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Once you’ve chosen a New Jersey LLC name, you need to compare it against existing businesses in the state.
This is done using the New Jersey Business Name Search tool.
And this is necessary because business names in the same state:
- can’t be the same
- can’t be too similar
If you file your LLC paperwork with a name that’s not available, your LLC filing will be rejected.
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How do I search the New Jersey business entity name database?
New Jersey has two different business entity search tools for checking a potential business name: The Business Name Search and the Business Name Availability Search. We explain how to use both tools below.
Visit the New Jersey Business Name Search pages
We recommend starting with the Business Name Search so you can see other businesses with similar names.
Business Name Search
New Jersey Business Name Search
Simply enter your desired LLC name in the box and click Search.
- This database searches all business entities registered in New Jersey. It shows you all similar names.
- Don’t enter a designator (like “LLC”) during the search.
How to use Wildcard. This Guide from the Division of Revenue describes how to use the wildcard feature. We think it’s simpler to just perform several searches.
For example, you would search “River%walk” to use the wildcard feature. That would show results for names containing both Riverwalk (one word) and River Walk (two words). Alternatively, you could do two searches, one for “Riverwalk” and another for “River Walk”.
Tip: It’s best to enter only the main part of your desired New Jersey LLC name in the search bar. For example, if your desired LLC name is Riverwalk Studios LLC, first do a search for the words “Riverwalk Studio”. And then do a search for “Riverwalk”. This helps make sure that you see everything that is potentially similar.
Business Name Availability Search
We recommend using this in addition to the Business Database Search to double-check that your New Jersey LLC name is unique.
Simply enter your desired LLC name in the box and click Search.
- You’ll get an “available” or “not available” response.
- This tool doesn’t show you similar names already in use.
Search tips:
- Don’t enter a designator (like “LLC”) during the search.
- You can search using uppercase or lowercase letters.
How to interpret the New Jersey LLC search results
If the Business Name Search results show names that are not too similar to yours (meaning yours is distinguishable), then your Limited Liability Company name is available for use.
- Let’s keep using the example above. If your desired name is Riverwalk Studios LLC, and the only similar names you saw were “Riverwalk Rentals” and “Riverwalk Studio Starters”, then your name should be available.
If no results show up, that means your LLC name is unique and it should be available for use. To be safe, run your search again using only part of your LLC name (to double-check that there are no similar names).
- For example, search just the word “Riverwalk” instead of Riverwalk Studios.
If your exact LLC name appears in the list of search records, your LLC name is not available for use because another New Jersey business entity is already using it.
If the results show a name that is very similar to yours, your LLC name may not be available for use.
- If your desired name is Riverwalk Studios LLC, and the search results show a “Riverwalk Studio”, then your name is not available.
Once you have a name that appears to be unique, check again using the Business Name Availability Search tool. If you get a message that the name is Available, you should be good to go!
What if my desired LLC name isn’t available?
If your name is not unique, you’ll need to come up with a variation or a different name for your LLC.
Tip: Wait until your LLC is approved before you apply for your LLC EIN Number or purchase any other marketing materials. This way you don’t spend money on business supplies you can’t use because your business name isn’t available.
New Jersey Division of Revenue Contact Information
You can call the New Jersey Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services to ask questions about whether your LLC name is available.
Representatives at the New Jersey Division of Revenue can help you use the New Jersey Business Name Search. They can’t guarantee that your LLC name will be available when you file, however.
The Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services phone number is 609-292-9292. Their hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:30am – 4:30pm Eastern Time.
New Jersey Limited Liability Company Name Requirements
As per Section 42:2C-8 of the New Jersey LLC Act, there are a few rules and requirements for naming a New Jersey business entity that you need to know.
Do I have to use a comma in my LLC name?
No, you don’t have to. You can file your LLC name with or without a comma. Both versions are accepted by the Division of Revenue.
For example: If your desired business name is Dancer Squares, you can file it as:
- Dancer Squares LLC
- Dancer Squares, LLC
Or, instead of having “LLC” as your designator (ending), there are a few other options in New Jersey.
What designators (endings) can I use in my LLC name?
Your New Jersey LLC name must contain one of the following designators at the end:
- LLC
- L.L.C.
- Limited Liability Co.
- Limited Liability Company
- Ltd. Liability Co.
- Ltd. Liability Company
Note: Most people choose “LLC”.
