A sole proprietor or general partnership files a trade name with the County Clerk in every county where it operates (N.J.S.A. 56:1-1 and 56:1-2). An LLC or corporation registers one alternate name with the state for $50. Middlesex County's mail fee for a notarized trade-name certificate is $50. Other counties set their own fees.
State of New JerseyNew Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesNew Jersey Division of Revenue fee schedule, reinstatement pages and the cited statutes reviewed November 2, 2026. Confirm the current fee on the official page before filing.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits New Jersey filings for owners. We are not the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services and we do not give legal advice. Every state and county charge passes through at the amount that office bills, and anyone can file on the state's own portal for no service fee.
- Filed online on the New Jersey business portal
- Annual report on the last day of the anniversary month
- Fees cited to the New Jersey fee schedule
- Talk to a filer: (386) 465-3937
The forks in the road.
County trade name
One filing per county of operation. All 21 counties for statewide coverage.
State of New JerseyState alternate name
$50 for an LLC or a corporation. Renewal is $50 for an LLC and $25 for a corporation.
New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesName reservation
Reserving an LLC or corporate name is a separate $50 fee.
New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesWhat to have ready
- Decide whether the owner is a person, a partnership, or an entity
- If it is an entity, use the alternate name
- If it is a person or partnership, list every county of operation
New Jersey Trade Name vs. Alternate Name
New Jersey Trade Name vs. Alternate Name
Trade name county planner
Check every county where a sole proprietor or general partnership will operate. An LLC can instead file one $50 alternate name with the state.
County filings
1
Verified county fees
$50 Middlesex
Counties still to price
0
Middlesex is the only county with a fee on this page. Statewide trade-name coverage is all 21 counties. One state alternate name for an LLC or corporation is $50.
Form an LLC and add an alternate nameNew Jersey law and SOS rules behind this.
| Topic | New Jersey rule | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| County trade name | One filing per county of operation. All 21 counties for statewide coverage. | State of New Jersey |
| State alternate name | $50 for an LLC or a corporation. Renewal is $50 for an LLC and $25 for a corporation. | New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services |
| Name reservation | Reserving an LLC or corporate name is a separate $50 fee. | New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services |
Related New Jersey reading.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits New Jersey filings for owners. We are not the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services and we do not give legal advice. Every state and county charge passes through at the amount that office bills, and anyone can file on the state's own portal for no service fee.
What New Jersey owners ask us
No. A trade name protects the counties where it is filed. Statewide coverage is all 21 County Clerks.
State of New JerseyYes. Formation is filed on the New Jersey online business portal. Annual reports, agent changes, reinstatement and closing are filed on the annual reports and change portal. Our service fee is separate.
New Jersey business portal