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Introduction -how to choose company name
When you start a contracting business and register a company, you must start by choosing a limited company name (UK). Therefore, when you start IT contracting, contracting in another industry or have a business idea, besides setting up a company bank account and finding an accountant, one of the key tasks before you set up the company is looking how to choose a company name (UK). Although there’s thousands of IT contractor companies and other contracting companies in the UK each with their own name, there’s plenty of available business names (UK). Therefore, the next step is to consider how to choose a limited company name.
Basically, there’s a number of ways to find a good contractor company name. One of which is to find and use a contractor company name generator (UK). Indeed, if you plan to become a limited company contractor, you can also use a contractor business name generator to help choose company name for your new UK contracting business. In this UK company names guide, we’ll look at what to consider when choosing a name for your company.
In this guide, we’ll investigate how to find good business names for contractors and what to consider as part of this process. What’s more, when choosing a good company name, we’ll look at what else to consider as part of this selecting a company name process. Indeed, when you’re looking to choose your new business name, it’ll be with you for the future. However, you can change this at a future date if you decide to do so. Therefore, this article will cover all of the angles on how to choose a name for your company. Furthermore, we’ll include lots of good company name advice to think about, when you are choosing this.
Initial thoughts
This guide aims to help with naming a company in the UK and there’s lots of useful tips to consider. We include lots of limited company advice in terms of finding some good company names. Therefore, once you have gone through the process of choosing a company name (UK), it will hopefully be a good choice. As a result, if you choose a good contractor name and then go through the company set up process and business name registration (UK), it should help to provide some good business opportunities and reach out to lots of new potential customers.
When you are a UK contractor or consultant and are naming a limited company for your future work, you may decide to use the word consulting or consultancy when naming a business (UK). As a result, this will let potential clients know that you are in the consulting arena. Alternatively, if you set up an LLP, you must choose a limited liability partnership name. In summary, when choosing a business name (UK) you should pick a unique name. However, please choose a clear, concise, but catchy contractor business name. When you do this in your UK business name search, it will help you stand out on social media and search engines in the future.
Companies House are an official body in the UK. What’s more, their official website contains a register of business names (UK) that are UK limited companies. Indeed, you can view this list of companies names online and search business names (UK) to see what is currently available.
Choosing a limited company name (Companies House) -formal processes
Different processes for each type of business
There are different formal processes when setting up different types of new businesses in the UK. To summarise, these are:
| Type of business | Register through/with Companies House | Register with HMRC |
|---|---|---|
| Limited company | Yes | Done as part of Companies House process |
| Limited liability partnership | Yes | Done as part of Companies House process |
| Sole trader | No | Yes -for personal tax (Self-Assessment) |
| Partnership | No | Yes -for partnership tax (Self-Assessment) |
Trade Marks
A Trade Mark is another option when you set up a new company. This option is crucial if you would like to protect the name. In addition, this is a sign which can distinguish your goods and services from your fellow competitors. Basically, when you consider contractor business name ideas, registering a limited company does not protect the name. However, the company registration prevents other businesses from setting up a company with the same, very, or similar name to yours. A business owner will register their trademarks at the Intellectual Property Office. In addition, the application starts at £170 (if accepted) and the trademark will last for ten years and is renewable indefinitely.
When you register a UK limited company with Companies House, it costs £12. Therefore, when choosing a company name (Companies House) this is suitable for most small businesses, including limited company contractors.
Common questions
Many individuals who set up a new business will have questions on how choose the company name. What’s more, for those who are looking to register a business name (UK), such questions will include:
- How to choose a name for a company?
- How to choose a good company name?
- What are some limited company name ideas?
- How to name a business (UK)?
- How to choose a great company name?
- What are some consultancy business name ideas?
- What are some private limited company name ideas?
- How to register a business name in the UK?
- How to decide on a business name?
- Should I use a UK business name generator?
- Where can I find a limited company name generator?
- How to secure a business name (UK)?
- What to do when registering a business name in the UK?
Therefore, in this guide we will look into how to choose a business name (UK). In addition, we will provide some tips on how to get some ltd company name ideas.
