Guides
Naming & trademark guides
Plain-English answers to the questions founders actually search for — before they get an expensive surprise from Companies House or the trademark register.
How to check if a business name is available in the UK
Availability isn’t one check — it’s four. Here’s the order to run them in, and why a free Companies House result doesn’t mean the name is yours.
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Can two UK companies have the same or similar name?
Two companies can’t share the “same as” name — but the rules on what counts as the same, and on merely similar names, surprise most founders.
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Company name vs trademark: what’s the difference?
A company name lets you exist. A trademark lets you stop others trading on your name. They’re different registers with different rights — here’s how they fit together.
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What happens if your business name infringes a trademark?
A cease-and-desist, a forced rebrand, sometimes damages. Trademark infringement doesn’t care that Companies House approved your name — here’s what’s actually at stake.
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Can two businesses have the same name in different industries?
Delta the airline and Delta the tap-maker both exist for a reason: trademarks are class-specific. But “different industry” has limits — here’s where the line really is.
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Sensitive words in UK business names: the list that needs approval
Some words can’t go in a company name without approval from Companies House or another body — and “Ltd” won’t save you. Here’s what triggers a sensitive-word review.
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