Regulations

Registering Business Names

There is no legal requirement for you to register a business name, unless you specifically wish to protect it as a trade mark, internet domain name or as the name for a limited company. The Patent Office has information on trade marks and Companies House has information on company names. Companies House also has information on business names which can be viewed on their web site or requested by telephone.

The organisations listed below can put you in touch with their local members:

• Chartered Institute of Patent Agents (CIPA) is the professional body for patent agents in the United Kingdom. Although its title refers only to Patents, CIPA members also act in Trade Marks, Designs, and Copyright.
• Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA) is the professional body for trade mark attorneys in the United Kingdom and promotes the importance of registering trade marks.
• Nominet UK is the Registry for UK Internet Domain Names.

Before choosing a name, you should make every effort to check whether anyone is using the same or similar name in a similar business activity within the same area where you hope to trade. You may be accused of trying to steal their business away or, more to the point, you may be unknowingly drumming up business for them at your expense.