What are the rules about company trading under the same name as regards two totally different business'es but both have the same name.

Any one know?

Or know where on the net would be a good place to start?

 

give internet a try mate

 

If the other name is registered to the company you have no chance. By being registered it should be displaying the little ® or ™ next to it.

The company I work for had been trading under a 3 letter name for over 20 years until someone in America actually registered it. We had to cease using that name or face action.

By registered I mean the name not the actual company. If its not registered specifically to them you can both use it. But in that case if you register it as a trademark first then they will have to stop using it.

 

 

Well i will have to find out.

As im looking to start up a business but its all a bit of grey area to me, so dont want to plunge in at the deep end, want to be armed with as much info as possible before making any major decisions.

 

if u are thinking of being a ltd company, companies house will not let you have the same name as they have to approve it beforehand
if its for sole trading then you can do just about what you like
as you will only ever be officialy known as ryan ........
that is if memory serves me correct
friend had to go through all this a while back,
there is a company called abacus at 118 hiltingbury road
that will guide you through it all & if you want a "ltd" will set it all up
for you & allow you to use there address an a registered office for about £150.00
or there abouts

 

jsut remember that if you do decide to go Ltd is does have its disadvantages as well. The accountancy fees are a lot steeper than if you are a Sole Trader/partnership.

i think you can search on Companies House the list of company names.....

Chris

 

COmpanies House is the place to look...

and no you can't have AFRacing Ltd

 

Companies house will tell you what you can and can't have but to save a lot of hassle and cost, just go as a sole trader until you can generate enough money to go Ltd or start employing people etc. as it has a huge amount of legalities and taxation implications with it and gets very complicated.

The other thing is obtaining credit etc. as that has various implications advantages/disadvantages as well.

Trust me, I used to be an accountant!!

 

Well i dont need any money to start the business just want to keep everything above board, hence start the company.

cheers for all you advice, will make a few phone calls today

 

As a sole trader you adopt a "trading style" - the name your business is known as - but in all official references you are Ryan *** Trading Us "Widgets Are Us".

If you were to try trading as BP or ICI or Virgin Parts or whatever, I think you would have lawyers letters within 24 hours of them finding out. You could also find yourself open to charges of "passing off" or worse if you wre doing similar things to the "real" company.

If you go to www.companieshouse.gov.uk and click on Free Company Information there is a complete index of Limited Company names - no two can be the same, but if you fancied something like "Widgets Are Us Ltd" and if it is already in use, you MIGHT be allowed to register "Widgets Are Us (South) Ltd".

Going Ltd does incur higher legal and accounting costs, you have to file accounts annually, and pay for a tougher audit. Also, you end up paying double tax on any benefits you give yourself, like a car. First as the employer you have to pay the employers NI, then as the employee you pay BiK tax on the car and employee NI on the benefit.

 

have a look at www.businesslink.gov.uk loads of great here to do with starting a business