When to register your business name<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You need to register your company name:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- when you set up as a limited company<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- to get a business bank account <\/a>(in your business’s name)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Do I need to register a business name as a sole trader? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
No, you don\u2019t need to register your business name if you\u2019re a sole trader, but if you\u2019re setting up as a limited company then this is an important part of the process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sole traders must register for Self Assessment<\/a> with HMRC though. This means you can pay your annual tax bill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not sure what\u2019s the right structure for your business? You can find out more about the difference between being a sole trader and a limited company<\/a> in our comprehensive guide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is incorporation in business?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Incorporation is when you go through the legal process of registering your business as a limited company<\/a>. It’s a type of business structure and involves legally registering your business name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to come up with a business name<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You want your name to capture the essence of your brand, resonate with your target market, and stick in the mind of anyone who hears it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One thing you need to remember is to include \u2018Limited\u2019 in your business name (unless you\u2019re a sole trader, charity<\/a> or community interest partnership<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember that your registered company name doesn\u2019t have to be the same name that you trade as. In fact, the name you trade under shouldn\u2019t include \u2018Limited\u2019 or \u2018Ltd\u2019 in the name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small business name ideas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Still not sure where to begin when it comes to naming a business? We asked 1,000 people all about what makes a good business name \u2013 and it seems the UK public just love a funny business name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"SB-UK_BBBN_LandingPage_Stats.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/SB-UK_BBBN_LandingPage_Stats.jpg?w=1024\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWe also featured some creatively-named small businesses in our You name it. We insure it.<\/a> campaign and Britain’s Best Business Name competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dae It Yersel has been crowned the winner of Britain\u2019s Best Small Business Name 2025<\/a>. And our finalists were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Back to the Fuchsia \u2013 gardeners, London <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Balti Towers \u2013 Kashmiri restaurant, Birmingham<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Damsel in This Dress \u2013 Seamstress, Harlech<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Lawn and Order \u2013 Gardeners, Watford<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How to register a business name<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Follow these steps to register your new business name:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check your name is unique <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Companies House has a company name availability checker<\/a> so you can make sure no other business has taken your name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t want to get into legal issues with a global brand by accidentally using their name, so here are some other quick checks you can do: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Google it<\/strong> \u2013 it may sound obvious but simply Googling your business name to see what comes up will help you research if another company has the name<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- search for a UK trademark<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 if another UK business has already trademarked your idea for a name, you\u2019ll find it in the government database. Our guide on how to do a trademark search<\/a> has more tips<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s important to follow the above steps, as you may be asked to change your name if it\u2019s considered too similar to another company\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t be offensive <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BBC Wales<\/a> previously reported some of the company names that had been rejected for being \u2018potentially offensive\u2019. Some of the rejected names include Fit as Fork Ltd, Pandemic19 Ltd, and The Great Big Corrupt Company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, research from Simply Business found almost 57,000 business names have been rejected by Companies House<\/a> since 2019 \u2013 with nearly half deemed ‘offensive’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Avoid sensitive words and phrases<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sensitive words and expressions <\/a>need special approval, such as chartered, foundation, and society. While some names are protected under specific legislation<\/a>, including architect, building society, and physician. Wrongly using these names could be a criminal offence, so make sure you\u2019re clear on what the law says when registering your name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Register with Companies House<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You can buy a company name and register your business with Companies House online.<\/a> You just need to pay the \u00a312 registration fee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll also register for corporation tax<\/a> at the same time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this stage you\u2019ll need to decide a registered office address<\/strong> and include a SIC code<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve completed the online forms, it should take less than 24 hours for your company to be registered and legally exist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, read our step-by-step guide on how to register with Companies House<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get a certificate of incorporation <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
After you register your limited company with Companies House, you\u2019ll get a certificate of incorporation. This is available to the public and is the final stage to registering your business name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- search for a UK trademark<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 if another UK business has already trademarked your idea for a name, you\u2019ll find it in the government database. Our guide on how to do a trademark search<\/a> has more tips<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Google it<\/strong> \u2013 it may sound obvious but simply Googling your business name to see what comes up will help you research if another company has the name<\/li>\n\n\n\n