Change of company name checklist

You have decided to revamp your company with a change of name. Make sure the process goes smoothly and the change is accepted by Companies House by following our checklist.

Advice

There are many situations in a company’s life that call for a change of name. For example, when its ownership changes, it wants to signal that its business is branching out into new areas or to distinguish itself from competitors. As with all important changes during a company’s life, there are statutory requirements to be met (under the Companies Act 2006 and the Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business (Names and Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2015). The name must comply with the rules, and certain administrative steps need to be followed in order for the name change to be valid. Mistakes can be costly: you don’t want to change your company stationery and marketing material only for your new name to be rejected by Companies House. Our checklist explains the process.

Special cases

The standard procedure applies in most cases. A company can set out an easier procedure in its articles, for example allowing the board to change the company’s name without a shareholder resolution, so it’s worth checking the articles. However, there may be additional hoops to jump through, such as consents to be obtained and extra information to be filed. These situations are outlined in our checklist so you can make sure that you follow the right procedure for your circumstances.

In a hurry?

Companies House charges £10 (£8 online) for name changes. Provided all the information is correct, it usually takes 24 hours to process a name change submitted electronically; or five working days if submitted by post. If you need the name change to take effect straightaway, you can pay for an express service at a cost of £30 (this is currently available for software filings only). The change will take effect the same day, as long as the application is submitted before 3.00pm and the information provided is all in order.