How to search New Jersey records
- Run the free Business Name Search to check availability; it returns matching names and entity IDs.
- For officers, agent and status, order a Business Entity Status Report or a standing certificate through the portal.
- Search for alternate names too, since New Jersey treats some variations as the same.
Open the official New Jersey search
New Jersey SOS, corporation and LLC search
New Jersey SOS Business Search
New Jersey does not keep its business register in a Secretary of State office. People who type "New Jersey SOS business search" are looking for the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES) and its Business Name Search. It is free to search by name or entity ID, and the step-by-step instructions above walk through it.
New Jersey Entity Search
An entity search of the New Jersey business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Because New Jersey expects an annual report yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
New Jersey Company Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "NJ corp search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
New Jersey LLC Search
Run the New Jersey LLC search with the exact name, then note the entity ID. Forming a New Jersey LLC costs $125 and the annual report is $75. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
NJ Business Name Search
A NJ business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. New Jersey lets you hold a name for 120 days for $50. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names. New Jersey sole proprietors file trade names with the county clerk; corporations and LLCs register alternate names with DORES.
NJ Business License Search
A New Jersey entity record is not a business license. Licenses come from the state board for a regulated trade or from the city or county where the business operates, so check those separately. The business verification checklist lists which official records to pull and in what order.
New Jersey Tax ID Lookup
A New Jersey tax ID can mean the federal EIN from the IRS or a state account number from the New Jersey tax agency for sales or payroll tax. Neither appears in the business entity record. The EIN lookup covers the federal number; the state tax agency confirms its own accounts.
A Treasury division keeps the register
New Jersey places business registration in the Treasury, under the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. Its free Business Name Search shows whether a name is in use and returns entity IDs, but officers, agent and status come from a paid Business Entity Status Report or a standing certificate.
New Jersey filing facts
| Record number | Entity ID |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $125. Certificate of Formation. |
| Recurring filing | Annual report, $75, yearly |
| Due | End of the anniversary month |
| Name reservation | $50 for 120 days |
| Agency phone | 609-292-9292 |
What a New Jersey LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $125 | $0 | $125 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $75 | $75 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $75 | $75 |
| Three-year state total | $275 | ||
Two missed reports means revocation
Annual reports cost $75 and are due by the end of the anniversary month. Two consecutive missed reports lead to revocation. Most new businesses also need a New Jersey business registration certificate for tax purposes, a separate step from forming the entity. Because the free search shows so little, order a good standing certificate when you need proof, and see how to verify a business for the other checks.
When the free search is not enough
For a New Jersey deal, the free name search only proves a name exists. Order a standing certificate or a Business Entity Status Report to see the agent, officers and whether reports are current. Two missed reports lead to revocation, so check the last report year carefully.
How New Jersey compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $125 | $75 | Yearly | $50 |
| New York | $200 | $4.50 | Every 2 years | $20 |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $7 | Yearly | $70 |
| Delaware | $110 | $300 | Yearly | $75 |
Before you rely on a New Jersey result
- Two consecutive missed annual reports lead to revocation of the entity.
- Most new businesses also need a New Jersey business registration certificate for tax purposes.
Bulk New Jersey business data
Not offered.
Searching beyond New Jersey
Registries next to New Jersey: New York business search, Pennsylvania business search, Delaware business search.
New Jersey business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in New Jersey?
The state filing fee is $125. Certificate of Formation. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $75 a year in state fees.
When is the New Jersey annual report due?
New Jersey calls it the annual report. It costs $75, it is filed yearly, and it is due end of the anniversary month.
Can I reserve a business name in New Jersey?
Yes. A name reservation costs $50 and holds the name for 120 days.
Is the New Jersey business search free?
The name search is free. Status, officers and agent details come from a paid status report or standing certificate.
Is the New Jersey business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Business Name Search costs nothing. The New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES) charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in New Jersey?
The New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES). Its business line is 609-292-9292, and its free search is the Business Name Search.
What number identifies a business in New Jersey?
New Jersey assigns each entity an entity ID. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all New Jersey businesses?
No bulk download is offered. Individual records can still be searched for free.
Sources
Data Updated Recently