Lookup Business Entity | Form Corporation | FAQ
A search on the Secretary of State’s website of the state or territory where the corporation is registered will yield information on any corporation or business entity registered in New Jersey or another state. There is no charge to use this site because it is not affiliated with any government agency. Note that while most states provide free basic corporation registration information, some may charge a fee for more detailed information.
| Official Website: | http://www.nj.gov/njbusiness/ |
| Address: | Department of State, Business Action Center, P.O. Box 820, Trenton, NJ 08625-0820 |
| Phone: | 1(866)-534-7789 |
| E-Mail: | http://www.nj.gov/njbusiness/home/contact.shtml |
New Jersey Business Search Shortcut
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How to Lookup a Business Entity in New Jersey
New Jersey Secretary of State Business Search for Business Name
- To check if a name is available in New Jersey, go to the website above. Then, in the search field, input the required name and hit the search button.
- You will receive notifications if the name you provided is available. If it’s not accessible, you’ll get a list of all the other entity names that clash with yours.
New Jersey Secretary of State Business Search by business name
- If you’re seeking details on a New Jersey entity that has already been registered, go to their website first. You may look for a company by putting its name into the search field and pressing the Search button.
- The information will be shown on the next page. The names of all entities that include the words (s) you searched for will be shown here. The entity id, entity type, city of incorporation, and date of incorporation are also displayed.
New Jersey Secretary of State Business Search by Keyword
- To locate information about an entity, type a word into the search box. To get started, go to this page and put the term into the search field, then hit the Search button.
- On the left, you’ll see the entity ID, city of incorporation, kind of entity, and date of incorporation, while on the right, you’ll see the entity ID, city of incorporation, type of entity, and date of incorporation.
New Jersey Secretary of State Business Search by NJ Entity ID
- Go to their website first to begin a company search using an entity ID. Then, in the search window, type the entity ID and hit the Search button.
- On the left, you’ll notice the name of the firm. The entity ID, city of incorporation, kind of entity, and date of incorporation are all displayed on the right.
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Steps to form a new Corporation in New Jersey
1. Select a Name
To find out if a name is available, go to the New Jersey Secretary of State’s website and do a name search. The name of your corporation must be distinct from that of other corporate names that are currently on record with the New Jersey Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. By submitting an Application for Reservation of Name to the New Jersey Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Commercial Services, you can reserve a name for six months.
2. Choose a Registered Agent
The state of New Jersey requires every business to have an agent for legal process serving. If a company is sued, this person or business consents to take court documents on the company’s behalf. An entity with a certificate of power to conduct business in New Jersey such as Northwest Registered Agent and GoDaddy, a New Jersey resident, a New Jersey company, or a foreign entity may serve as a registered agent.
3. Fill out your public records request and application for a business license
Take time to investigate any necessary permissions or licenses to maintain your new firm on the legal straight and narrow. Depending on the type of company services you offer, the county or city where your firm is situated, and if you employ people, different permissions and licenses may be required.
4. Form a Board of Directors
The first corporate directors are chosen by the incorporator and serve on the board up until the inaugural annual shareholder meeting.
5. Establish corporate bylaws
The fundamental guidelines for running your organization are outlined in the bylaws, which are internal corporate documents. They are not reported to the government. Corporate bylaws are not legally needed for your company, but you should nonetheless adopt them since they define how your company will operate and demonstrate to lenders, creditors, the IRS, and other parties that your company is genuine.
6. Organize the First Board Meeting
The new organization should schedule an inaugural board meeting after naming a board of directors and drafting bylaws. This initial meeting is frequently organized and attended by the incorporator. At the first board meeting, the directors pick corporate officials, choose a corporate bank, establish the corporation’s fiscal year, approve the issuing of shares of stock, and adopt a formal stock certificate form and official seal.
7. Deal with Tax Obligations
Note that corporate taxes must be paid separately from shareholder profits taxes. Federal and state governments require the proper returns to be filed annually in order to do this.
8. Acquiring Business Permits and Licenses
Take time to investigate any necessary permissions or licenses to maintain your new firm on the legal straight and narrow. Depending on the type of company services you offer, the county or city where your firm is situated, and if you employ people, different permissions and licenses may be required.
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Frequently Asked Questions on New Jersey Secretary of State Business Search
How do I come up with a name for my business in New Jersey?
You’ll need to come up with a unique company name if you want to form an LLC or Corporation in the state of New Jersey. As a result, come up with a few name suggestions and then conduct a business entity search to see if any of them are already in use. First and foremost, pick a name that is suitable for your company. You want it to be a good reflection of you as a business owner. Other requirements apply when naming your LLC, so consult the NJ Secretary of State’s website for more information.
How long will it take for the State of New Jersey to register my business name?
If you choose to register a specific name that isn’t already in use, you’ll be approved within one or two business days. However, if the name is identical to that of a defunct business, the registration process could take up to two weeks longer.
Should I use a URL that is similar to my NJ business name?
This is entirely up to you. If you want to use a similar URL (website) name, you’ll need to make sure the business name you want is available. Following that, you’ll want to see if that name is available for a website. You might also consider using a similar or identical e-mail address to keep your company’s contact information consistent.
Is it possible to look up a company by its entity ID?
Without a doubt, you can find the information you need by searching for the company’s entity ID number.