How To Protect Your Business Name

Your business name is worth protecting early. Once someone else registers the same or a very similar name, recovering it is costly and not always possible.

There are a few different ways to secure a business name in the UK, and they work best when used together. This guide explains your main options clearly so you can decide what makes sense for your situation.

One thing worth clarifying before we start: your registered company name and your trading name are two different things. Your company name is what appears on the Companies House register. Your trading name is what you put on your website, invoices, and marketing. They don't have to match, and understanding that distinction matters when you're deciding how to register and protect what you've built.

Key Takeaways

• Registering as a limited company is the most straightforward way to protect a business name. Once registered with Companies House, no other business can register the same or a very similar name.
• Sole traders have no formal name protection because they do not register with Companies House. Another business can register the same name as a limited company without any barrier.
• A UK trademark gives exclusive rights to use a name, logo, or brand element and allows legal action against unauthorised use. As of April 2026, online trademark registration costs £205 for one class of goods or services.
• If you are not ready to trade, you can reserve a company name by registering a dormant limited company. This prevents anyone else from registering it while you prepare to launch.
• Incorporating as a limited company and registering a trademark together provide the strongest combined protection for a business name.

Check Your Business Name Is Available First

Before anything else, check whether your chosen name is already taken. Registering something too close to an existing company name can lead to legal disputes and, in some cases, a forced rebrand.

Use our company name checker to see whether your name is available. It's a quick step that can save you a lot of trouble later.

Does My Business Structure Affect Name Protection?

Yes, significantly. The table below shows the key differences between sole traders and limited companies when it comes to name protection.

As a sole trader, your business name isn't officially recorded anywhere. There's nothing stopping another business from registering the same or a very similar name as a limited company.

The most direct way to protect your name is to incorporate as a limited company. There are several reasons to consider going limited, and name protection is one of the practical ones.

Once your name is on the Companies House register, you have grounds to challenge businesses using something confusingly similar. If you can show you have an established reputation under that name, you may be able to bring a "passing off" claim against another business trading under it in a way that damages your reputation or misleads your customers. This is a legal route rather than an administrative one, so it's worth understanding the distinction.

Incorporating is generally the most straightforward and cost-effective starting point for name protection in the UK.

Should I Register a Trademark?

Registering as a limited company protects your name on the Companies House register. A trademark goes further.

A registered trademark gives you exclusive rights to use that name, logo, or brand element commercially. It lets you take legal action if someone uses it without permission, and it can be sold or licensed, which has real commercial value if your brand grows.

Trademarks can cover words, logos, sounds, colours, or combinations of these.

There are limits on what can be trademarked. The following won't be accepted:

• Generic or purely descriptive terms
• Offensive or misleading names
• Anything using national flags, royal emblems, or hallmarks without authorisation
• Names identical or too similar to an existing registered trademark

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) publishes full guidance on eligibility.

Trademark fees are set by the UK IPO and can change. Always check the current fee structure on the GOV.UK trademark forms and fees page before applying. As of April 2026, the online application fee is £205 for one class of goods or services, with £50 for each additional class. A paper application costs £250 for one class.

Before applying, search the IPO's trademark database to check whether anything similar is already registered.

Can I Reserve a Company Name?

Yes, you can still reserve a company name now to prevent anyone else registering it in the meantime.

This works by registering a dormant company under your chosen name. The company sits inactive until you're ready to use it. It's a practical option if you're still working as a sole trader, building towards a launch, or simply not ready to start trading yet. When you're ready, the dormant company can be activated and you can begin trading under that name.

Securing your name before you need it is one of the simpler ways to protect something you've put time and thought into building.

Looking for More Startup Guidance?

We have articles to help at different stages of your journey, from writing a business plan to understanding how to make your business more resilient during tougher economic conditions.

FAQs

Why is it important to protect my business name?

If your name isn't protected, another business can register the same or a very similar one. That can mean losing customers who confuse the two businesses, damage to your reputation, or an expensive rebrand. Getting protection in place early is much simpler than trying to recover a name after someone else has taken it.

What is the difference between a company name and a trading name?

Your company name is the name registered at Companies House. Your trading name is what you use day-to-day with customers. They don't have to be the same. For example, a company registered as "Smith & Co. Services Ltd" might trade publicly as "Smith's Plumbing." Trading names don't need to be separately registered, but the legal protections are tied to your registered company name.

How can I stop someone else from using my business name?

There are three main routes:

1. Register as a limited company with Companies House to secure your name on the official register.
2. Register a trademark with the UK IPO to gain exclusive rights and the ability to take legal action.
3. Reserve your company name if you're not yet trading, to prevent others from registering it first.

Using more than one of these together gives you stronger protection overall.

Can I trademark my business name and logo?

Yes. A trademark can cover words, logos, colours, or a combination of these. It gives you exclusive rights to use those brand elements and the ability to challenge unauthorised use. The process involves an application to the UK Intellectual Property Office. Eligibility depends on whether the mark is distinctive and doesn't conflict with anything already registered.

Do sole traders have the same name protection as limited companies?

No. Sole traders don't register with Companies House, so there's no official record of their business name. Another person or company could register the same name as a limited company without any formal barrier. Incorporating as a limited company is the most direct way to secure name protection.

What does it mean to reserve a company name?

Reserving a name involves registering a dormant limited company under your chosen name. The company isn't actively trading, but the name is secured on the register. It's a useful option if you want to protect a name before you're ready to launch. When you're ready to start trading, the dormant company can be activated.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Trade mark fees, eligibility rules, and Companies House requirements can change. Always check the latest guidance on GOV.UK and the UK Intellectual Property Office website before making decisions about protecting your business name or brand.