Registering a company name

[billiehop]

Hi all

How do I find out if a company name already exists? If it doesn't I want to register it, how do I go about this and what sort of costs are involved?

Thanks

 

[Mark T Jones]

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company-name-availability

 

[PugwashEQ]

Hi Billie,

you may be conflating 2 questions here- your company name and trading name can be two very different things.

Your company name is what the limited company is registered as and whilst there are restrictions, you have pretty free reign. You could be "Billiehop The best 123456 Limited", however your trading name might be Tesco. So you'd be Billiehop The best 123456 Limited T/As Tesco.

In this scenario you'd be sued (well they'd start with a very strong solicitors letter, but you know what i mean) very quickly by Tesco for using their name, but not for the Ltd Co name.

A lot of people ask about company names without realising what they are actually interested is trademarked/registered name.

Mark's link allows you to check the name of a limited company.
This link will allow you to check if anyone has trademarked the name you like: [can't post a link as i've not been here long enough- but google "UK trademark search"

If a name is trademarked, depending on the class, then that's pretty final.

 

[The Byre]

A lot of people ask about company names without realising what they are actually interested is trademarked/registered name.

It's kind of a popular theme around here - people confusing and conflating the name of the company with their trading name. They discover waaaay too late that someone else has the name of their choice and often they only wake up when that 'cease and desist' letter comes floating into the old letterbox.

If a name is trademarked, depending on the class, then that's pretty final.

There is a multitude of scenarios where one can contest a TM - already in well-established use, although not registered - registered but disused and not attached to any commercial activity - in traditional and constant use by a family or other body to indicate historical heritage - these spring to mind.

But as Captain Pugwash says, if it is an uncomplicated one-on-one, it's first to the TM wins!