New Jersey business entity search and name check

What the New Jersey search covers

The search covers all registered business entities: for-profit and professional corporations, nonprofits, LLCs, limited partnerships and LLPs, both New Jersey and out-of-state. DORES says any business matching your search is returned 'regardless of status', but results don't show status. Trade names and trade or service marks are searched separately in the paid Business Records Service, which also sells status reports.

A name search ignores capitalization and finds names that begin with what you type (at least 2 characters, up to 500 results). A keyword search takes up to 5 words that must all appear somewhere in the name. An Entity ID search needs the exact 10-digit number. The separate Name Availability search also ignores spaces, punctuation (. , ' - &), a leading A, An or The, a trailing 's', and the words And, Or and Of.

When you search New Jersey here, keep in mind:

• New Jersey's free search does not show status. A listed business may be active, revoked or dissolved; status reports are a paid state service.
• The search matches names that begin with your words and returns at most 500 records.

Each record has a Entity Id (for example 0100169112). Choose “Look up an existing business”, then “Registry number”, to search by it.

How to read New Jersey results

New Jersey does not publish definitions for its status labels in one place. We show the official wording exactly as the registry gives it.

A status describes the registry filing only. It isn’t evidence of a license, tax compliance or reputation, and a record with the same name as a company you know may be a different business. More on statuses.

New Jersey business name rules

An LLC name must include one of: Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Co., LTD Liability Company, LTD Liability Co., L.L.C., LLC. A corporation uses one of: Corporation, Corp., Incorporated, Inc., Company, Co., Ltd..

A name must be distinguishable from other names in the state's database. DORES checks availability when it reviews your filing. Its online availability check ignores the differences listed below and also matches longer names that begin with yours. (DORES Business Name Search FAQ; Public Records Filing instructions (Legacy-Reg-Form)) Source: njportal.com

When comparing names, New Jersey disregards: capitalization; spaces; punctuation (. , ' - &); a leading A, An or The; a trailing 's'; the words And, Or and Of; entity designators. Our name check applies these same rules.

Words that need approval or are restricted

Professional LLCs

New Jersey professional corporations are formed under the Professional Service Corporation Act (Title 14A) and show type code PA. The name search recognizes endings such as 'P.C.', 'PA', 'Professional Corporation' and 'Professional Association'.

Reserving a name in New Jersey

New Jersey lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $50. It can be renewed for $50 (a corporate name renewal costs $25).

Reserve online through the New Jersey business portal or with form UNRR-1. The state's business portal says a reserved name is held for 6 months, while the older UNRR-1 form says 120 days. A reserved name can't be used in the online formation service, and business.nj.gov calls reserving a name 'optional and not recommended'.

New Jersey name reservation Source: nj.gov

Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only DORES can.

Forming an LLC in New Jersey

Document

Certificate of Formation (Public Records Filing for New Business Entity)

State filing fee

$100
The official fee schedule lists $100. Many older and third-party sources still say $125, and some tie the change to July 1, 2026.

File online

DORES filing

Processing

Expedited service costs $25 per LLC filing ($50 for same-day service by fax), $500 for 2-hour service or $1,000 for 1-hour service.

Registered agent

An LLC names one registered agent: an individual, or a corporation registered and in good standing with the State Treasurer. The registered office must be a New Jersey street address; a P.O. box is allowed only alongside a street address.

Out-of-state LLC registering here

$100 (Certificate of Registration for a Foreign LLC (Public Records Filing))

Fees change. Confirm them on the official New Jersey fee schedule before you file.

Keeping a New Jersey LLC in good standing

Annual Report: $75. Due every year by the last day of the month in which the business was formed or authorized. DORES mails a reminder to the registered agent 60 days ahead. Source: njportal.com

An LLC taxed as a partnership with more than two owners and New Jersey income pays a filing fee of $150 per owner (up to $250,000) with Form NJ-1065, plus a prepayment of half the next year's fee. Corporations owe Corporation Business Tax, with a minimum of $500 (New Jersey gross receipts under $100,000) up to $2,000 ($1 million or more); the C-corporation rate is 9%.

A business that misses its annual report two years in a row can have its charter voided or its authority revoked. Reinstatement is done online through DORES, costs $75 for an LLC, and may need a tax clearance certificate. Nonprofits pay $30 for their annual report. A Certificate of Standing costs an LLC $50 (short form) or $100 (long form), against $25 for a corporation.

Proof of status: Certificate of Standing (short form) ($50). Source: nj.gov

Assumed names (DBAs)

Sole proprietors and general partnerships register a business name with their local clerk's office. A registered business can operate under an alternate name once it registers that name with the state. Source: business.nj.gov

Good to know about New Jersey

• The free official search shows name, 10-digit Entity ID, type, city and formation date, but not status. A Business Entity Status Report costs $5 plus a $1.25 online fee. Source: nj.gov
• The fee schedule now lists $100 for an LLC Certificate of Formation and for a corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, though many guides still say $125. Source: nj.gov
• Annual reports ($75) are due in the month the business was formed, not on a single statewide date. Source: business.nj.gov
• An LLC that misses its annual report two years in a row can have its charter voided, and reinstating it may require a tax clearance certificate. Source: nj.gov
• LLCs taxed as partnerships with three or more owners pay $150 per owner each year with Form NJ-1065. Source: nj.gov
• Corporations owe at least $500 a year in Corporation Business Tax, rising to a $2,000 minimum once New Jersey gross receipts reach $1 million. Source: nj.gov

Sources and accuracy

We checked this page against official New Jersey sources on October 30, 2026. Our monitor rechecks the official search, filing portal and fee pages daily and flags changes for review.

See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only DORES can change an official record.