UK Business Name Checker

Companies House will reject names that are identical to an existing company, contain sensitive words (like "Royal", "British", "Authority") without permission, are offensive, or suggest a connection with government. You also cannot use certain characters. Check the Companies House guidance for the full list of restricted words.

Your company name is registered with Companies House and appears on official documents. A trading name (or business name) is the name you use to trade with customers. They can be different. For example, your company might be "Smith Holdings Ltd" but you trade as "Smith Plumbing". You must display your registered company name on all official correspondence.

Registering a company name at Companies House does not give you trademark protection. A trademark protects your brand across the UK and prevents others from using a similar name in your sector. Trademark registration costs from £170 through the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and takes about 4 months.

You register a company name when you incorporate your company. This can be done online at gov.uk for £12 (or £30 for same-day registration). You will need a registered office address, at least one director, and details of shareholders. The name is reserved as soon as your application is accepted.

Yes. You can change your company name by passing a special resolution (75% of shareholders must agree) and filing form NM01 with Companies House. The fee is £8 online or £10 by post. The change takes effect when Companies House issues a new certificate of incorporation.

A good business name is memorable, easy to spell and pronounce, available as a domain name, relevant to your industry (but not too restrictive), and distinct from competitors. Avoid names that are too long, hard to spell, or that limit your future growth. Test it with potential customers before committing.

If you are a limited company, you must include "Ltd" or "Limited" in your official company name. However, in marketing and day-to-day use, many businesses drop the "Ltd". Sole traders and partnerships do not use "Ltd". When checking name availability, Companies House ignores "Ltd" and "Limited" when comparing names.

You can still register the company name but will need a different domain. Consider alternatives like .com, .uk, .io, or adding a word to your domain (e.g., "getbrandname.co.uk" or "brandnamehq.co.uk"). Having the exact-match domain is helpful but not essential — many successful businesses use variations.

Online registration with Companies House usually takes 24 hours or less. Same-day registration (£30) is processed within a few hours. Registration by post takes 8-10 working days. You can start trading as soon as your certificate of incorporation is issued.

Companies House allows similar names but not identical ones. However, if your name is too similar to an existing company, the other company can object within 12 months of your registration. This is called a "company names adjudication". It is best to choose a distinctive name to avoid disputes and confusion.