Do I need a business license to operate in New Jersey?
While there is no general license that all businesses
must have in New Jersey, you may need to apply for
a license depending on the type of business that you
have. Almost 200 different occupations are required
to be licensed by the state. You can find out whether
your business needs to be licensed by checking at
www.state.nj.us/njbusiness/licenses/. Many businesses
may also need to obtain a business license from the
city or town where they are located.
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THE Link TO YOUR CITY BELOW TO APPLY FOR A BUSinESS
LICENSE |
Do I need to register my business?
Yes! In fact, registration should be the first thing
you do. All formal business types – corporations,
limited liability companies, and limited liability
partnerships – must register with the Division of
Commercial Recording. This creates the business in
the state of New Jersey and reserves the trade name
that you are operating under. Sole proprietors and
general partnerships are not required to register
with the Division of Commercial Recording, but if
they are operating under a trade name, then they must
register that name in the county where they are located.
If you want to reserve that trade name in other counties
in New Jersey, then you must register it with each
individual county. Sole proprietors and general partnerships
that operate under their own individual legal name
instead of a trade name, for example "John Smith,
CPA", do not need to register with their local county
but it is recommended.
In addition to this, all businesses regardless of
form must register with the New Jersey Division of
Revenue for tax purposes before they can legally conduct
business in the state.
Do I need to apply for a business license
from my city?
Many cities in New Jersey do require city business
licenses in order to operate in that city. However,
what the licensing requirements are vary depending
on where your business is located. Some cities such
as Camden and Edison issue licenses based on the type
of business you are running, but others may not take
this approach. You should always check with your local
city government to find out what the licensing requirements
are in your area.
What information do I need to provide when
applying for my business license?
The type of information needed will depend on the
type of license you are applying for, but generally
you will need to provide information such as the full
name of the business, the address and contact information
for the business, the name of the owner or officers
of the business, the purpose of the business, and
your Federal Employer Identification number (EIN)
or social security number. For local licenses, you
may also need to provide proof of identification and
proof that you have met all state licensing requirements.
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Disclaimer: This site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial or tax advise. The information on this site should not be relied upon as an official source of information and should be independently verified. |
