Guide to naming your business

When it comes to starting a business one of the most challenging but interesting tasks you must carry out is finding the right name. However, many people do not realise that there are restrictions on what you can name your business.

In the last two years, Companies House rejected more than 800 company name registrations on the grounds that they are ‘potentially offensive’ including names such as Building That Fought Hitler Limited, Cambridge Cannabis Club Limited, Fancy a Bomb Ltd, and Fit as Fork Ltd. In this article, we look at the restrictions on what you can name your company to ensure your new venture gets off to a flying start.

Company names must be unique

Every company registered in the UK must have a unique name. You should conduct thorough research online into any similar names that are registered with Companies House, using the name availability checker. It is not enough to simply change punctuation; it is important that your name is unique so as not to cause confusion to the public.

What if I want to change my company’s name in the future?

Is that seemingly ingenious first name that you chose for your company sounding a little dated? Like an embarrassing tattoo, perhaps it seemed like a good idea at the time but now it causes you to cringe? That is not a problem – company names can be changes provided that they once again meet the Companies House naming requirements.

Should I use ‘Limited’ or ‘Ltd.’?

All private companies limited by shares must have ‘Limited’ or ‘Ltd.’ in their company name. Which you choose is up to you and it makes no legal or practical difference which one you use.

Potentially offensive words and phrases

In response to the news that more than 800 potentially offensive names had been rejected, a Companies House spokesperson said it was important that the register was not being abused by recording offensive names. Company names must not include offensive words or be phrased in such a way that may cause offense. However, you may be able to have the name approved if you can show justification for using the name, otherwise you may have to come up with a different name unlikely to cause offense.

Sensitive words and expressions

In addition to offensive words, there are 134 sensitive words and expressions that you need approval from the secretary of state in the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to use in a company. Examples of such words and expressions include British, commission, licensing, inspectorate, parliamentary, standards and Windsor.

Guidance is also given on words and expressions that could imply a connection with a government department, a devolved administration or a local or specified public authority.

Criminal offences

It is a criminal offence to use certain words and expressions in your company name where you do not meet the criteria for doing so. For example, the words solicitor, surgeon, architect, building society, and even apothecary all have very specific requirements to prevent fraud and abuse.

Protecting your company name

When you have chosen a company name and incorporate the new company there is a common misconception that this automatically protects your right to use that company’s trading name. That is not always the case automatically. To ensure that you protect your company name, any associated trading names and any logos or catchphrases that you use in the course of business it is always worth considering the protection that Trademarks afford, which is entirely separate from the act of registering a new company name at Companies House.

If you would like any legal assistance for your business, then please get in touch with a member of the team on 01752 663295.