It is important to put careful thought into the name of your company as this will be how your customers relate to your business.

Our company name search facility will help you find a company name that has not already been registered.

While it may be tempting to stamp your individual personality on your business name, however, it is best to be objective and choose a name that reflects your business strategy, as well as perhaps not publicly declare the true ownership.

This can and will prove to be more valuable in the long run as your business grows.

Many people choose names that reflect the products or services their business supplies so that it is instantly recognisable to new customers.

An alternative is to choose a name that reflects your company values, but make sure it still clearly communicates what your business offers and brings customers to your site, rather than have most of your customers passing you by!

Naming rules

There are a few requirements that you must consider when choosing your company name, which are laid out by Companies House here in the United Kingdom:

a) The name cannot be very similar to another name already being used by someone else, under the ‘passing off’ rules;

b) It cannot be deemed offensive;

c) It cannot use the words ‘limited’; ’unlimited’, or ‘public limited company’ anywhere other than at the end of the name;

d) For full details of the criteria Companies House uses to approve a company name, please go to the Companies House web site:

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company-name-availability

Don’t Forget!

When choosing your company name, you may also want to consider if the name is available also as a domain name for your website.

To check if your name has been registered as a trademark, go to the Company Names Tribunal and submit your chosen name first.

Off Shore

There are many off-shore jurisdictions where a company may be formed, each having particular benefits and potentially certain drawbacks, which must be considered by any client.

EBG will endeavour to provide either direct advice, or as will be the case in the majority of circumstances, ‘point them in the right direction’ to specialist off-shore formation specialist firm, who will be able to assist.