Business Trade Names 

Anyone who wishes to start a sole proprietorship or partnership in Warren County must file a Trade Name with the County Clerk. This only protects that name from use by other businesses within the county. It does not register your actual business with the State of NJ, and all other business registration information (Tax IDs, EIN numbers, etc.) is handled with the State. 

You can find more detailed information on starting a business in NJ at the following website: 

• Business.NJ.gov: Your first stop for doing business in NJ

WHO CAN FILE? 

Trade Name Registration is limited to sole proprietorships or general partnerships. Businesses that are incorporated or formed as limited liability corporations or partnerships, must file with the New Jersey State Department of Treasury. You cannot put "Inc.," "Corp.," "LLC," or "LP" as part of your company name unless you are filing with the state. 

Prospective business owners are responsible for verifying that the chosen trade name is not currently in use in the county or as a corporation or LLC in the State of New Jersey.

Our records can be searched on our public records website; searchiqs.com. 

Initial Application 

Trade Name Application

Requirements:

• Search the records to make sure the business name has not already been used
• Complete the application 
• You must submit two original applications (both notarized with original signatures) - We can notarize for you in our office or you can have both copies notarized elsewhere. Please note that all owners listed must be present to sign at the same time. 

Fees: 

• If you are coming in person and having us notarize it, the total fee is $55 - cash (no cards or personal checks) 
• If you are mailing your two copies in, the total fee is $52 - money order or certified check (no personal or standard business checks) 

Amending Trade Names 

Trade Name Application

Trade names can only be amended to add an owner name, or change the address, phone number, or nature of business. You cannot change the business name or remove owner names by amending. You would need to dissolve the original Trade Name and open a new one. 

The requirements and fees are the same as the initial application - You would just change the necessary information. Please remember that all owners listed on the original Trade Name would need to sign. 

Dissolving Trade Names

Trade Name Dissolution Application

Requirements:

• Complete the dissolution application 
• You must submit two original applications (both notarized with original signatures) - We can notarize for you in our office or you can have both copies notarized elsewhere.Please note that all owners listed on the original Trade Name must sign off on the dissolution. 

Fees: 

• If you are coming in person and having us notarize it, the total fee is $30 - cash (no cards or personal checks) 
• If you are mailing your two copies in, the total fee is $27 - money order or certified check (no personal or standard business checks) 

Additional Information 

• If you are selling the business name to another person(s), you would have to cancel the name under the current owner, and then file a new Trade Name with the new owners. 

• If you are changing the business name, there are two options:
  1. Dissolve the old name and do a new Trade Name. The old name would then be available for another person to register.
  2. Retain the old name (no further paperwork required) and just do an initial Trade Name application for the new name. In this case, you would still own both the old and new names. 

It is best to call our office and schedule an appointment to ensure that we have a notary available when you come in. 

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Acrobat Reader Windows Media Player Word Viewer Excel Viewer PowerPoint Viewer