The following designators are not allowed
Your New Jersey LLC can’t make itself sound like a New Jersey Corporation or any other business entity besides an LLC.
The following words and designators can’t be used anywhere in your LLC name:
- Corp
- Corporation
- Inc.
- Incorporated
- LLP
- LP
- P.A.
- P.C.
- Professional Association
- Professional Corporation
- Non Profit Corporation
What words are not allowed in my New Jersey LLC name?
Your New Jersey LLC name can’t contain words and abbreviations that are restricted by law.
For example, you can’t make your LLC name sound like it’s a bank, part of the government or a government agency, or anything else that misleads the public.
New Jersey prohibits the use of these words (among others) in LLC names:
- Blind
- Cemetery
- Con-con
- Dba
- E-com
- Express Mail
- Handicapped
- Usps
- Little League
- Olympic (and related words)
- Realtor
- Urban Renewal
- Zip Code
You also can’t use words that are reserved for licensed professionals. These vary by state, but some common examples are accountants, architects, attorneys, dentists, and engineers.
For more information about restricted words for a New Jersey business entity, please see this page: NJ DOR Business Name FAQs.
Your New Jersey business name must be distinguishable (unique)
When you use the New Jersey Division of Revenue Business Name Search, you will compare your desired LLC name to existing businesses in the state.
If your name is not unique, you’ll need to come up with a variation or a different business name.
Below are rules and examples of LLC names that are not distinguishable.
Designators
Differences in designators (endings) don’t create distinguishability.
If your desired LLC name is Jersey Tomato LLC, it’s not available to use if any of the following are found in the New Jersey Business Name Search results:
- Jersey Tomato, Inc.
- Jersey Tomato Corp.
- Jersey Tomato, Limited Liability Company
Filler Words
Adding non-meaningful or filler words (the, a, an, and, &, or) won’t create distinguishability.
If your desired LLC name is Goldfinch Farms LLC, it’s not available to use if any of the following are found:
- The Goldfinch Farms LLC
- A Goldfinch Farm Inc.
- Goldfinch and Farms L.L.C.
- Goldfinch & Farms Corp
Plural or Singular Words and Possessive Words
Adding a letter “s” to make a word plural or possessive doesn’t create distinguishability.
If your desired LLC name is Bob’s Turtles LLC, it’s not available to use if any of the following are found:
- Bobs Turtles LLC
- Bob’s Turtle Inc.
- Bob Turtle, L.L.C.
Phonetic Spelling of the same name or word
Using a different spelling (a phonetic spelling) of the same name or word doesn’t create distinguishability.
If your desired LLC name is Boys Baskets LLC, it’s not available to use if any of the following are found:
- Boyz Basketz LLC
- Boiz Baskets Corp.
- Boys Bassketts Ltd. Liability Co.
Capitalization
Differences in capitalization don’t create distinguishability.
If your desired LLC name is Meadow and Violet LLC, it’s not available to use if any of the following are found:
- MEADOW and violet Inc.
- meadow and violet LP
- MeAdOw aNd VioLeT LLC
Said another way, you’re allowed to use any capitalization you want. It just doesn’t make your name distinguishable from an existing company with the same name.
Punctuation, Symbols, Spaces
Adding or removing punctuation, symbols and spaces doesn’t create distinguishability.
If your desired LLC name is Blueberry Soapstore LLC, it’s not available to use if any of the following are found:
- Blueberry-Soap-Store Inc.
- Blueberry/Soapstore, Limited Liability Co.
- Blue Berry Soap Store, L.L.C.
What if my New Jersey business name is rejected?
If you file your New Jersey Certificate of Formation (the document that creates your New Jersey LLC) and the business name is not available, don’t panic. The state will notify you and tell you why your filing was rejected.
You will just need to file again with a variation of your LLC name or a different LLC name.
New Jersey Business Name FAQs
No, a name reservation isn’t required to form an LLC in New Jersey. It’s an unnecessary step and a waste of money.
You can just file your LLC’s Certificate of Formation with your desired LLC name.
Yes. Your New Jersey LLC name must contain one of the allowable designators at the end. The most commonly used designators are:
- LLC
- Limited Liability Company
- Ltd. Liability Co.
No, you’re not required to file a DBA (“Doing Business As”) for your business entity in New Jersey.
