Business Name Registration, UK: How to Go about It
If you’re looking to start a limited company in the UK, you’ll need to register a business name with Companies House. Having a registered business name will show potential customers and investors that you are a legitimate operator.
Follow these simple steps to register a business name in the UK.
1. Run a Business Name Check
Before you register a business name with Companies House in the UK, you need to be sure it hasn’t already been taken and that it can’t be easily confused with the name of an existing business. Consider:
- Choosing a name that helps explain what your business does
- Avoiding business names that are difficult to spell
- Whether the name will work well in a web address
- Including a high-value Google search term that you might want to bid on through pay-per-click advertising
Got a name in mind? With our free online search tool, you can check whether your company name is available with Companies House.
2. Get On the Business Register (UK)
Once you’ve chosen your business name, it’s time to register it with Companies House. This process is known as ‘incorporation’.
In addition to registering your business name, you’ll need to complete a few standard legal documents:
- Memorandum of Association – includes your business name, address and the type of business
- Articles of Association – spells out your rights as the director of the company and the rights of any shareholders.
If you don’t have a separate address for your business, you should use your home address to register your company. But if you aren’t comfortable with your home address being made public, we offer a Registered Agent Service which lets you register your business at our Central London location.
3. Register Your Business for VAT in the UK
You should do this if your annual turnover is more than £85,000. It’s something that an accountant can help you with.
4. Register Your Business for Corporation Tax
Make sure to do this in your first three months of trading or you could have to pay a fine. HMRC will send you the information you need once your business is listed with Companies House. As well as your tax reference number, they will let you know the deadline for filing your annual return.
5. Register your Business as an Employer
You must do this even if the only person you’ll be paying is yourself in your capacity as a company director.
6. Set Up a Business Bank Account
Some banks will want to see the documents you provided to Companies House and even a business plan before they’ll give you an account. Don’t forget to check what fees they charge for standard business services like setting up a standing order or clearing a cheque.
If you don’t have time to shop around, we can save you the hassle and help you set up a business bank account. We have a special relationship with Barclays which means you’ll get a range of great benefits with a Barclays Bank Business Account for Start-ups:
- Free business banking for 12 months (terms and conditions apply)
- Loyalty rewards – the longer you bank, the more money you get back
- Support and guidance from the Barclays Business Banking telephone team
- Manage your account online, by phone, via the Barclays Mobile Banking app or in branch
Find out more and sign up today
Register your own business from £9.99
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Registered agent
Included with this bundle
A 3 in 1 service that protects your privacy, all other directors privacy and includes our mail forwarding service.
Registered office address:
On the public register, use our address as the business’s registered office address
Service address:
On the public register, use our address as all the directors service address
Mail forwarding:
Quick and efficient mail forwarding and junk mail filtering. No additional handling or postage fees.
Registered agent
Free for 3 months with this bundle
A 3 in 1 service that protects your privacy, all other directors privacy and includes our mail forwarding service.
Registered office address:
On the public register, use our address as the business’s registered office address
Service address:
On the public register, use our address as all the directors service address
Mail forwarding:
Quick and efficient mail forwarding and junk mail filtering. No additional handling or postage fees.
Registered agent
Free for 12 months with this bundle
A 3 in 1 service that protects your privacy, all other directors privacy and includes our mail forwarding service.
Registered office address:
On the public register, use our address as the business’s registered office address
Service address:
On the public register, use our address as all the directors service address
Mail forwarding:
Quick and efficient mail forwarding and junk mail filtering. No additional handling or postage fees.
Legal and finance
Protect your business legally and financially with:
Company credit checks:
Carry out company credit checks powered by Experian's most comprehensive and current credit data to make sure you're doing business with the right people by picking the right customers and securing your supply chain.
Company credit monitoring:
Monitor all your key customers and suppliers credit statuses and get email alerts of any significant changes. Make sure your customers can pay what they owe and your suppliers can deliver the goods they promise.
Debt recovery Toolkit
Manage all your customers' credit in one place. Download and send different payment chasers, reminders and monthly statements to make sure that invoices are paid on time and in full.
You can send a solicitor final warning letters and even take court action to recover what you're owed!
Legal Documents:
Easily create all the legally enforceable contracts, documents, policies and procedures your business could need to sing the simple, straightforward document creator wizard.
Safely store all your documents online, where you can access them wherever and whenever you want.
Legal Health Check:
Complete the simple question-answer form and discover exactly what documents your limited company needs to be legally protected.
24/7 Legal Advice:
Get legal support and advice when you need it. Access an extensive library of legal how-to guides, news bulletins of all the most recent legal developments and a 24/7 telephone support helpline.
Knowledge hub
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