Business Name Checker UK
Check UK business name availability instantly with our comprehensive free tool. Verify company names, trading names, and business registration status through official UK government databases including Companies House and HMRC records.
UK Business Name Availability Checker
Check if your business name is available across selected UK registers
Comprehensive UK Business Name Verification
Companies House
Check registered company names against the official Companies House database.
Trading Names
Verify business trading names and sole trader registrations.
Domain Check
Check .co.uk and .com domain availability for your business name.
Trademark Search
Basic trademark conflict detection and intellectual property alerts.
What is a UK Business Name Checker?
A UK business name checker is a comprehensive tool that verifies the availability of your desired business name across multiple official UK databases and registries.
What It Checks
- Companies House registered company names
- Business trading names and sole trader names
- Dissolved company names (restricted period)
- Similar names that could cause confusion
- Domain name availability (.co.uk, .com)
Why You Need It
- Avoid costly registration rejections
- Prevent legal disputes and trademark issues
- Ensure consistent branding across platforms
- Save time in the business setup process
- Build confidence in your business name choice
Types of UK Business Names We Check
Limited Companies
- Private Limited Companies (Ltd)
- Public Limited Companies (PLC)
- Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP)
- Community Interest Companies (CIC)
Unincorporated Businesses
- Sole Trader business names
- Partnership trading names
- Freelancer business names
- DBA (Doing Business As) names
Special Categories
- Charities and Non-profits
- Overseas companies (UK branch)
- Investment companies
- Social enterprises
UK Business Name Rules & Regulations
✓ Permitted Elements
- Letters (A-Z) in upper or lower case
- Numbers (0-9) anywhere in the name
- Symbols: & (ampersand), ' (apostrophe), - (hyphen)
- Full stops (.) and brackets ( )
- Welsh characters (for Welsh companies)
✗ Prohibited Elements
- Identical to existing company names
- Offensive, obscene, or inappropriate language
- Suggesting government connection without permission
- Criminal activities or illegal purposes
- Misleading or deceptive names
Special Considerations:
- • Names must not be longer than 160 characters (including suffix)
- • Company endings (Ltd, Limited, PLC) are mandatory for limited companies
- • Sensitive words may require approval from relevant authorities
- • Names cannot be used solely for investment or holding purposes
How Our UK Business Name Checker Works
Real-Time Verification Process
- 1Instant search across Companies House database
- 2Cross-reference with trading name registers (guidance)
- 3Check domain availability (.co.uk, .com, .uk) (guidance)
- 4Analyze for potential trademark conflicts (guidance)
Advanced Features
- Smart name variations and alternatives
- Similar name detection and warnings
- Trademark conflict analysis (guidance)
- Social media handle availability (guidance)
Our Comprehensive Database Includes:
Why Choose Our UK Business Name Checker?
Lightning Fast
Get instant results in under 3 seconds. Our optimized search algorithms quickly scan millions of records across Companies House.
Highly Accurate
Direct connection to official UK Companies House database ensures the most accurate and up-to-date business name availability information.
Completely Free
No hidden fees, no registration required. Check unlimited business names and get comprehensive reports at no cost.
Step-by-Step: Check Your UK Business Name
Enter Your Business Name
Type your desired business name into our search tool. Include any proposed suffixes like "Ltd" or "Limited" for company registrations.
Select Check Options
Choose which databases to search: Companies House, trading names (guidance), domains (guidance), and trademark registers (guidance) for comprehensive verification.
Review Availability Report
Get instant results showing availability status from Companies House, plus suggestions for alternative names if needed.
Proceed with Registration
Once confirmed available via Companies House and other manual checks, proceed with business registration through the appropriate UK authorities with confidence in your name choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UK business name checker completely free?
Yes, our business name checker UK tool is 100% free with no hidden charges. You can check unlimited business names without registration or payment.
What databases does the UK business name checker search?
Our tool primarily searches Companies House live. For trading names, domains, and trademarks, it provides guidance and emphasizes the need for checks with relevant authorities/registrars.
How accurate is the business name availability check?
Our UK business name checker provides high accuracy for Companies House by connecting directly to official government databases. Results are updated in real-time. Other checks are for guidance.
Can I check trading names for sole traders?
Yes, our business name checker allows you to select "Trading Names" as an option. While the automated check focuses on Companies House, we provide guidance on verifying trading names, which is crucial for sole traders and partnerships.
What if my desired business name is already taken on Companies House?
Our tool will show the conflicting registered companies. It also provides intelligent suggestions for alternative names if your initial choice is shown as taken on Companies House.
Does the checker work for all UK business types?
Our UK business name checker focuses its automated search on names registrable with Companies House (Ltd, PLC, LLP). For sole traders and partnerships, the "Trading Names" option offers guidance for these distinct verification processes.
Expert Tips for UK Business Names
✨ Best Practices
- Choose Memorable Names: Easy to remember, spell, and pronounce
- Industry Relevance: Reflect your business sector or values
- Future-Proof: Allow for business expansion and growth
- Domain Availability: Secure matching .co.uk and .com domains
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Too Similar to Competitors: May cause customer confusion
- Overly Complex Spelling: Hard for customers to find online
- Geographic Limitations: Don't restrict future expansion
- Trademark Ignorance: Always research existing trademarks
Related UK Business Tools
Start Your UK Business Name Check Now
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UK Business Intelligence Team
Specialists in UK business registration, company law, and government database integration with over 10 years of experience helping entrepreneurs start successful businesses.