Verify Your Business Name With a New Jersey Business Name Search

Starting a small business, corporation, sole proprietorship, general partnership, LLC, or even a non-profit begins with getting a company name. The name of your business usually doesn’t end up being the first name you think of — the title of your business must be unique.

If you’re wondering how to get a business name that no other company has, the answer is straightforward: you must conduct a New Jersey business name search. Luckily, that search is easy, thanks to Swyft Filing’s free business entity search tool. You can find out if a corporation or LLC name is already registered in the state in just three steps:

1. Search for a specific name by filling out a simple form.

2. Submit your search and wait for the results. They should arrive in your email inbox within an hour.

3. Proceed to reserve the name if it’s available. If the name is already registered, do another search.

The New Jersey Secretary of State database holds all registered business names. The Swyft Filings free tool will search that database quickly and effectively, helping you find an available name in the shortest time possible.

This article will teach you all the necessary details about New Jersey business entity searches.

Key Takeaways

• Getting a unique New Jersey business name will be crucial for keeping your business compliant in the state.

• The state of New Jersey observes specific conventions regarding business names. All registered companies must follow those conventions.

• You need to get a registered name for your business before having your Articles of Incorporation approved. Similarly, filing an LLC will require a registered company name.

• Registering a name quickly will benefit your company greatly. Swyft Filings’ services will allow you to save precious time when starting your business.

New Jersey’s Business Name Conventions

The New Jersey state law[1] explains which rules business owners must follow to name their companies correctly. As with many states, the first rule is that a business can’t have a misleading title. In other words, the name of your business can’t state or imply a different purpose than the one indicated in its founding document.

Of course, name availability is another crucial consideration. The name you plan to give to your company can’t already be registered with another business. If you’ve got a New Jersey corporation, its trade name can’t match that of another corporation; the same applies to limited liability companies and other profit and non-profit businesses.[2]

It’s worth noting that the name availability rule applies to reserved names, not only to those registered with the state.

Next, company names in New Jersey must include one of the following terms depending on your business structure:

• Company

• Corporation

• Incorporated

• Corp.

• Co.

• Inc.

• Ltd.

• LLC

• L.L.C

• Limited Liability Company

Foreign companies may use variants of these words from their languages. If an existing foreign company starts doing business in New Jersey, it must add one of the listed words to its title if those words aren’t already present in any language.

Certain words are prohibited from general use when naming a New Jersey business. In particular, including “handicapped,” “blind,” or any variants of these words is off-limits for companies without proper authorization by the Attorney General.

This limitation is put in place to avoid potentially misleading company names. In particular, the title shouldn’t imply or lead people to think that the organization is somehow operating as a charity for the handicapped or blind.

New Jersey business names may contain all combinations of characters, including Roman, Arabic, and spelled-out numbers, letters, and symbols. Of course, those combinations must, in all cases, adhere to the naming rules as described above.

Developing a good business name can be challenging, even with the conventions being as clear-cut as they are. The title you give your company needs to be unique but must also be memorable and catchy. The true art of business naming is creating a title that will stick with people.

Benefits of a New Jersey Entity Search

The New Jersey business entity search isn’t only a free online tool. It can serve several purposes that will make your job in registering an LLC or corporation easier:

• Prevent unnecessary complications with changing the company name: If you check name availability in time, you’ll know where you stand regarding the name of your business. This means you’ll be able to get a unique name faster and won’t need to change it if you’re already in the registration process.

• Avoid additional costs and risks that come with working under an existing name: Trying to do business under a name that another company has already registered is a wrong move. It can cost a lot, both in terms of money and time. An entity search will ensure you don’t have to suffer those expenses down the line.

• Stay away from legal complications: Operating under a reserved or registered name that’s not yours opens up your business to legal risk. The initial name holder could press charges against your business, potentially curbing your growth. A timely business name search will help avoid any possibility of legal action against you.

• Secure and register a domain early: If the question is “When should you register a domain,” the answer is: as soon as your business starts operating. Online presence is a staple and a necessity of the modern market. With a properly researched and reserved name, you can get a domain that matches your company’s title and start conquering the digital space early on.

• Save time and stop guessing: With a New Jersey business entity search, you won’t need to waste precious days, weeks, or months with business name considerations. Instead, you can reap the benefits of the rapid search tool and take away the guesswork.