In fact, in New Jersey, only foreign LLCs (those that already exist in another state and are registering in New Jersey also) use “DBAs”. If you formed a New Jersey LLC, you would register an Alternate Name. Learn more here: New Jersey DBA Glossary.
An Alternate Name in New Jersey lets your LLC conduct business under a name which is different from its true and legal name (the name on your Certificate of Formation).
If you want your LLC to do business under a name that’s different from its true and legal name, you have to file a Registration of Alternate Name online and pay an additional fee of $50 to the Division of Revenue. Check out the Division of Revenue Alternate Name Guide for more information on this process.
If you are going to file an Alternate Name for your New Jersey LLC, it must also be distinguishable from existing business names in the state.
There is no limit to the number of Alternate Names an LLC can have.
For more information, please see Does my LLC need a DBA?
When would my LLC use an Alternate Name (DBA)?
Let’s say you form an LLC called Garden State Food Tours LLC, but you also want to use a friendlier, catchy name, like Garden State Tours. In this case, your LLC would need to file a Registration of Alternate Name to use the name Garden State Tours.
If you don’t file a Registration of Alternate Name for a different name, you can only use your legal entity name of Garden State Food Tours LLC.
Similarly, if you want to do business under the name Garden State Food Tours, just without the letters “LLC” in the name, you will need to file an Alternate Name for Garden State Food Tours.
Once you’ve found a business name that you like, it’s a good idea to check if your domain name is available before forming your LLC.
You can search for available domain names with GoDaddy:
Find a domain name
Each business entity name must be “distinguishable upon the records” of the Division of Revenue.
This means that no two businesses can operate with the same exact name. Said another way, if a business already exists with your desired LLC name, you can’t register your LLC with that name.
For example, let’s say you want to form an LLC called Meadow Landscapers LLC. But there is already a business in another town called Meadow Landscapers, Inc. Because your desired LLC name is the same as that existing New Jersey Corporation, it is not distinguishable. You can’t use it and must choose another name.
Business names are important for branding and recognition. The name of your New Jersey LLC can be your company’s brand name, but it doesn’t have to be (please see the FAQ about DBAs above). Either way, picking a good LLC name is an important decision.
Here are some quick tips for coming up with business names:
- First, write down the features of your company and things that you want to be associated with.
- Then list out as many business names as you can think of. Don’t edit or analyze them. Just get as many names on the page as you can.
- Now go back and read through them. Write down any variations that come to mind.
- Next, set the list aside. Do something else, like go for a walk or get groceries, or sleep on it for the night. Then come back and review the list of names. As you go through it, write down additional ideas and variations.
- Read the whole list out loud. If you want, get input from friends, business partners, and family.
- Repeat the process: sleep on the ideas, write down new variations, read them out loud again.
- The best business name will often “rise off the page” and present itself. If it doesn’t, you can try this trick: Close your eyes and count to 10. When you get to 10, you must choose a name. When you open your eyes, force yourself to make a decision. Sometimes we know the best name deep in our subconscious, and this trick can help it come out. Trust yourself and go with what feels best.
For more tips, please see How to Choose an LLC Name.
No. You can’t use the same name as another New Jersey business.
And it doesn’t matter what entity type it is – your LLC can’t have the same entity name as another corporation, LLC, or any other entity type.
You can’t use another business’s name even if the entity is in “delinquent” status on the New Jersey Division of Revenue website.
But if a business is dissolved, they no longer have rights to that name. This means you can form an LLC with the same name.
You can change your LLC’s name later by filing an Amendment form with the Division of Revenue.
We have step-by-step instructions on how to change an LLC name in New Jersey.
Here are the steps to starting an LLC in New Jersey:
- Choose an LLC name and make sure it’s available
- Choose who will be your New Jersey Registered Agent
- File the New Jersey LLC Certificate of Formation
- Get a Tax ID Number (EIN) from the IRS
- File the New Jersey LLC Registration with the Division of Taxation
- Complete and sign an LLC Operating Agreement
- Open an LLC bank account
- Check whether you need a business or sales tax license in New Jersey
References
NJ LLC Act: Section 42-2C-8
N.J. Admin. Code § 17:35-3.1
Business.NJ.gov: Business Names
NJ Division of Revenue: Business Name Search FAQs
NJ Division of Revenue: Check Business Name Availability
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
New Jersey LLC Guide
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