Registering a company name

[domokun]

Under what circumstances would I register a company name?

If Im happy being a sole trader, can I still go to companies house and register my company name?

I had a bit of a snoop about, but it appeared to me that be registering my company I was forming a Limited company.

Bit confused. Help!

 

[mookgirluk]

The only way to register a name with Companies House is to incorporate as a Limited Company.

However you can do this, and keep the Ltd as a dormant company and continue to trade as a sole trader (as long as you do not use the Ltd name or number in your trading).

By registering your company, you only ensure that no-one else can register a company with the exact same name.

 

[obscure]

Are you possibly confusing registering a company (at Companies House) and registering a Trademark - the name of your company - with the IPO (http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/tm.htm)?

You should only set up a Ltd company if it is necessary for your business. It isn't the way you protect a trading name. You do that by registering a Trademark, which you can do if you are a sole trader or a Ltd company.

 

[Watermill Accounting]

Do you wish to protect your trade name?

If your answer is yes , forming a company will not solve your problem.

You need to register a trade mark.

PM me for more details.

 

[Cromulent]

You can actually register with Companies House as an unlimited company I believe.

 

[JGOffshore]

You can actually register with Companies House as an unlimited company I believe.

You can indeed but that is still a company and is taxed as such.

There is no registration of business names in the UK although the Business Names Act is still in existance. This gives Companies House the power to stop people using misleading names or "sensitive" names. These include a whole range of words such as Royal, King, Windsor, Bank, Sheffield etc etc. Get more details here.