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Introduction
As a UK contracting professional and business owner, you may ask can I change company name? The answer to this question is yes, therefore how can I change my company name? In addition, how long does it take to change limited company name? When we consider can you change a company name and how to change business name (UK), where do we start when selecting the new name of a company? If we do our research, the good news is you can make a company name change (UK) via Companies House name change form NM01 form. Basically, this change of company name form enables you to change name on Companies House. Therefore, the next step is to look for available UK company names. In summary, private limited companies can go ahead with changing company name on Companies House anytime they choose.
When you are a UK contractor, you may at some point look into changing a company name (UK). Therefore, we’ll consider the reasons why you may wish to change contractor company name. In addition, we’ll investigate and what else to consider when you’re changing your limited company contractor name. What’s more, we’ll also look at some good ways to research new ltd company names. Basically, when you investigate new UK company names, you may need some good ideas for your new choice of business name.
In this article, we’ll look at how to check business name availability (UK) for a limited company. Once you’ve found some UK company names available and made your choice, we’ll explain how to change company name (UK). In addition, as part of when you change business name (Companies House), we’ll cover the complete process involved when you change ltd company name.
Initial thoughts
What to consider first
When we consider a change of company name, you will need to change this officially. In the UK, the Registrar or Companies (also known as Companies) are a body that looks after company formation procedures. What’s more, they also look after the UK public register. This contains a list of all companies with their respective limited company names. Basically, this register of Companies House names also contains some basic details about all UK limited companies. However, when you change company details, the official record needs updating. As a result, the new details of such a recent company change will be recorded officially. Therefore, as the register includes company names, a business owner should inform the UK public body when they make a company name change (Companies House).
Every UK company has a name and a company number. Basically, this number will never change during the company’s existence. However, the company’s owner can decide to change name of limited company at any time. Therefore, when we investigate how to change company name, what should we consider? Besides checking for UK company name availability, there is a form to file with Companies House. This form is required when businesses make the amendment to Companies House company names (UK). In addition, when we ask how to change company name online, the same form is required. Therefore, you can file this either online or through the postal system. To sum up, many limited company contractors and small business owners will let their accountants change the Companies House business name on their behalf
Common questions
Many limited company owners may look to change their business name at one time or another. As a result, they may have certain questions in relation to this. Therefore, these will include:
- Can you change your company name?
- How to change your company name?
- Can you change the name of a ltd company?
- Can you change company name on Companies House?
- How to change a company name on Companies House?
- Can I change my business name?
- How to change business name on Companies House?
- How much to change company name?
In this article, we’ll consider all of the above including the process involved. In addition, we’ll also look at what else to do when you change your business name as a limited company.
What to think about when you change a company name on Companies House
First thoughts
As a UK contractor or small business owner, you will need to choose a name for your company as well as choose a registered office when you first set your company up. However, at some future point during your contracting career, you may look into how you can go about changing ltd company name, for one reason or another. As a result, you will need to know how to change the name of a private limited company. Alternatively, you could ask your accountant to do this.
When you might look into changing company name
At some future point, when you run your own UK company, you may decide that the time has come when you would like to change your business name. Indeed, when you change your business name it could be for a number of reasons. Basically, you may feel the name is no longer appropriate for your current line of work. Alternatively, you may also think that the current business name is no longer suitable for the type of professional services that you are now offering. Therefore, we will need to investigate how to change my company name.
Other tasks
Besides investigating how to change a company name (UK) with Companies House, there are also other tasks to perform when you are changing limited company name. Please see later in the article for our business name change checklist of what else to do when you change company name.
Further considerations when changing a ltd company name
Companies House -check company name
Before you make the change the name of your company, you can do a Companies House company name check. Basically, you can perform the Companies House business name check (UK) by visiting the Companies House website. Next you can type the name in the search box and click the search icon to check Companies House for names. As a result, you can perform a UK company name search or check a limited company name. Consequently, you will discover if your proposed choice of new name is available. However, when you check ltd company names, if any already registered company names (UK) are in use by other companies, you cannot use them. Therefore, if a name is taken, you can repeat the process and check Companies House for names that are available based on what you are considering for potential new contractor company names.
Please also note, when you look for available company names (UK) and perform the limited company name check (Companies House), if you pick your new UK contractor company name which is very similar to that of another company, Companies House may reject this. Therefore, if the name is unavailable and you apply for this, Companies House will reject your request. In addition, as part of the UK company name change, your business will need the required permission to include sensitive words and expressions. These words include ‘international’, ‘bank,’ and `certified.’
Other guides
Besides this guide on how to change company name (Companies House), we have many other Companies House guides. Indeed, these help you navigate Companies House with regard to official filings and reporting. What’s more, these explain what this public body is and how to make a certain company change and report this correctly. Basically, we have covered in our articles:
- What is the SIC code.
