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Tips for choosing a company name

Choosing a company name can be difficult, especially if it’s your first! Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Choose something that's memorable

It should be easy to spell and pronounce

Pick a name that allows for your business to grow

Make sure it resonates with your target audience

A HAPPY TIDE MEMBER

Tide's business name check is a great tool! It gave me peace of mind that my company name was both available and complied with the naming rules.

Get more than just your business name with Tide

Start your journey with Tide and let us help you get your business sorted!

From checking your company name, to setting up a virtual office address and registering your business, we’ve got you covered.

  1. Register your limited company

    Once you’ve chosen your company name, you can register your limited company through Tide. Companies House charges £50 to incorporate, but we will get you registered for only £14.99!

  2. Open a business bank account

    Your business bank account takes minutes to open, and your company is usually registered the same day. No monthly account fees, no incorporation fees, and no fuss.

  3. Keep your home address private

    Choose Tide’s virtual office address service to get a registered London-based address, and keep your personal information secure.

  4. Secure your domain name

    Whilst registering your company, you can secure your domain name at the same time – there’s no need to go elsewhere!

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Learn more about registering a company

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Company Name Check FAQs

Our search tool will check if your company name is available against over 4 million registered companies in the Companies House database.

No. Companies House rules state that every company must have its own unique name. Our business name checker will make sure your chosen name is available before you try to register your limited company.

Our company name check won’t just tell you if your business name is available, it will also check it against the list of sensitive words to ensure it meets Companies House rules too.

Our company name search tool will check your business name against over 4 million registered companies in the Companies House database. It will confirm whether your name is unique and available to be registered.

A business or trading name is a name you trade with, but is not the same as your registered company name. Our guide on company names vs trading names explains the difference and when you may wish to use a trading name.

You can register a limited company and leave it dormant until you’re ready to start trading, to stop anybody else registering your chosen name with Companies House. Additionally, you may wish to register your company name as a trade mark, which will legally prohibit others from using it.

It’s not possible to reserve a company name without forming a limited company under that name. 

All private limited companies must include “Limited” or “Ltd” unless they are exempt through certain criteria. For example, your private company must be limited by guarantee.

When a company is dissolved, it is removed from the Companies House register. This means it no longer exists legally and you can reuse the name.