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Business Organizations | Certificate of Trade Name & Employer I.D. Number|
Business Plan | Site Location Assistance | NJ Taxes | Business Permits | Location Permits | Fire Prevention | Somerset County Municipal Clerks |
Utilities | Membership
Before any official documents can be completed or bank accounts opened, you must first decide on the business entity that would be best for you. More information about starting a business in New Jersey can be found at the website for NJ Commerce Business Resource Center or by visiting our local Small Business Development Center at Raritan Valley Community College or Somerset County Business Partnership.
1. Sole Proprietorship: One person furnishes all the capital and assumes all the responsibility and liability of both business and personal assets.
2. Partnership: Each general partner is personally responsible for all the debts and actions of the other partners of the firm as well as the taxes. A partnership agreement is recommended if this form of a business organization is arranged.
3. Corporation (S-corp and C-corp): The owners are the shareholders who buy stock in the corporation. The corporate shield has limited liability which separates and protects the shareholders personal assets from the business assets providing there are no intentional fraudulent acts. The NJ State Treasury offers a one-stop service that streamlines the business formation process and enables corporations to start operating faster by eliminating the need to file papers with multiple State and federal offices. For more information, visit the State's Business Gateway Web site or call 609-292-9292
4. L.L.C.: Same as partnership except partners have limited liability, similar to the corporate form.
Check business name availability
If you are forming a sole proprietor or partnership a certificate of trade name can be obtained from the Somerset County Clerk's office. If doing business under your own name, registration is not required, but it is desirable. If trading under any name other than your own, registration is required by law. Prior to filing, a search should be made in the County Clerk’s office to verify that the trade name desired is available. Four certificate of trade name forms will be needed (these forms are available at most stationery stores). The four forms must be completed and all signatures notarized.
The forms are filed with the Somerset County Clerk’s office:
P. O. Box 3000, 20 Grove Street, Somerville, NJ 08876
There is a filing fee of $50. Phone: (908) 231-7013.
The County Clerk will forward one of the copies of the Secretary of State’s office in Trenton, which completes the filing with that office as well.
Two forms will be marked "True Copy" and returned to you; these will be needed by your bank to open an account in the business name. You should also note that to open a bank account under a business name you must also have an employer identification number. This particular number is obtained through application to the Internal Revenue Service on form (application forms are available from any I.R.S. office or by calling the N.J. Taxation Division at (800) 323-4400).
Corporations are not required to file with the Somerset County Clerk’s office as this is done directly with the Secretary of State’s office in Trenton.
A business plan is an important way to map out business ideas and future growth of a business. It is also a powerful tool when pursuing of various forms of finance. Assistance with the development of a business plan is available through the Small Business Development Office at Raritan Valley Community College at 908-526-1200 x8515.
If the ownership of your business is 51% or more owned by a women or a minority, the New Jersey Commerce Commission has a certification, as well as, small business registration, which then helps these businesses with their procurement contracting. The Small Business Development Center at Raritan Valley Community College assists businesses with the application process.
You can contact the Somerset County Business Partnership, PO Box 833, Somerville, NJ 08876 (Phone: 908-218-4300) for available office, industrial and land sites.
It is wise to check with the Sales Tax Division of the Department of Taxation for full information concerning any laws which may apply to your particular situation. For Sales Tax questions - (609)984-1800; automated NJ tax information - (800)323-4400, tax hotline to ask specific NJ questions - (609)588-2200. Note: businesses having NJ tax responsibilities have to fill out form REG-1. Call (609)588-2200 and you can receive the REG-1 form and a kit from NJ tax called "Starting a Business in NJ."
Licenses are needed for many businesses. You must obtain permits from the applicable authority. Air or water pollution permits are required for emitting any type of pollution into the air or water. For more information contact: Department of Environmental Protection, Trenton, NJ (609)292-3131.
Zoning authorities maintain information on designated areas. Contact the Somerset County Planning Board at P.O. Box 3000, Somerville, NJ 08876, (908)231-7021 for more information. You may also need to contact city/town planning offices and health departments as well.
Fire department inspect all commercial occupancies at least once a year to insure or require compliance with the city or county fire ordinances. Your local fire department will be able to assist you with any special permits that may be needed.
Bedminster Township
(908) 212-7000 x402
Bernards Township
(908) 204-3014
Bernardsville Borough
(908) 766-3000 x141
Bound Brook Borough
(732) 356-0833 x646
Branchburg Township
(908) 526-1300 x103
Bridgewater Township
(908) 725-6300 x206
Far Hills Borough
(908) 234-0611 x19
Franklin Township
(732) 873-2500 x211
Green Brook Township
(732) 968-1023 x6602
Hillsborough Township
(908) 369-4313
Manville Borough
(908) 725-9478
Millstone Borough
(908) 281-6893
Montgomery Township
(908) 359-8211 x211
North Plainfield Borough
(908) 769-2910
Peapack and Gladstone Borough
(908) 234-2250
Raritan Borough
(908) 231-1300 x13
Rocky Hill Borough
(609) 924-7445
Somerville Borough
(908) 704-6983
South Bound Brook Borough
(732) 356-0258 x13
Warren Township
(908) 753-8000 x223
Watchung Borough
(908) 756-0080 x13
GPU Energy
300 Madison Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960
(973) 451-8200
Elizabethtown Water Company
600 South Avenue W.
Westfield, NJ 07090
(908)654-1234
PSE&G
80 Park Plaza,
T 12
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 430-6628
Membership
Membership in the Somerset County Business Partnership is strongly encouraged. There are many benefits that new businesses will reap through membership in the Business Partnership. Call the Business Partnership office at (908)218-4300.
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