{"id":1115,"date":"2022-04-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/articles\/how-to-do-a-trademark-search-uk\/"},"modified":"2025-05-22T13:16:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T13:16:58","slug":"how-to-do-a-trademark-search-uk","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/starting-out\/how-to-do-a-trademark-search-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Business name ideas \u2013 how to do a UK trademark search"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finding the right name for your business is hugely important. It\u2019s the first impression most people will have of your company and could play a big role in the growth of your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, how do you make sure that you\u2019ve picked a name no one else is using? Read our UK trademark search guide to find out how to protect your brand and check your name is unique. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/business-tax\/best-small-business-accounting-software-uk\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1262\" ><strong>Best accounting software for small business<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/banking\/best-small-business-bank-account\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1332\" ><strong>Which bank has the best business bank account?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/business-structure\/legal-obligations-of-a-business\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"986\" ><strong>Do you know about these four legal obligations of a business?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/business-insurance\/faq\/is-business-insurance-a-legal-requirement\/\"><strong>Is business insurance a legal requirement?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-uk-trademark-search\">What is a UK trademark search?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Intellectual property law (also known as IP) protects ideas you\u2019ve come up with, such as a brand name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many businesses choose to trademark their name to give it an identifying mark and to stop other companies from using it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re a new business or going through a rebrand, it\u2019s important to check whether your name is already being used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To do this, you can carry out a trademark name search of the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) database through the government website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your name has already been trademarked, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll need to come up with a new one. If it hasn\u2019t, it\u2019s worth considering whether you want to trademark the name so no one else can use it. A standard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/how-to-register-a-trade-mark\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">online trademark application<\/a> costs \u00a3200.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s important to note that you can\u2019t trademark your business name if it\u2019s a literal description of your product or service, such as calling a food processor \u201cThe Food Blender\u201d. However, if you come up with a unique name for your food processor, you could trademark it if no one else has already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-do-new-businesses-need-to-do-a-trademark-search-uk\">Why do new businesses need to do a trademark search UK?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you use a trademark that\u2019s the same as or similar to one someone else is using for products or services in the same sector, they could take legal action against you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This could leave you with a hefty legal bill, which for small or new businesses could be difficult to recover from. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2022\/03\/29\/waitrose-launches-legal-challenge-against-asda-just-essentials-budget-range-16366414\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Waitrose took legal action against ASDA<\/a> for launching a \u201cJust Essentials\u201d discount range of products. Waitrose said it had already trademarked the \u201cessentials\u201d name. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Equally, if you\u2019ve come up with a great, unique name, finding out it hasn\u2019t been trademarked can speed up your launch. You\u2019ll also have the opportunity to trademark the name and protect your brand in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read our <a href=\"\/knowledge\/business-structure\/what-is-intellectual-property\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"976\" >intellectual property guide<\/a> for more information about the laws around trademarking and copyright. We also have a guide to <a href=\"\/knowledge\/business-structure\/image-copyright-rules-for-businesses\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1463\" >using third-party images and copyright rules<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-001\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-carry-out-a-trademark-search\">How to carry out a trademark search<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A registered trademark search is an important step in establishing your brand and minimising the threat of legal action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can find details of existing UK trademarks, such as when it was registered and who owns it, by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/search-for-trademark\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">carrying out a trademark search<\/a> of the Intellectual Property Office database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ways you can search for a trademark include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">by keyword, phrase, or image<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">by trademark owner<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">by trademark number<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve come up with a great name, it\u2019s highly likely you\u2019ll be searching by keyword or phrase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When completing a trademark name search, it\u2019s also worth checking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/check-trade-marks-journal\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the IPO\u2019s online journal<\/a>. This allows you to see any trademark applications or amendments that have been accepted in the last week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Carrying out a trademark search yourself is fairly simple. However, some companies choose to work with a third-party provider or intellectual property expert to make sure they\u2019re doing it properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-does-a-business-name-count-as-a-trademark\">Does a business name count as a trademark?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you launch a business with a great name you may be thinking, is my business name automatically trademarked?