New Jersey Business Entity Search: Free Lookup (2026)

Q: Is the New Jersey business entity search free?

The Business Name Search operated by the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services is free to check whether a name is already in use. Detailed records, such as a Business Entity Status Report or a Standing Certificate, carry a fee set by the Registry Fee Schedule.

Q: Who runs the New Jersey business entity search?

The New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES), a unit of the Department of the Treasury, maintains the official record of registered businesses. It offers a free Business Name Search and a paid Business Records Service for detailed status information.

Q: How do I check if a New Jersey business name is available?

Use the free Business Name Search on the DORES portal and enter your desired name. If no matching or confusingly similar name appears, the name is likely available. A clear search is not a guarantee; the Division makes the final determination when you file your Certificate of Formation.

Q: How do I find a New Jersey LLC's registered agent?

Order a Business Entity Status Report through the DORES Business Records Service. It shows the entity's current status, registered agent, registered office, and filing history. The free name search confirms existence and status but shows fewer details.

Q: What is a New Jersey Standing Certificate?

A Standing Certificate, New Jersey's certificate of good standing, confirms that a registered entity exists and has met its filing and tax obligations. It is issued by the Division of Revenue for a fee and is often requested by banks or other states.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

You look up a New Jersey business through the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES). The Business Name Search is free and confirms whether a name is already in use and an entity's basic status. For a company's registered agent, officers, and full filing history, order a Business Entity Status Report or a Standing Certificate through the Business Records Service, which carries a fee set by the state schedule.

Quick Answer

Agency: NJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES), Dept. of the Treasury
Free tool: Business Name Search - name availability and basic status
Paid tool: Business Records Service - Status Report and Standing Certificate (fee)
Search by: Business name or 10-digit entity ID number
Standing Certificate: New Jersey's certificate of good standing (fee applies)
Name rule: Name must be distinguishable - N.J.S.A. 42:2C-11

What the New Jersey Business Search Is

The New Jersey business entity search is run by the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, the office within the Department of the Treasury that registers business entities and holds the official record of every New Jersey LLC, corporation, limited partnership, and nonprofit. Unlike states that offer a single free database showing full records, New Jersey splits its search into two tiers: a free Business Name Search that tells you whether a name is taken and an entity's basic status, and a fee-based Business Records Service that returns detailed reports and official certificates. Knowing which tier you need saves both time and money. For the national overview of these tools, see our business entity search hub, and compare a fully free database on our Florida business entity search page.

Free Name Search vs Paid Records Service

The two tiers answer different questions. Use the table to pick the right one.

Tool	Cost	Best for
Business Name Search	Free	Checking if a name is available before you form; confirming an entity exists and its basic status
Business Entity Status Report	Fee (Records Service)	Registered agent, officers, formation date, and filing history
Standing Certificate	Fee (Records Service)	Official proof of good standing for banks or other states
Certified copy of a filing	Fee (Records Service)	A stamped official copy of the Certificate of Formation or amendment

The free Business Name Search is the right starting point for most people, whether you are a founder checking a proposed name or someone confirming that a company you are dealing with is registered. When you need the detail behind the name - who the registered agent is, when the entity formed, or whether it has filed its annual report - you move up to the Business Records Service, where each report or certificate carries a fee listed on the Division's Registry Fee Schedule.

Ways to Search

New Jersey lets you search by business name or by the 10-digit entity identification number the Division assigns when the entity is created. The name search is the common path when you are checking availability or looking up a company you know by name; enter the full or partial name to see matching and similar entities. The entity-ID search is the fastest route when you already have the number, because it points straight to a single record without wading through similarly named businesses. Because New Jersey requires each new name to be distinguishable under N.J.S.A. 42:2C-11, the name search doubles as your pre-filing availability check.

What the Record Shows

The free name search returns the entity's exact legal name, its type, and its current status so you can confirm the business exists and is registered. To see the full snapshot - the registered agent and registered office, the officers or managers, the formation date, the entity's history of filings, and any amendments - you order a Business Entity Status Report through the Business Records Service. Banks, attorneys, and buyers rely on that report and on the Standing Certificate when they need documentation rather than a screen view. A Standing Certificate is New Jersey's certificate of good standing; it confirms the entity has met its filing and tax obligations and is frequently requested when a company opens a bank account or registers to do business in another state.

