If you’re planning to start a business in New Jersey using a specific name, you may need to register for a business name. Business name registration is commonly referred to as a New Jersey DBA or “Doing Business As,” but is officially called a Trade Name or Alternate Name.
Check out our guide to see if you need to register for a New Jersey Trade Name or Alternate Name and the steps to register.
Related: How to start a business in New Jersey
Who needs to register for a New Jersey Trade Name?
The requirements and need to register for a Trade Name and Alternate Name vary depending on the type of business structure.
Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are the most common business structures to register for a New Jersey DBA. By default, the name of a sole proprietorship and general partnership is the owner(s) legal name, but if the small business owner wants to operate under a specific name, they will need to complete the business Trade Name registration.
For example, if Amy Smith starts a photography business but doesn’t use a specific business name, she doesn’t have to register. If Amy decides to name his business Amy’s Photography, then she will need to register for a Trade Name.
Related: How to start a New Jersey Sole Proprietorship
Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, and Limited Partnerships won’t typically register a fictitious name since a unique entity name is created during the formation process. If they have another business they want to operate under their corporate/LLC umbrella to keep the liability protection without having to form another entity, they can file to operate with an Alternate Name.
What are the steps to file a DBA in New Jersey?
Sole Proprietorship & General Partnership
Step 1: Obtain the Certificate of Trade Name Form
Businesses needing a Certificate of Trade Name will obtain a form from the County Clerk’s office in the county where the business is located. Most Clerks have the form online, and all will have them available to pick up.
Step 2: Verify the Name is Available
Each Trade Name has to be unique from other business names in the county where the name is being registered. Several counties have the name search available online, or they can be searched by reviewing the Trade Name book at the Clerk’s office.
Step 3: Fill out the Trade Name Form
Information requested on the form includes:
- Fictitious Name
- Business Address
- What the business does
- Name of the owners
Step 4: Notarize the Form
Before filing the form, be sure to have it notarized. Most County Clerks offices offer a notary service available at no cost.
Step 5: File the Form
Upon filing the form, the business owner will get a Trade Name Certificate.
Corporation, LLC, LP, and LLP
Step 1: Verify Name Availability
Every name registration must be unique to other businesses on the and not too similar to other names on record. Before filling out the form, visit the New Jersey Department of Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Service’s Business Entity Database to see if the New Jersey business name you want is available.
Step 2: Fill out the Form
The Registration of Alternate Name form (C-150-G) is available from the New Jersey Department of Treasury website.
Information requested on the form includes:
- Type of Business Entity – Corporation, LLC, LP
- Current legal name of the business
- Department of Treasury 10-digit ID number
- Date of formation
- The alternate name being requested
- Purpose of the business
Step 3: Submit the New Jersey Alternate Name Form
The form can be filed online, in person, by mail, or by fax to:
The address to send by mail is:
New Jersey Division of Revenue
Corporate Unit
PO Box 308
Trenton, NJ 08646
The address to deliver in person is:
New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services,
Corporate Unit
33 West State Street, 5th Floor
Trenton, NJ 08608
The fax number is: 609-984-6851
New Jersey DBA FAQs
Are there any naming restrictions when filing a New Jersey DBA?
In addition to being unique, DBAs can’t be registered using words that are related to banks, including bank, banker, and banking, unless the business is licensed to provide those services.
Names should also not include wording that is similar to any government agency such as FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.
Other words that need approval before use include blind, cemetery, con-con, dba, e-com, express mail, handicapped, little league, mail, Olympic, Olympus, Olympia, Olympian, Olympiad, Altius Fortius, realtor, trust, United States, urban renewal insurance, zip code, and USPS.
After registering the Trade Name, can someone use my business name?
While registering your Trade Name will keep someone else from registering the exact same name in the state of New Jersey, it does very little to stop someone else from operating that business name in other states. If stopping others from using your business name is important, you can protect it through a trademark.
Related: How to trademark a business name
How much does it cost to register a DBA in New Jersey?
The state filing fee to register a business name in New Jersey varies by county but is typically $50.
Names are effective for five years and may be renewed in five-year periods
Is an Alternate Name the same as a DBA?
Alternate Name is essentially the name used for a DBA that is for New Jersey corporations and LLCs. Sole proprietorships and partnerships file a Trade Name for their DBA.
Does a Trade Name need an EIN?
An EIN or Employer Identification Number is a unique nine-digit number that some businesses will register for through the Internal Revenue Department (IRS). An EIN is required for partnerships, corporations, multi-member LLCs, or any business that has employees.
Sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs without employees can use the owner’s social security number to identify the business.
There is no cost to get an EIN when registering directly from the IRS.
What is the difference between a New Jersey Trade Name and a business license?
These are actually two different business registrations. In addition to the New Jersey Trade Name registration, most businesses will also need a business license. The licenses a business will need vary depending on what the business does and local registration requirements.
