Registering a Business Name in UK

Phibsboro7

Hi any advice on registering a business name in the UK. We don't want a ltd Company and we already own the domain name.

We have registered our name with the CRO in Dublin but the Companies House in the UK doesn't seem to do anything similar.

We really want to protect our name as we are just about to start trading in England - fingers crossed.

thecleverone

Hi any advice on registering a business name in the UK

To the best of my knowledge there is no system in the UK to register business names as you can in Ireland. Just limited companies. As far as i know, you just need to inform HM Revenue and Customs of the business name you are trading under when registering for income tax (which you would do if self employed). You can find out more here.

We have registered our name with the CRO in Dublin

If it is a business name you have registered with CRO in Ireland, just remember that the fact you have registered the business name does not preclude someone else registering the same business name or in fact registering the same name as a limited company so there's very little by way of name protection there.

mneylon

If you want protection then you probably need to look into registering a trademark

Registering a national trademark in Ireland is relatively easy and once you have that you can then apply for an EU trademark which will cover you in the 27 member states

robinph

thecleverone wrote: »

If it is a business name you have registered with CRO in Ireland, just remember that the fact you have registered the business name does not preclude someone else registering the same business name or in fact registering the same name as a limited company so there's very little by way of name protection there.

What is the purpose of registering a name then? Is it to do with being able to get a bank account in that name or something but still just working as an individual?

Phibsboro7

Thanks for the replies thecleverone and Blacknight there is real food for thought here.

I think at some stage we are going to have to look into a trademark as we have already had difficulties in the past with a competitor registering the name of one of our Irish Ltd cos as a Ltd Co. in the UK.


Thanks guys

Phibsboro7

robinph wrote: »

What is the purpose of registering a name then? Is it to do with being able to get a bank account in that name or something but still just working as an individual?

Also interested in the response to this?

mneylon

robinph wrote: »

What is the purpose of registering a name then? Is it to do with being able to get a bank account in that name or something but still just working as an individual?

There are several information leaflets on the CRO site about this

In simple terms if you want to conduct business under a name other than your own or your company's you need to register a business name (in Ireland)

if you want someone to write a cheque to "widget services" you'd need to have that business name or they'd have to make the cheque out to John Murphy ...

Phibsboro7

Thanks - this is useful.