How to Register a Company Name

Most people searching for how to "register a company name" actually just want the name secured — not the rest of the paperwork. Here's exactly what registering a name involves, in plain English.

You Register a Company, Not Just a Name

There is no process for registering a company name by itself. A company name only exists as part of a full company registration at Companies House — you cannot claim, register, or hold a name in isolation. The moment you want a specific name, you have to form a company under it.

This trips a lot of people up: they want the name locked down before they've decided on directors, share structure, or a business plan. Unfortunately there's no shortcut — see the FAQ below on registering a name without forming a company.

Step-by-Step: Registering a Company Name

1. Check availability — search the free Companies House register to confirm no identical or "same as" name already exists.
2. Check for sensitive or restricted words — some words need prior approval before Companies House will accept them (see our UK company name rules guide).
3. Appoint at least one director — every UK company needs one, and you'll need to identify any Person with Significant Control (PSC).
4. Submit your application online — via the Companies House Web Incorporation Service, paying the £50 fee.
5. Wait for approval — usually within 24 hours. If approved, the name is registered and legally yours from that point.

For the full process beyond the name itself — tax registration, share structure, and what happens after incorporation — see our complete guide to registering a company.

How Much Does It Cost?

Registering online costs £50, paid to Companies House as part of incorporation. There is no separate charge for the name — it's included in that single fee. If your chosen name is rejected, you'll need to resubmit with a different name, and the fee is not typically refunded.

How Long Does It Take?

Most online applications are processed within 24 hours. There's no way to expedite this further, and no way to "hold" or reserve the name while you wait — it remains open to anyone else until your application is actually approved.

What Happens If Your Name Is Rejected?

Companies House will reject a name that's identical or "too similar" to an existing registered company, or that uses a restricted word without the right approval. If this happens, you simply have to pick a different name and submit again — there's no appeal process for a name that genuinely conflicts with an existing one.

If the name you actually wanted is already taken by another company, the registration process itself offers no way forward. The only route to that specific name is buying it from its current owner.

Registering a Name Without Forming a Company

This isn't possible through Companies House. Two things people often confuse with it:

• Trade mark registration — protects a brand name for specific goods and services via the Intellectual Property Office, a completely separate register. It does not register or reserve a company name. See our trademark guide.
• Domain name registration — securing a web address is unrelated to Companies House and grants no rights over the company name itself.

The only way to legally hold a specific company name without actively trading under it is to incorporate a company with that name and leave it dormant.

The Faster Alternative: Buy an Already-Registered Name

Buying a company that's already incorporated under the name you want skips the entire registration process — no waiting, no rejection risk, and no chance of someone else taking the name first. Ownership typically transfers within 48 hours, and many of our names carry an aged incorporation date, which can read as an established business rather than one registered today.

Read more in our guide to aged company names.