Business Names
- (Note: Not Limited Company Names)
- For Information on Company Names.
Business names are no longer registered with any government departments. But there are laws about using certain names and disclosing certain details of ownership.
Before 1982 many business names had to be registered under the Registration of Business Names Act 1916. This Act was repealed on 26 February 1982 when new rules on business names came into force in the Companies Act 1981. This law was replaced by the Business Names Act 1985. This allows the Secretary of State to have certain controls over the name you choose for your business and what you must tell others about the ownership of the business.
Some words and expressions are controlled by other laws. These rules protect the rights which persons may have in relation to names or words. (In law, ‘person’ includes individuals and companies.)
The following link will direct you to a booklet on the Company House web site. It is a guide to the rules in the Business Names Act 1985. It is not a complete statement of the law. If you are unsure about any of the details, you should read the law yourself or consult a solicitor.
Any business names shown in this booklet for the sake of example are intended to be fictitious.
Visit the following link to view the Business Names booklet:
The contents of the document are as follows:
- Introduction
- 1. Business Names
- 2. Disclosure rules
- 3. Further information
This is a guide only and should be read with the relevant legislation.
Visit the following link to view the Business Names booklet:
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