New Jersey · Division of Revenue records · checked 18 Sep 2026
New Jersey business search: find a registered business or check a name
New Jersey’s business records are kept by the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES), part of the Treasury, not the Secretary of State. Its free Business Name Search works two ways: look up a registered business, or check whether a name is available to form.
- Straight to the official New Jersey search
- Facts checked 18 Sep 2026, with sources
- Name check before you file
Picking a new name? Also check the domain and federal trademarks. The state search answers neither.
Checked 18 Sep 2026 against official New Jersey sources. See every source.
Using New Jersey’s business records
Two searches in one box
New Jersey’s Business Name Search runs in two modes. Registered Businesses looks up companies already on file, active or not, and shows the name, entity ID, city, entity type and formation date. Available Names checks whether a name can be used to form a business online. Pick the mode that matches your question; the answers aren’t interchangeable.
Finding a company’s registered agent
The free search doesn’t show the agent. To see it, order a Business Entity Status Report from the Division’s Business Records Service: $5 plus a $1.25 online fee. The report lists the registered agent, legal status, filing history and the date of the last annual report. You can also search the records service by the agent’s name.
Why the state says not to reserve
A reservation costs $50 and lasts 120 days, and it can be renewed. The Division calls it "optional and not recommended", because a reserved name can’t be used in the online formation app. You’d have to file by mail or fax.
Words the name check blocks
The Available Names search won’t accept words such as bank, trust, savings, insurance, realtor, cemetery or Olympic. It ignores capital letters, spaces, punctuation, a leading "the/a/an", a trailing "s" and the words "and/or/of" when comparing names. Online names need at least four characters.
DBAs for an LLC
An LLC that trades under another name registers an alternate name with the Division on Form C-150G ($50, good for five years). Register before you use it: each prior year of use adds $50, and the LLC can’t enforce contracts made under that name until it’s registered.
New Jersey facts, with sources
| Fact | What the official source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Office | NJ Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES) | nj.gov |
| Search tool | njportal Business Name Search, with two modes. "Registered Businesses" returns matches regardless of status and shows name, entity ID, city, type and date formed. "Available Names" checks if a name can be used to form online. | njportal.com |
| Official search link | njportal.com/DOR/BusinessNameSearch | njportal.com |
| Registered agent lookup | Not in the free search. Order a Business Entity Status Report ($5 + $1.25 online): agent, status, filing history, annual report date. The Business Records Service can also be searched by agent name. | nj.gov |
| Name reservation fee | $50 (renewal also $50) | nj.gov |
| Reservation duration | 120 days, renewable (N.J.S.A. 42:2C-10). Business.nj.gov says "6 months"; the statute and Form UNRR-1 say 120 days. The state calls reserving "optional and not recommended": a reserved name forces you to file by mail or fax, not online. | pub.njleg.gov |
| Expedite | Over-the-counter or fax filings only: $25 (8.5 business hours), $50 same day, $500 for 2 hours, $1,000 for 1 hour | nj.gov |
| Required designators | "Limited liability company", "L.L.C." or "LLC"; "Ltd." and "Co." allowed as abbreviations (N.J.S.A. 42:2C-8(a)) | pub.njleg.gov |
| Restricted words (online search blocks) | bank, banker, banking, blind, cemetery, handicapped, insurance, Olympic (and variants), realtor, savings, trust, urban renewal, USPS, zip code and others. No profanity. | njportal.com |
| Name standard | Must be distinguishable; DORES rejects names "too similar". The check ignores capitals, spaces, punctuation, a leading A/AN/THE, a trailing "s", and AND/OR/OF. Online names need 4+ characters and only . , ' - & | njportal.com |
| Annual report | $75, due by the end of the anniversary month | nj.gov |
| DBA for an LLC | "Alternate name" on Form C-150G with DORES: $50, lasts 5 years, renew within 90 days before it expires. Using the name before registering adds $50 per year. County trade names are for sole proprietors and partnerships. | nj.gov |
| 2025 change | Fax machines retired 20 Oct 2025; fax filings go through the online NJ Fax Filing app | nj.gov |
Each fact checked 18 Sep 2026. Fees and processing times change; the linked source is the final word.
After the name: what New Jersey asks for next
Three checks the state search does not make
A name that is free in New Jersey may be taken online. Check the .com and the alternatives.
State registration is not a trademark. Search the USPTO database.
Registering elsewhere later means passing that state's name check too. Search any other state.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find an LLC’s registered agent in New Jersey?
Order a Business Entity Status Report from the Division of Revenue’s Business Records Service ($5 plus $1.25 online). The free name search doesn’t show agents. Source: nj.gov
Does the NJ business name search show if a name is available?
Yes, in its "Available Names" mode. The "Registered Businesses" mode is a records lookup. The check ignores capitals, punctuation, "the", a trailing "s" and "and/or/of". Source: njportal.com
Should I reserve an LLC name in New Jersey?
The state calls it optional and not recommended. A reservation ($50, 120 days, renewable) means you can’t use online formation and must file by mail or fax. Source: nj.accessgov.com
How does an LLC get a DBA in New Jersey?
Register an alternate name with the Division of Revenue on Form C-150G. It costs $50 and lasts five years. Register before using it, or pay $50 for each prior year of use. Source: nj.gov
Is the New Jersey business search run by the Secretary of State?
No. New Jersey business records are kept by the Treasury’s Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. Source: nj.gov
Nearby states
Each state keeps its own records and its own name rules. Forming or registering next door? Search there too.
New Jersey
Forming in New Jersey? Skip the reservation and file online.
The state calls name reservations optional and not recommended, because a reserved name can’t go through online formation. We form New Jersey LLCs online for $123.75 plus the state fee, with the full total shown before you pay, and can act as your NJ registered agent.
Or call (954) 470-8356 — we pick up.