Next Steps

Suppose you’ve confirmed that your desired New Jersey business name is available. In that case, you might be wondering what to do next. The answer is pretty straightforward and consists of three steps:

• Reserving the name you wish

• Securing the name of your domain

• If needed, registering a DBA

Next, we’ll explore each step and give you a comprehensive walkthrough.

Complete Your Name Reservation

The most important thing you’ll need to do upon verifying your business name is to reserve it immediately. You make the reservation with the New Jersey Division of Revenue, which will help you maintain the name until you’re ready to register it. Failing to reserve the name will mean you’ve left it open for other business owners to take.

The document you’ll need for this task is the Application for Reservation of Name. After you fill out the form, you can mail it to:

NJ Division of Revenue,

PO Box 308,

Trenton, NJ 08646

Regardless of the company type, the filing fee for this form will be $50.

With the business name reserved, you’ll be free to move on to getting your employer identification number (EIN). You can also take care of other documentation needed to register a business. This will include getting a registered agent, business address, and business description and defining your business structure.[3]

Choose a Domain Name

You’ll want to register a domain once you have a registered, brand-new company name. Your domain, i.e., website name, should strongly resemble the business name or be precisely the same. The reason for this is straightforward: you want people to be able to find your business online without trouble.

It would be best to take care of the domain early. That way, you can establish an online presence quickly and waste no time filling your digital sales funnel.

If made (and named) correctly, your website can become your primary channel for sales. It will be a place where all your marketing efforts converge. Choosing a good domain name will be challenging, seeing how the internet is filled with millions of sites, so getting on as soon as possible is essential.

Squarespace’s easy-to-use domain search tool can help you quickly find and register a domain name that matches your New Jersey business. You can then choose from Squarespace’s flexible website templates, pre-designed layouts, and curated design elements to build a website — no coding required. Start your business with Swyft Filings and receive a free domain from SquareSpace for one year.

Consider a DBA

Sometimes it might not be possible to register the exact company name you want. In such cases, you’ll need to choose an alternate name, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to present your business to clients precisely how you wish.

​​A DBA, or “doing business as,” allows you to sell your products and services under various names. 

DBA registration is done online and costs $50.

File Your Business Online

With all of the steps related to your business name taken, it will be time to file your LLC or corporation and start doing business. Luckily, you can go through this process online, but it might be somewhat complicated if you don’t know all the ins and outs.

Swift Filings can provide crucial assistance and take you through the LLC filing process step by step. You can leverage our C Corp or LLC business services for reliable access to relevant state institutions. Furthermore, Swyft Filings will help you change your company’s name if you’ve changed your mind. Our services will make every step seamless and help you launch your business without bothering with the red tape.

FAQs

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

Registered businesses in New Jersey are kept on public record at the county clerk’s office. You can search for such businesses through New Jersey’s Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services website. The Business Records Service page allows you to search by business name, keywords, or entity ID number.

How do I determine if a business name is available in New Jersey?

One of the fastest ways to learn about business name availability in New Jersey is to use the business entity search tool by Swyft Filings. Input the business name you want in the search field, submit your query, and you’ll get the results in one hour or less.

What is a New Jersey Business Entity Name Search?

Performing a New Jersey entity name search means looking for specific business names registered statewide in New Jersey. You can do this via the Business Name Search on the New Jersey Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services site or Swyft Filings’ entity search.

How much does a New Jersey business entity search cost?

Whether you use the state government’s resources or Swyft Filings, looking up business entities in New Jersey is free.

How do I find out who owns a New Jersey business?

You can find a business owner in New Jersey by looking up companies in the state by name. You can locate it easily through the Swyft Filings name search tool or the New Jersey state online service.

What are the benefits of registering a company in New Jersey?

If you register a company in New Jersey, you can start doing business legally throughout the state. A business registration certificate is necessary for all New Jersey businesses to be in good standing with the state and for tax purposes.

Bibliography:

1. Justia US Law. “2019 New Jersey Revised Statutes Title 14A.” Accessed May 23, 2023.

2. Business.NJ.gov. “Business Names.” Accessed May 23, 2023.

3. Business.NJ.gov. “Register Your Business.” Accessed May 23, 2023.