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It won\u2019t be unless you\u2019ve applied for a trademark and had the application accepted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s not a legal requirement to trademark your business name, and it\u2019s important not to confuse trademarking with <a href=\"\/knowledge\/starting-out\/how-to-register-with-companies-house\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"850\" >registering your company with Companies House<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-come-up-with-a-name-for-your-business\">How to come up with a name for your business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What makes a good name for a new or <a href=\"\/knowledge\/marketing\/tips-for-an-award-winning-brand-refresh\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"866\" >rebranded business<\/a>? Most importantly, it needs to be memorable and engage your target audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some of the the key questions to consider when choosing a name for your business: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">does the name work online?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">have you tested the name with your target audience?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">what does the name say about your business?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">is the name easy to understand and share<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read our article on <a href=\"\/knowledge\/marketing\/how-to-advertise-your-business\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1410\" >why your business name matters<\/a> for further tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"683\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/brainstorming-a-business-name.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Brainstorming session at the office\" class=\"wp-image-3400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/brainstorming-a-business-name.jpg 4500w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/brainstorming-a-business-name.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/brainstorming-a-business-name.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/brainstorming-a-business-name.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/brainstorming-a-business-name.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/brainstorming-a-business-name.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/brainstorming-a-business-name.jpg?resize=150,100 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Flamingo Images\/stock.adobe.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still looking for inspiration? Here at Simply Business, we\u2019re celebrating the wit and creativity of Britain\u2019s small businesses with our TV ad <a href=\"https:\/\/get.simplybusiness.co.uk\/you-name-it-we-insure-it\/\">You name it. We insure it.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our ad features four real businesses with witty names, including hairdressing salon Curl Up and Dye and landscaping business Rough Around the Hedges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve also got a <a href=\"\/business-name-generator\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"6\" >Business Name Generator<\/a> to give you some light-hearted ideas if you\u2019re looking for a new company name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-tips-for-starting-your-business\">More tips for starting your business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alongside having a memorable name and strong brand, there are many other important parts of launching a successful business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some handy guides and templates to help you on your way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/strategy\/how-to-write-a-business-plan\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1199\" >How to write a business plan<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"972\" >What is a cash flow forecast?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/marketing\/how-to-do-a-competitor-analysis\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1229\" >How to do a competitor analysis<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/income\/balance-sheet-template\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1105\" >What is a balance sheet?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Intellectual property and trademarking is a complex topic, so remember to speak to a legal expert if you&#8217;re not sure of anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What do you think makes a good business name? Let us know in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94e519ba wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-ready-to-set-up-your-cover\">Ready to set up your cover?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">As one of the UK&#8217;s biggest <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5152\" >business insurance<\/a> providers, we specialise in <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/public-liability-insurance\/\">public liability insurance<\/a> and protect more trades than anybody else. Why not take a look now and build a quick, tailored quote?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/quote.simplybusiness.co.uk\/business\">Start your quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>dusanpetkovic1\/stock.adobe.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>dusanpetkovic1\/stock.adobe.com<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"nba-body-end\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a trademark search UK and why is it important? Read on for tips on how to do a trademark search and what to consider when choosing a business name.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sb_hreflang":"","sb_hreflang_url":"","disable_breadcrumbs":false,"sb_breadcrumbs":[],"sb_reviewed_by":"","sb_review_date":"","sb_enable_content_gating":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[336,110,339],"hidden-category":[],"coauthors":[20],"class_list":["post-1115","knowledge","type-knowledge","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-structure","category-business-news","category-starting-out"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Do small businesses need to do a UK trademark search?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is a trademark search UK and why is it important? Read on for tips on how to do a trademark search and what to consider when choosing a business name.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/starting-out\/how-to-do-a-trademark-search-uk\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Do small businesses need to do a UK trademark search?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Got a new business name? Find out how to do a trademark search to make sure it\u2019s not already taken.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/starting-out\/how-to-do-a-trademark-search-uk\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Simply Business UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-22T13:16:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/Brand_name_ideas_hero.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Business name ideas \u2013 how to do a UK trademark search\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"Conor Shilling\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/starting-out\/how-to-do-a-trademark-search-uk\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/starting-out\/how-to-do-a-trademark-search-uk\/\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Conor Shilling\",\"description\":\"Conor Shilling is a professional writer with over 10 years\u2019 experience across the property, small business, and insurance sectors. 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