How to name your business

Section 01

Trading name vs registered company name — what is the difference?

• A registered company name is the legal name of your limited company, registered with Companies House. It is protected — no other UK company can register the same name.
• A trading name (also called a business name) is the name you trade under. A sole trader, partnership, or limited company can all trade under a different name from their legal name.
• Example: 'Smith Consulting Ltd' is the registered company name. 'Smith & Co' is the trading name used on invoices and the website.
• A trading name is not automatically protected. Anyone can use the same trading name unless you register it as a trademark.
• If you are a sole trader, you have no registered company name — only a trading name. You must register a trademark if you want legal protection.

Section 02

How to check if a name is available

1. 01

   Check Companies House

   Search the Companies House register at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company-name-availability. This checks whether the exact name (or a very similar one) is already registered as a limited company. The check is free and instant.

2. 02

   Check the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO)

   Search the UK trademark register at trademarks.ipo.gov.uk. Even if a name is not registered at Companies House, it may be trademarked — which gives the owner the right to stop you using it commercially.

3. 03

   Check domain availability

   Search for your preferred .co.uk and .com domains at Nominet (nominet.uk) or any domain registrar. A name that is available at Companies House but has no available domain will cause marketing problems.

4. 04

   Check social media handles

   Search for your name on Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Facebook. Consistent handles across platforms are important for brand recognition. Tools like Namechk.com let you check multiple platforms at once.

5. 05

   Search Google

   A simple Google search for your proposed name reveals whether there are existing businesses, products, or organisations with the same or similar name — even if they are not registered at Companies House or the IPO.

Section 03

Rules for limited company names

• Must end in 'Limited' or 'Ltd' (or Welsh equivalents for Welsh companies).
• Cannot be identical or 'too similar' to an existing registered company name.
• Cannot include sensitive words (e.g. 'Royal', 'Bank', 'NHS', 'University') without permission from the relevant authority.
• Cannot be offensive.
• Cannot imply a connection with a government body unless you have permission.
• The name on the register is the legal name — you can trade under a different name, but the registered name must appear on all official documents.

Section 04

How to protect your name with a UK trademark

• Apply to the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) at gov.uk/how-to-register-a-trade-mark.
• Choose the right 'classes' — the 45 categories of goods and services. You pay per class (from £170 for one class online).
• The IPO examines your application and publishes it for opposition (other businesses can object within 2 months).
• If approved, your trademark lasts 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely.
• A UK trademark only protects you in the UK. If you trade internationally, consider an EU trademark (EUIPO) or international registration (WIPO).
• You can use the ™ symbol as soon as you apply. You can only use ® once the trademark is registered.

Section 05

Practical tips for choosing a good business name

• Keep it short and memorable — ideally one or two words.
• Avoid names that are hard to spell or pronounce — they are hard to search for and recommend by word of mouth.
• Avoid names that are too generic or descriptive — 'London Cleaning Services' is hard to trademark and easy to confuse with competitors.
• Consider whether the name will still work if you expand your services or geography.
• Test it with potential customers before committing — ask them what they think the business does based on the name alone.
• Check that the name does not have negative connotations in other languages if you plan to trade internationally.