Do you know that a business name often plays a key role in business identification? Then the most effective way to have a unique name is conducting a New Jersey business entity search. This article will be your final stop to know what a business entity search is, and what should be your next step after selecting a perfect name for your business in New Jersey.
No matter how well you plan your new startup or how good the business idea is, there is always a possibility of things not working your way. At this time LLCs turn out great because it protects owners/members from being personally responsible for the company loss. Additionally, you can also convert your LLC into a corporation down the road.
New Jersey Business Entity Search
Before forming an LLC in New Jersey, the first step is to carry out the New Jersey business entity search. Let’s discuss what is a business entity search and why it is necessary. A business entity search is a process to selecting a preferred entity name that is not used by any other business or a company. The preferred unique name should not match any other registered business name. This also helps in avoiding confusion among customers and businesses.
An entity search is also performed to gather information about other business entities. New Jersey business entity search is important as it will help you choose an appropriate and unique name that will stand out from the rest of the existing business name. The New Jersey secretary of state will not register your entity name if you select a name that is already used by other businesses or companies.
New Jersey LLC Naming Guidelines
Before you select your appropriate New Jersey LLC name, there are certain guidelines that should be followed. New Jersey LLC naming guidelines are written below:
- The name of your New Jersey LLC must end with “LLC”, “L.L.C.”, or “Limited Liability Company”.
- Words like “Trust”, “Realtor”, etc cannot be used.
- The LLC name you choose must not include any word, derivate, abbreviation, or phrase that indicates or suggests that it is an entity of a purpose other than what it is supposed to.
New Jersey Business Entity Search Methods
By now you must have realized how important it is to choose a unique and perfect business entity name. Different states have different procedures. But what is the business entity search procedure for the state of New Jersey? Firstly, you are required to open the official website of the New Jersey Secretary of State business search. You can directly perform the search for available names in a separate section. This could be done by clicking on the business name availability button. After that, you will be redirected to the search result page where you can type your desired name. Type your preferable name on the search bar and check if the business name is available or not. Similarly, you can even search for the information of registered businesses on the official portal of New Jersey SOS business search. This can be done in three different ways:
1. Business Name – You can directly type the business name of a company if you want to explore its necessary information.
2. Keyword Search – You can even search for the information of a registered business by entering a keyword.
3. Entity ID – You can even carry out the search by providing the company’s legal entity ID.
New Jersey LLC Name Reservation
You can even reserve your LLC name in New Jersey if you feel like you are not ready to start your business immediately. You can file the Name Reservation Application with the New Jersey SOS. This will cost you about $50. Your name will be reserved for 120 days which can be renewed further on with an additional fee of $50. This option allows you to reserve a name in the meantime, you can still search for a better name and if you run out of luck, you can always come back and register the already reserved name.
New Jersey LLC Name Registration
Once you have finalized your entity name by performing a New Jersey business entity search on their government website. You can register your name and move ahead with the certificate of formation to form the LLC. This will cost $125. It will take around 2-3 weeks by mail and less than an hour if you apply online to form an LLC in the State of New Jersey. Although registering your LLC name would be the first and foremost step without which you cannot move ahead.
Domain and Trademark
For the online visibility of your business, it is important to choose a domain name that’s similar to the business name. You can also register a trademark for your business name. A trademark is not necessary for your business, but you can certainly trademark many elements of your business. Any company can use a trademark to get that extra protection from other businesses. You can trademark your business name, symbol, or logo which will cost you around $50.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can open the New Jersey Secretary of state business search and check if your desired name is available or not.
It will cost you about $125 to form a New Jersey LLC.
No, you cannot reserve your business LLC name online, you can only reserve it via mail in the State of New Jersey.
You can directly search it by providing either the business name or identity ID on the official portal of the New Jersey SOS.
You can renew your New Jersey LLC name reservation which will cost you around $50 per renewal.
It will take less than 1 hour if you apply online and about 2-3 weeks by mail to form a New Jersey LLC. 1. How can I check if my preferred business name is available in New Jersey?
2. How much does it cost to form a New Jersey LLC?
3. Can I reserve my New Jersey LLC name online?
4. How do I find out if a business is active in New Jersey?
5. Is it possible to renew my New Jersey LLC name reservation?
6. How long does it take to get an LLC in New Jersey?