New company name registration (UK) -official rules to consider
First thoughts
Besides this guide on choosing a company name ideas (UK), we have a separate guide that covers how to change your company’s name. Basically, this sets out the process to follow when a business owner would like to do this. Now, back to this guide on choosing a limited company name in the UK. What’s more, there are various rules to bear in mind when you consider how to choose a company name (UK).
No similarity to another company name
When you choose a name for business, it cannot be the same as or too similar to an existing company. Therefore, when you’re investigating limited company names (UK), you can search the Companies House database to see if your name is already in use. Furthermore, when you consider contracting company names ideas and UK business names, it cannot
No connection to government bodies
The company registered name should not imply that your business has a connection with the Government. Furthermore, this includes any local authority.
The name cannot be offensive
The names of limited companies cannot be offensive. Therefore, when you choose a company name and look at contracting business name ideas, it cannot be rude or offensive.
Companies House sensitive words and expressions
When you are picking a name for your company you must have the required permission to include any sensitive words (Companies House) and expressions. To clarify, these include words such as ‘international’ or ‘bank’ or `certified.’ If you would like to include a sensitive word or words you will need to apply to Companies House. They will then be back in touch within a few days or so once they have made a decision.
Certain punctuation symbols
The company registered name cannot use certain punctuation symbols. Moreover, this Companies House article explains which symbols you can use when you consider contractor company names.
Please take note, the size of your company name can be up to 160 permitted characters. However, very few companies use this many characters.
Choosing a limited company name -considerations
Picking a business name for your business
Besides choosing company name, please read our first-timer UK contracting guide. This is an excellent read if you plan to start contracting through your own company in the future. With regard to name selection, you can choose a company name (UK) after doing some research. Therefore, we will look at some options and ways to find consultant company names and how to find ones that stand out.
As a starting point when choosing a company name (Companies House), you should take some time to research potential good contracting company names and find which ltd company names are available. Indeed, this is because you may trade under this for many years to come. If you work in IT, you should investigate some good IT consulting company names and see what you come up with. As a further thought when considering consultancy company names, it is also wise and sensible to present a professional image to clients and recruitment agencies.
It could be the case that you may look to do some non-contracting business through your company in the future. Therefore, when you choose a contractor limited company name, if you pick ABC IT Services Limited, this may not be suitable for you in the future.
When you own your own company, you can change your company’s name in the future if you so choose. To do this, you must submit a form NM01 to Companies House. In addition, there is also a nominal fee to pay if you do this.
Avoid using similar names that are already in use
As mentioned, when you are looking at contractor company name ideas, your choice of contractor name should not be too similar to an existing name.
It is important to bear in mind when you are choosing a limited company name that you must also avoid including trademarked words in your business name. For example, ‘Microsoft IT Services Limited.’
In June 2016, a company called Casio Services Ltd (CSL) was set up as a new company. In turn, Companies House let the name go through.
However, the famous Casio brand felt that the new entity had breached its intellectual property rights. Consequently, they took legal action to force CSL to change its name. As a result, CSL then did. Importantly, this shows that UK contractors must take care to research your choice of name. Acceptance of a word or words by the authorities does not necessarily mean that a business with a similar name could challenge it at a later stage.
Include the word Limited or Ltd at the end of your UK company name
When you are deciding on a company name, it is a legal requirement for private UK limited companies to include the words “Limited” or “Ltd” at the end of their name. Furthermore, companies in Wales can use “Cyfyngedig” or “CFY”.
When you are looking at consultant business names, there is no legal difference between the complete word “Limited” and the abbreviated “Ltd”. In addition, you can register either of these as both are interchangeable after incorporation.
Choosing a limited company name -some ideas for good contractor names
Let’s now look at how to choose a new business name for your company. Basically, some initial contractor business names ideas should be considered when you choose a ltd company name.
Unique business name
Your choice when investigating contractor company name ideas will be a unique business name. This is because in the UK, two companies cannot have the same name.
Catchy business name & UK company name generator
When you choose a company name (UK), it is a good idea to look for catchy contractor names. One way that you could find some limited company name examples is by using a business name generator (UK). The ltd company name generator (UK) will give you various choices and examples of some catchy limited company names as a UK contractor and this is a good way of choosing a new name. When considering UK company name suggestions, you may even be able to find a contractor business name generator online for UK companies. Indeed, if you can find a contractor name generator online, this will give you alternative names for limited companies to choose from.
