Can I change my company name by way of transferring the name of another company?

[Racoon777]

Happy Friday folks,

I'm in a scenario where I might need to change the name of my existing business at some point. I don't necessarily want to, but let us say it may become financially beneficial for me to do so.

Pre-emptively I have come up with a new company name so that I'm not wasting time if it does happen, and I've bought the various domains for it.

I was about to set up the new company (and just have it dormant) to ringfence the exact name on companies house, but then it occurred to me (derrr!) that this would then be two separate companies.

Let's say I did do that, is there a way I could transfer the exact new name, to my existing business?

Also, is there any point in worrying about it or doing it? The domains are important, but if someone ended up taking that exact name in the interim on CH, then I guess I could vary it slightly anyway?

The reality is there is probably only a very slim chance of the above happening anyway, as the name is fairly unique, but let's just say I'm ultra cautious based on the experience that might result in me having to change my name in the first place.

Many thanks for your help!

Edit: Just for a some clarity, I'm not a sole trader, but a financial service company with an online presence, so name and branding is important.

 

[fisicx]

Why complicate things. Just use the new domains and have ‘trading as’ in the footer with the parent company name.

Registering a company doesn’t give you any rights of a domain name, social handle or anything else.

 

[Racoon777]

Why complicate things. Just use the new domains and have ‘trading as’ in the footer with the parent company name.

Registering a company doesn’t give you any rights of a domain name, social handle or anything else.

Thank you for the reply, as part of changing the name I would also need to change the name on companies house, there is no way I could just carry on with the existing name and have the new name as a trading name.

I don't really want to go into too many details but it would involve a much larger company buying up absolutely everything related to the name, they wouldn't accept me just switching to a trading name.

It sounds like the main thing is the domains though anyway

 

[Gyumri]

Make changes to your private limited company

Making changes to your company - passing resolutions, changing addesses and where your records are kept, your company name and type, directors' and secretaries' details, share structure, constitution

www.gov.uk

 

[eteb3]

I’m not an expert or even very well informed but afaik newco could babysit the name while dormant on companies house, then both nowco and newco change their names so newco “gives” your favoured name to nowco

The only condition I can see is that both companies need to be solvent at the time

Re-use of company names

www.gov.uk

Check whether I’m right and also check the new companies legislation isn’t going to make it more difficult very shortly: it might well do

 

[eteb3]

it would involve a much larger company buying up absolutely everything related to the name

PS I can’t imagine anyone buying just “the names”. If they’re not trademarked, passing off is such a feeble remedy that they’re unlikely to be worth paying for

 

[NewKidinTown]

Have you considered the FCA permission to change names or is that a red herring?

 

[Mark T Jones]

I'm not entirely clear on what you are asking / planning.

However there is no link between domain names and a company name, which might answer your question.

With regards to the company name, you can swap or simply rename your existing company

 

[Racoon777]

I'm not entirely clear on what you are asking / planning.

However there is no link between domain names and a company name, which might answer your question.

With regards to the company name, you can swap or simply rename your existing company

I'm aware there is no link between company domain names, my question boiled down is simply if i have two companies on companies house can i transfer the name of one to another.

 

[Racoon777]

PS I can’t imagine anyone buying just “the names”. If they’re not trademarked, passing off is such a feeble remedy that they’re unlikely to be worth paying for

They are trademarked, which is exactly why the situation has arisen. I know from their prior stance they would want absolutely everything involved as if they're paying for it, they would want as clean a break as possible. No way we would be able to keep the same name on CH.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

What are you trying to achieve?

That I can unravel, you want to change your company name because another company may want the name but will have to buy the company as well?

 

[Racoon777]

What are you trying to achieve?

That I can unravel, you want to change your company name because another company may want the name but will have to buy the company as well?

No, they will not want to buy the company itself just the name (which is trademarked) and then everything associated with it to avoid any confusion.

I want to get my ducks in a row before it happens so that I'm not messing about and under pressure trying to think of a new name as and when it happens.

Domains have been bought, that isn't the issue, the new name is available on CH exactly as I would want it, my question was simply if I set that company up as a dormant company, could I transfer the name across to my existing company?

However, it sounds like I'm worrying about nothing anyway - even if someone took the exact name on companies house i could just vary it slightly when i change the name of my existing company, so there is probably no need to do what I'm asking if i can do.

 

[Ozzy]

I have done this myself, and in a previous life a previous company I owned did this for other people.

Talking specifically about "swapping" company names, because that is what you will need to do. The process, for Companies House, is this.

Company A = ABC Limited
Company B = XYZ Limited

You need Company B to be called ABC Limited, but you also want to keep the name XYZ registered at Companies House.

1. You rename A to XYZ (Something) Limited
2. You name B to ABC Limited
3. You name A to XYZ Limited

You do these through Same Day name change filings at Companies House using the electronic filing service, and you submit 1. and 2. at the same time, and then 3. immediately when you receive confirmation of 2. being complete.

During the time between 2. being complete and 3. being completed, the name XYZ Limited is at risk of someone else snatching it - but typically that is only for an hour or two and only people who monitor the Companies House live feed (streaming API integration) will be aware of it.

Of course, once all is complete you have all your other stuff to deal with. Banks, council, etc, etc.

 

[Racoon777]

I have done this myself, and in a previous life a previous company I owned did this for other people.

Talking specifically about "swapping" company names, because that is what you will need to do. The process, for Companies House, is this.

Company A = ABC Limited
Company B = XYZ Limited

You need Company B to be called ABC Limited, but you also want to keep the name XYZ registered at Companies House.

1. You rename A to XYZ (Something) Limited
2. You name B to ABC Limited
3. You name A to XYZ Limited

You do these through Same Day name change filings at Companies House using the electronic filing service, and you submit 1. and 2. at the same time, and then 3. immediately when you receive confirmation of 2. being complete.

During the time between 2. being complete and 3. being completed, the name XYZ Limited is at risk of someone else snatching it - but typically that is only for an hour or two and only people who monitor the Companies House live feed (streaming API integration) will be aware of it.

Of course, once all is complete you have all your other stuff to deal with. Banks, council, etc, etc.

Thank you for your help, that was exactly what i was looking for, if it was possible and process to do it.

 

[Ozzy]

Thank you for your help, that was exactly what i was looking for, if it was possible and process to do it.

If you need a hand on this @1st Formations can do this online, they have an online interface to manage this sort of thing.

 

[NewKidinTown]

sorry you've lost me - why not simply change the name of the currant company to the new name - what purpose does the new company fulfil?