Secretary of state business search new jersey

There are several reasons to conduct a New Jersey business search, which can include any one of the following:

  • Checking for business name availability if you want to start a new business in the state of NJ
  • Verifying the current status of an existing business
  • Obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing for your business
  • Obtaining information on a business, including its address, contact information of the registered agent, and the status of the company
  • Verifying whether or not a business has been properly registered

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I choose a name for my NJ business?

If you want to form an LLC or Corporation in the state of NJ, you’ll want to come up with a distinct company name. Therefore, come up with a few ideas of names and then run a business entity search to see if those names are already being used. First and foremost, choose a name that is appropriate for your business. You want it to reflect positively on you as a business owner. There are other requirements when naming your LLC, so be sure to visit the NJ Secretary of State website for those specific guidelines.

2. How long will it take to register my company name with the State of NJ?

If it’s not being used and you choose to register a specific name, you’ll be approved within one or two business days. If, however, the name is identical to a former business that is no longer active, the registration time could be delayed for up to two weeks.

3. Should I choose a similar URL name to my NJ business name?

This is your choice entirely. If you want to utilize an identical URL (website) name, then you’ll want to first ensure you choose a business name that is available. Immediately after that, you’ll want to find out if that name is available as a website. Additionally, you could consider using a similar or identical e-mail address to keep all contact information consistent with your company’s name.

4. What if I’m just trying to run a business entity search on a company that is already in existence? What kind of information will I be able to find?

If you run a general business entity search, you’ll be provided with information that includes the company name, entity ID, the type of business (e.g., LLC, partnership, corporation, sole proprietorship), city of incorporation, and the date of incorporation.

5. What if I don’t know the exact name of the business that I am trying to find information on?

It is possible to obtain information on a company by using the keyword function. Simply put, you can enter a keyword into the system and click Search. You will then see a page with information on several entities that have that keyword in their name.

6. Can I search for a business by its entity ID?

Yes, absolutely. You can search based on the company’s entity ID number and find the information you are looking for.

7. What if I need to verify the registration status of an NJ company?

You can visit the NJ portal website and enter either the name of the company, entity ID number, or even the taxpayer identification number (Federal Employer ID Number) of the business. The website will then verify if the business is registered. If so, you can obtain a printable version of the Business’s Registration Certificate.

Alternatively, if you need to search for a previously issued business registration certificate, you will want to run a search on the certificate’s number, which is seven digits. When you run this type of search, you cannot obtain a new certificate, but rather find out if a previously issued Business Registration Certificate was provided.

Keep in mind that there are other requirements when running this search, so ensure that you visit the website and follow the instructions for searching. For example, if searching by the business’s entity ID, you’ll include all 10 digits of the entity’s ID, including the leading zeros. But if the business operates as a general partnership or sole proprietorship, this search function is not available.

If you need help with running a New Jersey business search, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel’s marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.

Each New Jersey corporation is assigned a Business ID number when their corporation is registered. To search by Business ID enter the ID number and select “Search”.

Filing number

To search by filing number enter the filing number and select “Search”.

New Jersey business status

If a business is struggling to think of a good business name, one way to generate ideas is to look through the search results list to see if any expired names could fit the business. 

For example, if someone wanted to open up a new BBQ restaurant, they could enter “BBQ” into the search bar and generate a list of ideas that are available based on the business status results:

Secretary of state business search new jersey

If an expired business name in the search records is of interest, confirming that it is available is recommended by calling the New Jersey Secretary of State in Trenton  at phone number 609-777-2581

One thing to remember is that even though the desired business name may be available, it could have a registered trademark.

Performing a trademark search through the Trademark Electronic Search System before selecting a business name could prevent headaches in the future.

Next steps

1. Check if the domain name is available

  • Many of the .com domain names with six or fewer letters are already taken, so getting creative may be necessary. Websites like Namechk and GoDaddy can help filter available domain names and suggest alternatives that may be a good fit.
  • While a .com is the most familiar domain extension used, extensions like .co, .net, and .io are becoming more commonly used as the internet ages and can be a good fit once a business name is selected.

2. Check if the social media name is available

In the digital age, it is essential to have a solid social media presence. Customers will often check sites like Yelp and Google Reviews to gauge what others think about a business. Some other tips on social media for a New Jersey business entity:

  • Having a strong social media presence for small businesses is an excellent way to boost organic presence on the web, impress customers, and build awareness.
  • Unfortunately, like domain names, social media handles are often hoarded. Make sure to check sites like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest to ensure the handle is not being used.
  • If the handle is available, lock the username in place to make sure it is not taken.
  • Software platforms like SocialPilot can help simplify managing various social media platforms.

3. Register New Jersey business entity

New Jersey businesses can be registered through the state.NJ.us site. 

Another option is to file with companies like Northwest Registered Agent, Incfile, or ZenBusiness, who can take care of the filings for as little as $0 plus state filing fees

For further step-by-step instructions on how to file your LLC check out this New Jersey LLC guide.

