[Bizzie Lizzie]

Can anyone tell me how do I go on about registering my business name and making sure nobody else already has the name please.  Thanks

Bizzie Lizzie

[Art]

Is it a LTD. company

[Bizzie Lizzie]

No.  I'm a Sole Trader

[Art]

You'll need to explain what your line of thought is by registering what do you mean?

[Bizzie Lizzie]

I was on a course a while ago (book keeping) and someone told me that you have to (eventually) register your name with a company so that only you can use that name??? I want to get a sign for when I purchase a van and want to make sure I don't step on someones toes!

[Art]

I think that only applies to ltd companies usually. But i suppose if you copied one of the major companies you might get some problems.

[Bizzie Lizzie]

Thanks, I'm not copying a major company - but someone also told me to enable you to 'keep' your name you must: Write yourself 2 letters stating the name you have chosen and to post both letters to yourself - open only 1 of them and keep them both safe - both will be stamped with the date of postage proving how long you have been using the name.

[Art]

Never heard that one before  Once your company goes over the vat threashold you'd have  to register with companies house. Then at that point you'd find out if anyone else had the same name.

[Elite (Ben)]

as a sole trader you can choose any name you want, except a registered trademark, but is best to choose something unique to your area.  if you register as a limited company this will not protect you from a sole trader using the same name either .

Ben


correct me if i am wrong please

[Bizzie Lizzie]

Thanks for advice - not sure if you're right or wrong!

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys and Gals,

About 20 years ago the requirement to register a business name was removed .

However you cannot just use another companies name , particularly if they are in direct competition as they wil sue you for damages.

 Check your local directories and away you go !

Cheers,

Doug

[simbo]

inland revenue sit type in name you would like to use and it will bring up any of that name , location and type of biz
cheers paul

[Dave_Lee]

You cannot register your name as a sole trader, as there is no requirement to do so, there is, no register. just make sure you dont use another traders name in your same area. Incidently, you can only sue someone else using your chosen name and who is trading in your same area, providing you can prove you first to use the name in your area AND you PROVE financial loss as a result of their encroachment. This I personally discovered last year when it happened to me.
Dave.

[John Kelly]

If you go into the companies house website you can do a search of business names. These are only limited companies which obviously because they are a company rather than an individual, have to be registered.
This would enable you to check if any limited companies were already using your preferred name. Even if they were, unless the kind of business was the same, I don't think it would be a problem. Where it would be a problem is if at some time in the future you wanted to go limited using that name, you would not be able to.
Think of it like McDonalds, if someone started a burger bar called McDonalds they would jump on you like a ton of bricks, however if you were McDonalds Cleaning, that wouldn't bother them.

[Chris Bailey]

Hi BL

many opinions on this one.  I run a partnership and a Ltd company, one VAT registered the other is dormant.

If you are a limited liability company and registered with companies house www.companieshouse.gov.uk/ then being a ltd company means that you have already registered (with companies House).

You do not have to register with companies house if you go over the VAT threashold, just with Customs & Excise.

If you are running as a sole trader or partnership etc then there is no where for you to be registered other than customs & excise for VAT and inland Revenue for paye, ni, self employment etc which your accountant should be able to help with if needed.

I would also agree with some of the other comments, although you can pick a name that someone else is using if you are a sole trader or partnership (other than a trademark) its generally best to pick a name that is unique or makes it clear what your business is.  If your company name is bizzie Lizzie then this suggests that your name is Liz and that you are very busy!!!!

Hope this helps

Chris

[Bizzie Lizzie]

No my name is not Liz, my name is Jan but always very vey busy! and thougth this would be a good name??  Many people now call me Liz though!

[Doug Holloway]

Hi ,

What about Janiclean  :

Cheers,

Doug

[Len Gribble]

Doug

Janiclean: a bit to close to a franchise cleaning co name.

Len

[williamx]

Jan

Try this link, it should help.

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?r.l3=1073859929&r.l2=1073859131&r.l1=1073858805&r.s=sc&type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073788944

[Bizzie Lizzie]

thanx all.
Bizzie Lizzie