- The UK Public Register.
- Your official address as director (and how you can change this to protect your home address).
- If your company needs a company secretary.
How to change company name on Companies House -the process
Initial steps
Let’s look at how change company name officially at Companies House. Basically, in larger businesses, company secretaries will action the change. However, as a small contractor company, you will make the change yourself or ask your accountant to do this. In addition, some larger companies may also have to consider any Trade Mark implications of a change in their business name.
The process of changing the limited company’s name is straightforward enough. What’s more, when we look at the official process of changing a contractor’s company name, the most common way is to pass a special written resolution. This is a formal decision that at least 75% of the company’s members votes agree to. Basically, the special resolution can be passed in writing or in a general meeting to approve the change.
As part of considering how to change company name, a company must complete Companies House form NM01 -notice of change of name by resolution. Indeed, the Companies House change of name form is used by UK limited companies to give notice to Companies House of a written resolution on change of name. Therefore, you can complete the Companies House NM01 form and change company name online. Alternatively, you can send a completed form through the post.
We have a separate guide covering choosing a name for your company. However, selecting a business name will be relevant when forming your company for the first time.
How much does it cost, and how long does it take to change company name?
When you make the company name change (UK), what is the cost of changing company name and how long does changing business name take? Basically, the first option is you can submit a paper NM01 form to Companies House. As part of making a postal change, the fee for the change of name form (Companies House) is £10. In addition, this is straightforward enough to complete. What’s more, when you complete the form NM01 (Companies House), you can pay by cheque or Postal Order. In addition, you can send the form and payment to the address on the form.
Alternatively, the more popular option is to change company name via Companies House online. Indeed, you can do this by filing NM01 form online via their WebFiling service. Basically, when you use this method, the Companies House fee is £8. On the other hand, there is an alternative cost of £30 for a NM01 same day name change (Companies House). If you use the £8 service, the Companies House change name process will happen within a couple of days. Furthermore, the process will be complete once Companies House approve this. To sum up, most UK contractors and small businesses will use the online service when making the change.
Complete the forms to change company name
The Companies Act 2006 (sections 77-79) allow a company to change its name by:
- Passing a special resolution of the members, or
- By other means, provided for in the articles of association.
When you are changing a limited company name, the company can pass the special resolution at a board meeting. Therefore, if you are a limited company contractor with your own company, you can hold a director’s general meeting, and the shareholders can sign a written special resolution. However, your Articles of Association may also define another method to do this.
Once you pass the resolution, you can submit NM01 form with the correct fee to Companies House. Indeed, they will process the company name change within a working day or two.
If you are to change the business name via the second method above, as defined in your company’s Articles of Association (this is not likely if you are the owner of a contractor limited company), you can use form NM04.
Once you have sent the change of name (Companies House) form through the post or filed online and the Registrar of Companies have processed the change, they will issue a Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name.
More thoughts
Changing company name checklist (UK) -other things to do
When you update your new contractor limited company name with Companies House via NM01 form, there are also some other tasks to perform. Therefore, once the change company name process has taken place, as part of a changing your company name checklist, you should also:
- Inform your accountant.
- Update the company statutory registers -if your accountant looks after these, they will do this for you.
- Change business name on bank account -advise your company’s bankers so that they can update your bank account or accounts.
- Update your company’s insurance company so they can update your policy.
- Let any clients and contacts know.
- Update your business website and any social media. If you have a business email address that contains your company’s name, you will also need to look into updating this too.
Once the change in business name is made
Once the Companies House name change has taken place, the official body will send you a Notification of Change of Company Name and a new Certificate of Incorporation. Basically, this will include the date of change of name. Besides the change of name, nothing else will have changed as the registered number remains the same. However, you or your accountant will need to inform the tax authorities (Corporation Tax, VAT and PAYE) and you will need to update the bank and any other professional contacts. In addition, your business website, invoices and any official company stationery will need to include the new name in future.
Final thoughts
When you consider can I change my ltd company name the answer is yes. However, there is a certain process to follow for the change of a company name. We explain in this article the process of how to search for company name availability (UK). We also cover how to change company name. Indeed, once your business receives approval of the company name change, you can then inform all relevant contacts and third parties.
First, you can inform your business bankers and insurance companies. Next you should inform professional organisations that your company is a member. Further, you must also advise the VAT, PAYE/NIC, and Corporation Tax offices. However, in many cases, UK contractors rely on their contractor accountant to make the changes with the tax authorities. What’s more, an additional step is to tell any clients or contacts of your new limited company name. Finally, you can update any online profiles, such as social media and your own business website, if you have one.
Link to Contractor Advice UK group on
