Forming an LLC requires a different business name, which must be unique and adheres to the guidelines. The great thing is New Jersey’s Division of Revenue page includes a name availability checker. Check out LLC Name Search to learn more.
Meanwhile, if you’re interested in learning more about starting an LLC in NJ or forming an LLC in general, you can check out How to Start an LLC.
On this page, you’ll learn about the following:
How to Name an LLC in New Jersey
Time needed: 5 minutes.
There are guidelines to follow in doing a New Jersey LLC name search. To learn more, check out LLC Naming Guidelines or read Foreign LLC Application for Registration if you’re planning to register a foreign LLC.
- Check Name Availability
Search the Business Entity Records in New Jersey’s Official Division of Revenue page to check if your chosen business name is available. You may also try typing your trademark, business, or domain name on any search engine to generate businesses with similar names and to ensure your trademark is unique and meets the state’s requirements.
Check out How to File a DBA to learn more about registering a DBA or trademark. For social media pages, use Social Searcher to avoid using similar page names. - Check Domain Availability
If your business name is still available, you must register for a domain name using Namecheap, Google Workspace, or other domain name sites. So customers can easily find your business over the Internet. Use the Kinsta app to manage your domains efficiently.
- File Name Reservation
A Name Reservation Certificate is required along with a Certificate of Formation. You can reserve a name online, by mail, or in person with a $50 filing fee (plus tax for online).
File your Certificate of Formation and Name Reservation online on the Division of Revenue Online Services page of New Jersey. You may also download the pdf file of the Name reservation form and submit it with the processing fee to the NJ Division of Revenue, PO Box 308, Trenton, NJ 08646.
Guidelines to Follow in Naming LLC
- Use a business name with the abbreviation “LLC” or the phrase “Limited Liability Company.”
- Your decided business name must not coincide with any existing government entity. Otherwise, you might have to face legal lawsuits when filing your LLC.
- Use the LLC name availability checker to ensure your business name is unique.
- Get a license first if you plan on using restricted words to avoid any complications.
Note that you must put adequate effort into naming your LLC because this name will be with your business for a long time. Making your LLC name unique is vital as it would prevent people from confusing your business with others, not to mention it would be easier for them to recall your business, products, or services.
How to do a New Jersey LLC Online Name Search
It is critical that you choose a name for your LLC. If you have a unique name for your LLC, you’ll need to look it up on the New Jersey state website to check if no other company is using it. Check out these hints to learn more.
Utilize the search engine for business entities in the state’s tool.
The New Jersey Department of Treasury will provide a business search website. This tool can help you determine whether the name you want is available for use by your company. It is only necessary to keep backup names, so they can be easily selected.
Enter your name
There are three kinds of searches that you can perform on the search page. You can look up the name of the entity, the entity ID, or a keyword. Just type in the detail required in the search field for the search type that you choose.
Run the search
There are two methods for locating the desired name. Enter the search term, then select the “contains” option. The names of businesses with the word you input would then be displayed. You can also choose “starts with.” This will return results for businesses with names that start with the word you input.
Searches will reveal information on the current incorporated date of companies, their type, city, and entity IDs.
How Do I Reserve an LLC Name in New Jersey
To reserve an LLC name in New Jersey you need to submit a name reservation request form to the New Jersey Secretary of State by mail or online by paying a filing fee of $50.
Choosing the right name for a business is a critical aspect of establishing a brand identity. Your company needs a name that is memorable, descriptive, unique and legally yours. Choosing a name for an LLC in New Jersey is a considerable task that requires several steps, including reserving the name. Every entrepreneur planning to launch a startup or expanding his business must understand the process of reserving an LLC name in New Jersey.
The first step in reserving an LLC name in New Jersey is picking a unique name that adheres to the state’s rules and regulations. When starting a Limited Liability Company (LLC), entrepreneurs need to adhere to specific guidelines set by the New Jersey Department of Treasury. The name should end with “Limited Liability Company” or abbreviated as “LLC”. This ensures that the company’s name is legally bound and can’t be taken by anyone else in New Jersey.
Once an entrepreneur has finalized a company’s name, the next step is to search for the unique name of the company. The online database in New Jersey has provisions for checking trademarks and ventures already registered through Business Name Lookup. It helps to verify whether the company’s desired name is not too close to a similar-sounding company name.
After ensuring that the LLC name’s selection falls within New Jersey’s legal regulations, the next step in reserving an LLC name is filing a “Name Reservation” form with the Secretary of State of New Jersey. The application can be filed online via state’s Business Formation Registry, and a fee of $50 is charged to reserve the LLC name conditionally for four months. Failure to reserve the name earlier allows other Entrepreneurs in different formations to reserve and incorporate the name.
It is advised operators check for name availability and reserve a selected name as soon as possible to avoid drafting all ownership documents and legal requirements on a rejected name. Reserving an LLC name legally assures business owners that their brand is protected and neither another individual nor competing organization can use it irrespective of product, service, or class, act or add as a source of confusion that may comply with marketing and advertising plans.
Safeguarding an LLC name is furthermore vital. It saves both time and effort put into reputation establishment and commanding an identity in the market space. It is important that entrepreneurs adhere to these regulations to prevent infringement and lifting of their businesses brands and logos through legal means.
In conclusion, reserving an LLC name in New Jersey is the perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs to establish a distinctive, recognizable, and memorable brand. The essential aspects to consider are to survive the corporation name legal regulations, choose a unique name, search for competing trademark and ventures, then reserve the name online via State’s Department of Treasury. Legalizing an LLC name ensures any effort put into branding a business are safeguarded indicating the importance of a reserved name as a competitive advantage in establishing Company’s trust and credibility.
F.A.Qs
A trade name (doing business as (DBA) name) is the official name under which a proprietor or company chooses to do business.
Having a domain isn’t necessary, but it is recommended. If you have a domain name, customers will find you more accessible through online means with your online website.
For domestic LLC, you can simply brainstorm for another name if the one you pick is no longer available. For foreign LLC, you must think up a “fictitious name,” which you’ll use only in the state.
In Conclusion
LLC names are important as it is the main identity of your business. While naming your LLC make sure to choose the one that suits the nature of your business. Follow the naming guidelines before you start filing your LLC name
