Company Name Change FAQ's:

Company Name Change Answers

1. Can I Change my Company Name Online?

   Yes. Our Company Name Change service is available online. For a low cost, we can help you change your company name, depending on your reasons for wanting to do so. Most people wish to carry out a company name change in order to take their company in a new direction, use a more appropriate name for their company or simply because they made an error.

2. How do I carry out a company name change?

   Take a look at our Company Name Change page to see how to carry out a company name change and what is included in our package. Choose a new company name, make sure it is available (by using our FREE Company Name Search tool), then take advantage of our online service. We will draft all the necessary forms and documents on your behalf and your new company name will be submitted to Companies House and usually ready within 7 to 14 days.

3. What happens if my company name is rejected by Companies House?

   Where you have ordered a Company Formation package from the Company Warehouse and have registered a name, but it is rejected by Companies House, we will help you re-register with another name for no extra charge.

4. I have been ordered to change my company name because it is misleading, what does that mean?

   Even after a company name is registered with Companies House, it is still open to objection by another company where it is 'too similar' to their name or in some cases (due to an error) registered with the same name. If the application for the registration of a company name was made in a misleading way, in particular with reference to "sensitive words" then, up to 5 years afterwards Companies House may require a company to change its name. Provide the new company with a compulsory name change order. Where a company name is so misleading so as to be likely to cause public harm, it may be deemed as inappropriate and that company may be legally required to change its name. In any of these circumstances, our company name change service is designed to help by drafting the necessary documents and articles and filing them on your behalf.

5. What are assurances with regards to company names?

   Also in regard to sensitive words within a company name, there are circumstances that a company name change order will be given out by Companies House where a company has failed to satisfy or fulfil assurances it has given with regard to that name. A perfect example of this is with the use of the term "international" within a company name. There is a requirement on companies using this name that they make an assurance within relevant documents that they will trade with 2 or more international companies within 5 years of registering. If in that time they fail to satisfy this assurance, a Companies House become aware, they will be required to change their company name.

6. What does damaging goodwill mean?

   Where an objection is made to the adjudicator with regard to a company name which is deemed to have been registered inappropriately, with the intention of taking advantage of another company's goodwill (usually by use of a similar name) then once again, the offending company may be required to change its name. This also applies where a name was registered in order to obtain money or prevent the goodwill company from registering its name. So in this way a company may need to carry out a company name change in order to rectify the potential damage to another company. If you believe someone has set up a company in order to damage the goodwill of your company, you may object to its registration.

7. How do I object to another companies name?

   If you feel that another company has registered a name which is hurting your registered company and falls under the criteria above, you can make an objection by contacting Companies house according to the table below.

   For companies incorporated in England & Wales, write to:
   The Secretary of State
   New Companies
   Companies House
   Crown Way
   Cardiff CF14 3UZ
   DX33050 Cardiff

   For companies incorporated in Scotland, write to:
   The Secretary of State
   New Companies
   Companies House
   4th Floor
   Edinburgh Quay 2
   139 Fountainbridge
   Edinburgh EH3 9FF
   LP - 4 Edinburgh 2 (Legal Post) or
   DX ED235 Edinburgh 1
   Tel: +44 (0)303 1234 500
   (national call rate)
   Fax: 029 20380900

   For companies incorporated in Northern Ireland, write to:
   The Secretary of State
   New Companies
   Companies House
   First Floor
   Waterfront Plaza
   8 Laganbank Road
   Belfast
   BT1 3BS
   DX 481 N.R. Belfast 1

8. Someone has registered a company name to stop me registering it as mine, is there anything I can do?

   Where an individual thinks that a company name is being registered with the sole intention of seeking money or in order to prevent them from registering their company name, they are free to make an application to the Company Names Tribunal (also known as the Company Names Adjudicator) for an order for that name to be changed.

9. What are sensitive words?

   In regards to company names, sensitive words are words that are prescribed in use by Companies House and the Companies Act 2006 for various reasons. Information about sensitive words can be found on our sensitive words page.

10. I need more help, is there someone I can speak to about my company name change?

    Yes. If you need a company name change service, you can order online, but if you would like further guidance, please feel free to contact a member of our team on 0800 0828 727.