Starting a business in The Garden State is complicated enough. Getting your ready-to-file Certificate of Trade Name (often called a DBA or "Doing Business As") shouldn't involve hours of forms and guesswork.
At assumedname.org, we eliminate the complex paperwork by providing New Jersey Sole Proprietors with the certificate, accurately pre-filled with the precise information the County Clerk needs. Whether you are from Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, or somewhere else in New Jersey, the Assumed Name Certificate will work in the city or town you are doing business in. Your accurate paperwork is ready in minutes.
If already you have an LLC or a corporation, you may have a different filing process for filing an assumed name at the state level. AssumedName.org focuses on helping Sole Proprietorships with local business name filings.
Our streamlined service is designed for the modern New Jersey entrepreneur seeking speed, convenience, and guaranteed accuracy:
⚡️ Lightning Fast Preparation: Complete our simple online questionnaire and receive your complete, accurate New Jersey DBA form ready-to-file in minutes.
✅ Guaranteed Accuracy for $5: For a low, one-time fee of only $5, we ensure the information on your certificate exactly reflects the details required by your local New Jersey county.
🛡️ Focus on Core Business: We handle the paperwork preparation so you can immediately focus on the next steps, like setting up your professional New Jersey business bank account.
❓ Still have questions? Find out what a DBA is, why most states require them, and if you need one for your business.
🖹 A custom formatted PDF: Prefilled with your information making it fast and easy for your government office to file and satisfy your jurisdictions business name requirements. You will have the opportunity to view & download your certificate plus it will be emailed to you.
🚐 Less driving around to get the right form: Save time, gas money, and parking fees going from place to place.
😕 Less confusion: We have done the research and identified the right information to put on the right form for New Jersey Sole Proprietors so you don't have to. No matter if you are doing business in Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Union, or any other county in New Jersey, the information on your certificate will be accurate.
💲A low one-time charge: We charge $5 plus processing fees to complete your order. We use Stripe as our payment processor so you know it's secure and you can pay with many different types of credit cards or digital wallets like apple pay.
When operating under any name other than their legal name.
Sole proprietors file with the County Clerk, such as Hudson County for Jersey City.
No. New Jersey does not require newspaper publication for trade names.
No. Registration does not grant exclusive rights or trademark protection.
Steps:
Visit or call the county clerk’s office where you plan to operate, such as Hudson County for a Jersey City business.
Ask to search the trade name or business name index.
Look up your proposed trade name and similar variations.
Identify any conflicts that may make your name unavailable or confusing.
Save any search printouts or notes for your file.
Documents Required:
None
Estimated Time:
10–15 minutes
Steps:
Contact the county clerk in the county where your business will be located, such as Essex County for a Newark business, to search existing trade names in that county to make sure your desired name is not already in use.
Gather your personal name, address, trade name, and business address.
Create your Trade Name Certificate at assumedname.org and have it notarized
File the certificate with the county clerk in person or by mail and pay the required fee.
Keep your filed trade name certificate for your records and start using the name.
Documents Required:
Trade name certificate
Government-issued ID (for in-person filing)
Filing fee payment
Estimated Time:
Preparation: 15–20 minutes
Filing approval: same day to a few business days
What does the law say:
The relevant state law for assumed names / DBAs is: N.J. Stat. Ann. § 56:1-4 et seq.
Steps:
File your trade name with the appropriate county clerk and obtain a certified copy.
Get an EIN from the IRS if your bank requires it; many New Jersey banks prefer to use an EIN for business accounts.
Gather your certified trade name certificate, EIN letter, government-issued ID, and proof of your business address.
Contact a local bank and ask about their small business checking products for sole proprietors using a trade name.
Submit your documents, complete the application, and wait for account approval, typically 1–3 business days.
Documents Required:
Certified trade name certificate
EIN (if required)
Government-issued ID
Proof of business address
Estimated Time:
Preparation: 20–30 minutes
Bank approval: 1–3 hours