50-State Employment Services Industry Licensing Guide
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New Jersey Employment Agency

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Licensing requirements for New Jersey employment, staffing and talent agencies.

This page provides an overview of employment services licensing in New Jersey for individuals and agencies. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

Companies that provide employment services in New Jersey must apply for a license prior to doing business. Depending on the services offered, businesses may need to apply for more than one license type, and in some cases, an individual license will be required as well.

Company Licenses

New Jersey Employment and Business Support Services Company Licenses

New Jersey Employee Leasing Company Group Registration

Agency:New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Employer Accounts
Law:

NJ Stat. § 34-8-70

Eligible Entity Types:

  • Corporation
  • Proprietorship
  • Partnership
  • Limited Liability Company
  • Limited Liability Partnership
  • Estate/Trust
  • Limited Partnership
  • Unincorporated Association
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Form PEO-1 Group

Agency Fee:

$500 per group member

Required Attachments:
  • Form PEO-1 for each group member
  • A list of each employee leasing company in the group

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form PEO-A Group

Agency Fee:

$500 per group member

Due:

Annually by January 31.

Required Attachments:
  • Form PEO-1 for each group member
  • A list of each employee leasing company in the group

New Jersey Employee Leasing Company Limited Registration

Agency:New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Employer Accounts
Law:

NJ Stat. § 34-8-70

Eligible Entity Types:

  • Corporation
  • Proprietorship
  • Partnership
  • Limited Liability Company
  • Limited Liability Partnership
  • Estate/Trust
  • Limited Partnership
  • Unincorporated Association
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Notes:

PEOs are eligible for limited registration if they:

  • Are not domiciled in New Jersey;
  • Are licensed or registered as an employee leasing company or professional employer organization in another state;
  • Do not maintain an office in New Jersey or directly solicit client companies located or domiciled in this state; and
  • Are not responsible for more than 50 covered employees employed in New Jersey.
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Employee Leasing Company Initial Registration of Client Companies

Agency Fee:

$500

Required Attachments:
  • Listing of client companies including name, address, EIN, percentage of workforce being leased, client's economic activity description, and leasing agreement effective date and duration
  • A copy of the standard form of agreement entered into for all current clients
  • Proof of current worker's compensation coverage for all leased employees

Registration Renewal

Form:

Employee Leasing Company Annual Registration of Client Companies

Agency Fee:

$500

Due:

Annually by January 31.

Required Attachments:
  • Listing of client companies including name, address, EIN, percentage of workforce being leased, client's economic activity description, and leasing agreement effective date and duration
  • A copy of the standard form of agreement entered into for all current clients
  • Proof of current worker's compensation coverage for all leased employees

Supplemental Reporting
Quarterly Payroll Tax Certification

Form:

Employee Leasing Company Quarterly Certification of Federal and State Payroll Taxes

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 60 days after the end of each calendar quarter.

New Jersey Employee Leasing Company Registration

Agency:New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Employer Accounts
Law:

NJ Stat. § 34-8-71

Eligible Entity Types:

  • Corporation
  • Proprietorship
  • Partnership
  • Limited Liability Company
  • Limited Liability Partnership
  • Estate/Trust
  • Limited Partnership
  • Unincorporated Association
Financial Requirements:

Employee leasing companies must maintain positive working capital.

Bond Requirements:

PEOs that do not meet the working capital requirement must instead submit a bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or securities with a minimum market value equaling the amount necessary to achieve a positive working capital plus up to $100,000.

Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Employee Leasing Company Initial Registration of Client Companies

Agency Fee:

$500

Required Attachments:
  • Listing of client companies including name, address, EIN, percentage of workforce being leased, client's economic activity description, and leasing agreement effective date and duration
  • A copy of the standard form of agreement entered into for all current clients
  • Proof of current worker's compensation coverage for all leased employees
  • An audited financial statement prepared by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles within 13 months prior to the date of application

Registration Renewal

Form:

Employee Leasing Company Annual Registration of Client Companies

Agency Fee:

$500

Due:

Annually by January 31.

Required Attachments:
  • Listing of client companies including name, address, EIN, percentage of workforce being leased, client's economic activity description, and leasing agreement effective date and duration
  • A copy of the standard form of agreement entered into for all current clients
  • Proof of current worker's compensation coverage for all leased employees
  • An audited financial statement prepared by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles within 13 months prior to the date of application

Supplemental Reporting
Quarterly Payroll Tax Certification

Form:

Employee Leasing Company Quarterly Certification of Federal and State Payroll Taxes

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 60 days after the end of each calendar quarter.

New Jersey Employment Agency License

Agency:New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs - Regulated Business Section

Initial Registration

This section applies to firms that are applying for a license in New Jersey for the first time.

Form:

Contact the division for a form.

Agency Fee:

$250

Registration Renewal

This section applies to firms that are already licensed in New Jersey and need to renew their license.

Form:

Contact the division for a form.

Agency Fee:

$250

Due:

Annually

New Jersey Talent Agency License

Agency:New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs - Regulated Business Section

Initial Registration

Form:

Submit a questionnaire to receive a license application.

Agency Fee:

$250

Registration Renewal

Form:

Contact the division for a form.

Agency Fee:

$250

Due:

Annually

Employee Leasing Company - Enter into leasing contracts with other businesses that require labor. The leasing company loans its workers to the lessee while still providing specified responsibilities, such as workers compensation insurance, to the employees. This includes long term (6 months or more) temporary arrangements but often excludes temporary help arrangements. Unlike professional employer organizations, employee leasing companies are contracted when an employer needs to hire staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.

Employment Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment for a person.

Professional Employer Organization - PEOs take on the human resources role for businesses and act as a co-employer in the sense that the client company's workers are administratively employees of the PEO but functionally these employees are controlled by the client company. Unlike employee leasing companies, PEOs are contracted when an employer already has staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.

Staffing Agency - An entity that procures temporary or part-time employment for a person who then works under the supervision of a worksite employer.

Talent Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment or placement for an artist. (Certain art forms are excluded)

American Staffing Association
Staffing, recruiting, and workforce solution industry advocacy group.

National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS)
Education and training oriented association for personnel services providers.

National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO)
Provides advocacy efforts, information, and other services to members of the employment industry.

Revised June 28, 2021. Complete data last reviewed March 12, 2018.
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