your actual business operations, mailing address, and day-to-day activities are unaffected.
Is the county change strategy legal?
Yes. New York law requires publication in the county listed in your Articles of Organization. You have the right to amend your Articles at any time. Many businesses legitimately use this approach to reduce publication costs.
Who is the county change service best for?
The county change service is designed for LLCs in NYC boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island) where publication costs typically exceed $1,000. For LLCs in other counties where publication already costs under $500, the standard publication service is usually the better choice.
In an NYC borough and want to save on publication costs?
Learn about our County Change Service or Get started with LLC Publishers.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. The county change strategy is a business decision that customers make based on their own circumstances.