Legal Requirements for Company Name Changes in the UK

A company can change its name as often as it likes, but each change has to follow the Companies Act and Companies House rules. Get one step wrong and the filing is rejected, or worse, the company is ordered to change its name again later. This guide sets out the legal requirements for company name changes in the UK: what the new name can be, how it is approved, how it is filed, and where it must be shown afterwards.

Rules the new name must follow

The new name is checked against the same rules as a name chosen at formation.

• It must end correctly. A private limited company's name ends in "Limited" or "Ltd", or the Welsh "Cyfyngedig" or "Cyf".
• It cannot be the same as an existing name. Names that differ only by punctuation, spacing, "and" against "&", or common words such as "UK", "Services" or "Group" are treated as the same.
• Sensitive words need approval. Words suggesting a connection to government or a regulated status, such as "Bank", "Royal", "Charity", "Chartered" or "Authority", need permission, sometimes with a letter from the relevant body.
• It cannot be offensive or suggest a connection to criminal activity.

Check the trade mark register too. Companies House does not check trade marks, and registering a name someone else has protected can lead to a legal claim.

How the change is approved

A company can change its name in one of two ways.

By special resolution

This is the usual route. The shareholders pass a special resolution, which needs at least 75% of the votes. In a private company this is often done in writing: the resolution is sent to every shareholder and passes once holders of 75% of the voting shares have agreed. A sole shareholder can sign it alone.

By a method in the articles

Some companies' articles of association allow the name to be changed another way, such as by a decision of the directors. If yours do, you can use that method, but it has to be filed on paper with a notice confirming the change was made under the articles.

Filing company name changes with Companies House

Once the resolution is passed, you tell Companies House by filing a notice of change of name (NM01) together with a copy of the resolution. Copies of special resolutions must reach Companies House within 15 days of being passed. Changes made by special resolution can be filed online; changes made under the articles must be filed on paper.

How you fileCompanies House fee Online£20 Online, same-day service£85 Paper form NM01£30

These are the fees on the GOV.UK NM01 page.

When the new name takes effect

The name does not change when the shareholders vote. It changes when Companies House registers it and issues a certificate of incorporation on change of name. Until then, keep trading and signing contracts in the old name. The company number stays the same, so the company keeps its contracts, bank accounts, debts and history. Only the name moves on.

Where the new name must appear

Once the change is registered, the law on trading disclosures applies to the new name straight away. The company's registered name must be shown:

• at its registered office and every place it does business, where it can easily be seen
• on its website
• on business letters, notices, order forms, invoices, receipts, cheques and other official documents, including emails

Business letters, order forms and the website must also show the company number, where it is registered and the registered office address.

When a company can be told to change its name

A name that is registered can still be challenged afterwards.

• If it is too like an existing name, the Secretary of State can direct a change within 12 months of registration.
• If the company gave misleading information to get the name, it can be ordered to change it within five years.
• Since 2024, Companies House can also direct a change if the name could be used to facilitate crime or should not have been registered.
• Anyone with goodwill in a similar name can complain to the Company Names Tribunal that a name was registered opportunistically. If the complaint succeeds, the company can be ordered to change its name, and if it does not, the name is replaced with its company number.

Choosing a name that is clearly your own, and checking trade marks first, avoids almost all of these.

Who else to tell

Companies House passes the change to HMRC, but you should update every other record yourself: your bank, insurer, VAT and payroll records, contracts, suppliers and customers. Our guide to rebranding your business has a full checklist.

Change your company name with us

Our change company name service checks the new name, prepares the special resolution and files it with Companies House, with a same-day option if you need it quickly.