How to Run a New Jersey Search, Step by Step

Open the DORES search. Go to the Division of Revenue's business search on the state portal and choose the Business Name Search (free) or the Business Records Service (fee-based reports).
Enter your term. Type the business name or the 10-digit entity ID; partial names return a list of matches.
Review the result. Confirm the legal name, entity type, and status. If the name you want already appears, choose a distinguishable alternative.
Order a report if needed. For the registered agent, officers, or an official certificate, purchase a Status Report or Standing Certificate through the Records Service.

If you are getting ready to form, the free search is your name-availability check before you file the Certificate of Formation; see how to form an LLC in New Jersey for the full process.

Reading New Jersey Entity Status

The status field tells you whether a company is in good standing. An Active or in good standing entity is current on its filings. A revoked or inactive entity has usually failed to file its annual report; New Jersey administratively revokes an LLC that misses the report for two consecutive years. A revoked entity can generally apply for reinstatement by filing the delinquent reports, paying a $75 reinstatement fee plus a $20 tax clearance fee, and clearing any outstanding obligations. If a counterparty's record shows revoked or dissolved, ask questions before relying on the entity's contracts or liability shield, because loss of good standing can affect both. A Standing Certificate is the authoritative confirmation of current good standing.

Common Uses and Name Checks

A New Jersey entity search supports the same everyday needs as any state lookup. Founders use the free name search to confirm a proposed name is distinguishable before filing a Certificate of Formation. Attorneys order a Status Report to find a current registered agent to serve process. Lenders and vendors request a Standing Certificate to verify good standing before a deal. Buyers confirm status and ownership during an acquisition. Remember that a clear name search is not a guarantee of availability - the Division makes the final call at filing - and a name available in New Jersey can still infringe a federal trademark, so check the federal register too. If you plan to run a second brand under an existing entity, see New Jersey DBA filing.

What the Search Does and Does Not Cover

It is important to understand the limits of what a New Jersey search tells you. The Division of Revenue record is the authority on an entity's legal existence and public filings - its name, status, registered agent, and report history. It is not a credit report, a lawsuit search, or a full tax-compliance record. An entity can appear registered while owing back taxes to the New Jersey Division of Taxation or facing litigation, none of which shows in the corporate record. The search also does not verify a federal EIN; the IRS maintains the federal record, and you confirm an EIN separately - see EIN lookup. A thorough due-diligence review therefore treats the entity search as one layer - confirming the business is real, correctly named, and in good standing - and adds tax, litigation, and licensing checks on top. Knowing the boundary keeps you from over-relying on an "Active" status that speaks only to state corporate filings. Tax standing in particular sits with a different office: the New Jersey Division of Taxation handles state tax accounts, and a business that looks current in the corporate registry can still carry unpaid sales tax or withholding. For that reason, a Standing Certificate - which reflects both filing and tax obligations - is stronger evidence of good standing than the free name search alone, and it is the document banks and other states usually ask to see.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the New Jersey business entity search free?

The Business Name Search is free to check name availability and basic status. Detailed reports - a Business Entity Status Report or a Standing Certificate - carry a fee through the Records Service.

Who runs the New Jersey business entity search?

The Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES), part of the Department of the Treasury, maintains the official record of registered businesses.

How do I check if a New Jersey business name is available?

Use the free Business Name Search and enter your desired name. If no matching or similar name appears, it is likely available. The Division makes the final call when you file your Certificate of Formation.

How do I find a New Jersey LLC's registered agent?

Order a Business Entity Status Report through the Records Service. It shows the current registered agent, registered office, and filing history.

What is a New Jersey Standing Certificate?

It is New Jersey's certificate of good standing, confirming an entity has met its filing and tax obligations. It is issued for a fee and often required by banks or other states.

Sources

NJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services - Getting Registered (entity registration; name availability; entity ID).
NJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services - Registry Fee Schedule (records service fees; Standing Certificate; status report).
NJ Division of Revenue - Business Name Search (free name availability search).
NJ Division of Revenue - Business Records Service (status reports; Standing Certificates; certified copies).
Business.NJ.gov - Register Your Business (name search; formation; registration).
NJ Division of Revenue - Business Registration Certificate (registration and standing).
NJ Division of Taxation - New Jersey Division of Taxation (state tax accounts are separate from the corporate registry).
New Jersey Revised Statutes - N.J.S.A. 42:2C-11, Name distinguishability.
New Jersey Revised Statutes - N.J.S.A. 42:2C-14, Registered agent and office.
New Jersey Revised Statutes - N.J.S.A. 42:2C-18, Certificate of formation.
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC).
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
Legal Information Institute (Cornell LII) - Limited Liability Company (LLC).
Legal Information Institute (Cornell LII) - Registered agent.

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Search features, fees, and status labels change; verify current requirements with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services before acting.