Represent your products or services
You could choose a company name that represents the quality of your products or services which set you apart from your competitors. As part of this, you could look up some ideas for good branding and see what you can come up with. Indeed, the best ltd company names will include a company’s products or services within their name and potential customers and clients may tend to remember this better in the future.
Easy to spell
When you are choosing a company name (Companies House), make sure that it is easy to spell. If you do this when you consider contracting company names it will aid your customers, clients, and contacts in the future.
Easy to pronounce
When you set up a company name, make sure your company contractor name is easy to pronounce. When you do this, it will help your clients and customers in the future.
Other considerations
Choosing a limited company name -business name and internet domains
When you are choosing a limited company name, you should also try and secure the related internet domain names at the same time. When you do this, it will protect your future web presence. In addition, having the same company and contractor’s domain names it can add to your credibility. As part of this, you can also have your business name within your professional email address. Consequently, this will add to the reputation of your new business.
What’s more, we would advise you to try and secure the .com and .co.uk domains. Furthermore, you can add as many other variants as you wish.
Choosing a limited company name -IR35 rules and things to think about
When you consider how to choose your company name, it is also worth noting that with IR35 so closely attached to the UK contracting profession, having the words `contractor’ or `contracting’ or `freelancer’ may catch the eye of the taxman.
It is important to consider that IR35 has been challenging to apply in practice. Therefore, HMRC could seek easy targets for their IR35 enquiries.
Let us assume that you set up a company called `London IT Contracting Limited’. Once your company is set up, you draw a modest salary and take the rest of your income as dividends. As a result, this scenario could potentially have an `IR35 status enquiry’ written all over it.
When we look at Companies House business names and examples of a limited company name for UK contractors, the word `consulting’ covers a wide range of areas, and this word along with other variations such as `consultants’ and `consult’ are a common choice. Other alternatives include `Solutions’, `Systems’, `Engineering’ and `Developments’ and having such words in your business name can help to attract your target customer. All of these are very common choices for contractors in respect of their Companies House company names. Basically, a contractor business name generator will give you different examples or these sorts of words for your company name.
You may, of course, fall outside IR35. However, you do not want to stand out from the crowd when you can easily avoid doing so.
Examples of private limited company names
When you are a contractor, it is a common choice for limited companies’ names is to choose some of the words mentioned earlier. Therefore, you could use `consulting’ or `solutions’ when registering a new company name.
Basically, someone named A Smith could set their company name up as A Smith Consulting Limited. Alternatively, someone call S Davies could set their company up as S Davies Solutions Limited. As a further option for contractor name ideas, the person could exclude their name and use their initials or indeed any other permitted word e.g., AWS Consulting Limited or Zodiac IT Solutions Limited. Furthermore, other ideas for company names (UK) could be longer than the examples above e.g., AWS Design Engineering Consultancy Limited. Also, as mentioned earlier, you could use a consulting name generator to give you further ltd company names ideas.
Trading name (UK)
Some businesses also decide to use a trading name which may be a shortened version of the formal company name. If you do, you can show the trading name on your invoices and website etc. However, you should also show the official company name somewhere on your official invoice etc.
Choosing a limited company name and company formation
There are several ways of forming a limited company. Besides choosing a limited company name, you will also need to select a registered office. In addition, you will need to decide who the directors and shareholders are, along with other details. When you set your new company up, you have three options:
- You can do this directly via Companies House. If you do this yourself, please review the name to ensure that you spell it correctly before you submit your new company application to Companies House.
- Use a company formations agent. As a result, they will generally provide more support than going direct.
- Ask your contractor accountant to do this for you. When you do this, your accountant will handle the process and send you the official registration documents once your company is set up.
Final thoughts
You may be about to setting up a company but are not yet quite ready to start UK contracting. If this is the case, you can set it up and keep it dormant until you start contracting or providing your services. When you do set a company up, one of the first things to do is go ahead choosing a limited company name.
When you are choosing a company name (Companies House) there are a number of ways to select your business contractor name. Indeed, this guide highlights what you can consider as part of this process. A company name generator (UK) or even a contractor business name generator are a great way to generate potential UK business names for your new company.
Link to Contractor Advice UK group on