4. Register TAX ID/EIN with the IRS

An EIN is a nine-digit number that identifies a business for tax purposes. Think of it as a social security number for businesses. Filing your EIN for a limited liability company (LLC) is straightforward and can be done online. New Jersey corporations can register for a Tax ID for $79 with Swyft Filings.

Similar to selecting a good business name, businesses with a great logo impress customers, help distinguish themselves from the competition, and create a positive visual memory of your unique business services for customers.

With the emergence of freelance marketplaces, it is easy to get a logo done on Fiverr in 24 hours or less.

6. Write a business plan

Writing a business plan can help organize business owners’ ideas and create a pathway for businesses to follow. Having a professionally written business plan also impresses investors and helps create accountability.

Liveplan.com is a business plan software that can help make the process easy as they have over 500 sample plans to choose from.

Businesses that form partnerships should consider having a professional operating agreement

7. Open a business bank account

Having a business bank account is required for businesses as it helps keep business and personal finances separate. It also helps build business credibility in the event business loans are needed to grow the business in the future. 

Businesses must have a business mailing address in order to open a business bank account and are not allowed to use a po box as their primary mailing address.

Lili and Novo are online banks that specialize in working with freelancers and entrepreneurs.

We recommend Novo

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8. Setup an email account

Google Workspace can help set up an @yourcompany email address for as little as $6 per month.

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9. Register a trademark

One of the easiest ways to file a trademark is through LegalZoom. They have options to file by themselves or pay an additional fee to have an attorney take care of the filings.

New Jersey business structure naming considerations

When selecting a New Jersey business name, it is important to understand the different naming requirements for each of the different entity types.

Sole proprietorships and partnerships

In New Jersey, sole proprietorships do not have to file with the department of commerce to begin business operations. Sole Proprietorships typically operate under a person’s name, so there is no need to perform a business name search in most situations.

Like Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships are relatively easy to file and generally include all partners’ last names (ex: Smith, Jones, and Lasalle). 

LLCs 

LLCs are separate legal entities that separate owners’ business interests, debts, and liabilities from personal responsibilities. Names for LLCs are required to be filed with the New Jersey Secretary of State and must be unique.

A few reminders when naming LLCs:

  • New Jersey business names must include the words “LLC, L.L.C., or the phrase limited liability company. “LLC” is most commonly used after a business name, so we recommend using that abbreviation when filing New Jersey articles of organization.
  •  An LLC name should not include the terms Inc., Corporation, Corp, or Incorporated in the LLC name.
  • The state may not approve a New Jersey business name if it is not clearly distinguishable from the other business.

Corporations

Corporations are fairly complex and typically used by large companies looking to issue stock and attract investors.

Corporation naming considerations:

  • Corporations must include “corp”, “corporation”, “Inc”, “limited”, or “company” in the business name to indicate that it is a corporation.
  • S Corporations are subject to the same naming requirements as traditional corporations.
  • Professional Corporations must indicate that they are one by using “professional corporation” by using the letters “PC” instead of typical corporate designation.

FAQs

Is an annual report required in New Jersey?

New Jersey requires business entities to file an annual report for existing business entities registered with the state.  The annual report due date and paperwork can be found on the New Jersey Secretary of State website.

How can you file a New Jersey LLC dissolution?

Dissolution of a corporation or business entity is completed by filing an Articles of Dissolution

Can you reserve a New Jersey business name?

A New Jersey reservation form needs to be filled out and mailed to the Secretary of State to reserve a New Jersey business name. The name reservation filing fee is $50 and will reserve the business name for 120 days.

Should I file a New Jersey DBA? 

A DBA (doing business as), or trade name, is a fictitious business name that companies operate under for business outside of the formal LLC name

Here are a couple of benefits of DBAs:

  • Expansion possibilities: having a DBA enables businesses to expand past their original business without starting a new business entity. Simply creating a new DBA and operating under the existing LLC is all that would be needed.
  • Privacy: One of the best benefits of having a DBA is that it gives businesses the ability to operate under a fictitious business name and not have owners’ names revealed publicly.

Does New Jersey require a registered agent?

New Jersey Secretary of State statutes state a Corporation must maintain a registered agent and a registered office to fulfill statutory requirements.

One of the main benefits of using a third-party registered agent service company is that it adds a layer of privacy between the business and the general population. The

How do I find out if a business is registered in NJ?

You may check the online registration inquiry to determine if the business is already registered. If you have not registered but are required to have this certificate, you will need to complete Form NJ-REG.

How do I look up a company's name?

Every state has a secretary of state or other state agency that's responsible for business entity filings. In most states, the website of the state business filing agency includes an online entity name check tool.

How do I find my NJ business entity identification number?

If you don't know your NJ Corporate ID number, you can access it through the Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services' Business Records Service using the "Business Entity Name Search." If you are unable to use this form, contact our Customer Service Center.

How do I find the registered agent of a corporation in NJ?

How Do I Search For A New Jersey Registered Agent? You can do a New Jersey business name search. Type in the name of the company you're searching for. In the results, you'll find the registered agent's name and registered office street address.