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The New Jersey DBA is an important business registration that allows you to operate under a different name than your legal one. It’s perfect for companies who want more flexibility or interesting sounding names for branding purposes. Read on to know how to apply for NJ DBA in 3 simple steps.
Important! Please keep in mind that DBA is not a business structure, so it won’t protect you from liabilities, lawsuits, or any other unforeseen situations. DBA stands for Doing Business As. – often precedes the name under which a business operates, which is not the legal name of the business.
Therefore, before starting, make sure you understand the difference between informal business structures such as sole proprietorship and formal ones like corporations and LLCs.
To register or renew the trademark, trade name, or service mark for your company in New Jersey you need to file the application to the Secretary of State. Here is what you need to do:
New Jersey Business Entity Search
Your company’s trade name should be unique and have not been acquired by any other entity in New Jersey. Moreover, this name must also meet the business name requirements of New Jersey.
First, you have to search the New JerseyDivision of Revenue and Enterprise Services’ website for the DBA, Business, & Fictitious names. Check the portal thoroughly to know whether the name that you wish to have for your business has already been taken by someone or not. Make sure, this name isn’t already in use.
Note: You can also find a complete guide on business name search here.
Once you are done searching, the next step is to review the naming requirements of the state of New Jersey. In general, your DBA should not include:
- Term that confuse your business with government institutions such as state department, FBI, treasury, etc
- The terms such as urban renewal insurance, banker, banking, bank,cemetery, blind, con-con, dba, e-com, olympic, olympus, realtor, fortius, trust, olympiad, United States Olympic Committee, citius, zip code, handicapped, little league, express mail, mail, olympian, olympia, altius and USPS unless approved by concerning department.
Register Your New Jersey DBA
Businesses That Register DBA With County’s Clerk
New Jersey sole proprietors and partnerships are required to file an assumed business name application with the county clerk’s office(s) where the business is conducted or business orders are transacted.
Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey helps you find your county clerk’s contact information.
Businesses that Register DBA with the Secretary Of State ($50)
The following businesses need to register their trade names with the New Jersey Secretary of State:
- Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- For-profit Corporations
- Nonprofit Corporations
- Any Foreign Filing Entities
- Limited Partnerships (LPs)
- Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
File a New Jersey DBA Online with New Jersey Business Charter Amendment Service or download the Assumed Business Name Application and send it to
DBA Filing Mail Address:
NJ Division of Revenue
Corporate Unit
P.O. Box 308
Trenton, NJ 08646
DBA Filing In-Person Address:
NJ Division of Revenue
Corporate Unit
33 West State Street, 5th Fl.
Trenton, NJ 08608
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The following information must include in the New Jersey trade name form:
- Your business name and adress
- Owners/partners of the business and addresses
- Entity type (eg; LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation)
- Trade name’s description
Renew, Change or Withdraw Your New Jersey DBA
Renew Your Fictitious Name With the State
After every 5 years, the certificate of New Jersey Assumed Business Name sexpire. The renewal fee is $50 for all the entities except corporations which is $25. So for the renewal of DBA in New Jersey apply online or file the Renewal of Registration of Alternate Name form and send it to:
DBA Renewal Mail Address:
NJ Division of Revenue
P.O. Box 308
Trenton, NJ 08646
Change Your Fictitious Name ($25)
If you wish to make changes in your New Jersey assumed business name, Call (609) 292-9292 (New Jersey Department of Treasury’s Division of Revenue).
Withdraw Your Fictitious Name
You can cancel your New Jersey assumed business name by filing the Certificate of Termination of Corporate Alternate Name form and sending it to the address mentioned in the above section.
