How to Register a Company Name

If you are unsure how to register a company name in the UK and the rules when doing so, this guide is perfect for you. Registering a company name is an integral part of incorporating a company in the UK with Companies House, the official registrar of companies. It is important to take your time when registering your company name. Choosing a strong company name that accurately reflects your business but is also legally valid will almost certainly be key to your business’s success. Not only does your company name define your brand identity, but it also builds trust with customers and ensures that your business is legally protected. 

What does it mean to register a company name in the UK?

Registering a company name means forming a registered company with that name in the UK. It will then be added to the official publicly available register of companies held and managed by Companies House. 

You cannot register a company name on its own without forming a company. Sole traders and traditional partnerships (i.e. non-LLPs) do not register their business names with Companies House and are not protected in the same way. Registering a company name provides a number of important benefits.

What are the benefits of registering a company name?

Importantly, when you register your business with Companies House, your company name becomes legally protected within the UK. This protection means that:

• No one else can register the same name
• No one else can register a similar name, and 
• The potential for disputes and potential legal action down the line is reduced.

A company that is registered with Companies House will also make your business appear more trustworthy and established. Customers and suppliers often feel more confident working with registered companies than with unregistered ones. 

Can I reserve my company name without forming a company?

No, you must register a limited company in order to secure a company name and prevent others from using it. Once your company has been successfully incorporated with Companies House, if necessary, you can keep it in a dormant (i.e. non-trading) state, but you must still meet your statutory filing and reporting obligations.

Key considerations when choosing a company name

It is important to take your time when choosing a company name. It is not uncommon for a business to start only to realise down the line that they have chosen a company name that conflicts with another, is confusing, or is not reflective of their brand. The name you choose now will potentially affect your company’s visibility, reputation, and future scalability.

Choose a memorable, clear, and relevant company name that is easy to spell and pronounce, and ideally, tells your customers what you do. At the same time, it is often advisable to avoid names that are too generic or too similar to existing ones (this is a key legal requirement, as we will explore later in this article). 

We recommend:

• Avoiding punctuation or unusual spellings that might confuse customers.
• Checking whether the domain name is available (see next section for how to do this)
• Thinking about how the name will appear on marketing materials, business cards, and social media.
• Ensure your company name is available as a website domain and on relevant social media platforms. This is important because brand consistency across online channels makes it easier for customers to find and trust your business.
• Limited companies must end with ‘Limited’ or ‘Ltd’ 

When making this decision, it is important to understand the difference between a company name and a trading name. Your trading name and company name can be different. A company name is the official, legally registered name of the company, whereas a trading name is a secondary name used on a day-to-day basis for the running of the company. 

How can I check company name availability?

Before you register your company name with Companies House, you must check that it is available and not too similar to an existing one. Not taking your time when deciding what name to use for your company may mean that your registration application is refused. 

Please use our free company name checker service to check whether your chosen company name is available. To use this tool, enter your company name into the search box and click the ‘Check’ button. The search result will confirm the availability of your chosen name. If it is not available, you may need to consider alternative options.

Our checking service is directly integrated with the Companies House database and will verify that your business name complies with Companies House naming rules for sensitive words and expressions. If your company name is available, you can then secure it straight away using our online company formation service.

When might Companies House refuse a company name?

Companies House may reject names that are:

• Identical or nearly identical to that of an existing registered company
• Misleading (e.g. suggesting a connection to the government or a public body)
• Offensive, sensitive or use prohibited words without approval.

Companies House publishes a full list of the naming rules, including sensitive words and expressions that must be avoided. These include words and expressions such as ‘trade union’, ‘association’, and ‘assurance’ or anything suggesting a connection with the Crown or government.

Trademark considerations 

Knowing how to register a company name is not enough to protect your brand. This is because a registered company name is not the same as a registered trade mark. It is a common mistake to assume that company name registration alone is enough to stop others from using your brand. If another business person has trademarked a name that is the same as your company name, you risk legal complications. For this reason, we recommend checking with the UK Intellectual Property Office to ensure that you do not risk infringing an existing trade mark. 

If you wish to fully protect your company name, you can register a trade mark with the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Your application will be evaluated by the IPO, and the registration process can take several months before a registration certificate is issued.

How to register a company name 

You register your company name as part of the company incorporation process. You can register your company name through Companies House or a company formation agent such as Uniwide Formations. Here are the main steps involved in registering your company name:

1. Check that your company name is available using our free online checker
2. Gather the details necessary for your company registration application, including:

• Your registered company address
• Details of at least one director, including full name, date of birth, nationality, and a service address
• Share capital, including the number and value of shares
• A statement of the company’s People with Significant Control (PSC)
• SIC codes that describe your main business activity.

3. Register your company through a company formation agent or Companies House – we offer a range of company formation packages catering for a wide range of business needs.
4. Pay the registration fee 
5. Submit your application.

If you use our company formation service, we can ensure that your company name is registered on the same day as long as your application is submitted and ID verified by 1.30 pm. 

What happens after my company name has been registered?

Once your company registration has been completed by Companies House, you will receive a Certificate of Incorporation showing your company name. This is an official document that confirms your company’s legal existence and includes your company number and formation date. 

Companies House will also send your company details to HMRC. HMRC will then issue a letter (usually within 2 to 3 weeks) to your registered office address with your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) and instructions on how to register for Corporation Tax. You must then formally register your company for Corporation Tax online within 3 months of starting any business. 

You may also need to:

• Open a business bank account – we can introduce you to a bank in the UK
• Set up a payroll system and register for PAYE if employing staff.
• Register for VAT if your annual turnover is expected to exceed £90,000
• Set up internal accounting systems and prepare for ongoing compliance obligations such as filing annual accounts and confirmation statements.

Common mistakes to avoid when registering a company name in the UK

Some of the most common company name mistakes include:

Mistake	Why?
Using restricted words without permission	Certain terms (for example, dental, bank, royal) require approval from relevant regulators like the GDC or FCA.
Using offensive terms	Names that are rude, discriminatory or inappropriate will be rejected by Companies House.
Implying a connection to government or local authorities	Names suggesting official status (for example, HM, City Council) will be refused automatically.
Choosing a name too similar to an existing business	Causes confusion and may lead to Companies House rejecting your application or legal disputes.
Registering a name that differs from your branding or invoices	Causes confusion for suppliers or financial institutions.
Not checking for registered trademarks	Even if accepted by Companies House, your name may infringe someone else’s trademark and result in legal action.
Not securing a matching domain or social media handle	Makes it harder to build a unified, recognisable online presence.
Choosing a name that is hard to spell, pronounce, or remember	Can harm brand recognition, making it harder for your customers to find you.

Final words

Registering a company’s name is part of the company formation process in the UK. You cannot reserve or protect your company name without Companies House registration. Registering your company name by forming a limited company or an LLP gives you legal protection, builds credibility, and helps define your brand. We hope you have found this guide useful and you now understand how to register a company name. Remember, it is essential to check availability carefully and make sure your name meets all the company name registration requirements in the UK. Taking time to do this from the outset will give your company and its brand the best possible start.