Form submitted!
Thank you for getting in touch. A member from our friendly team will aim to get back to you shortly.
All the best,
The SK Accountants team
Thank you for getting in touch. A member from our friendly team will aim to get back to you shortly.
All the best,
The SK Accountants team
Thank you for getting in touch. A member from our friendly team will aim to get back to you shortly.
All the best,
The SK Accountants team
Thank you for getting in touch. A member from our friendly team will aim to get back to you shortly.
All the best,
The SK Accountants team
What’s in a name is a question often asked. Well, quite a lot actually when it comes to establishing a business.
A business registered at Companies House may have a different trading name, maybe more than one.
For instance, if your company is registered under names like Neil Down, Terry Bull or Teresa Green, you may decide to give your business a different trading name.
What is a company name?
This is the name of the business as registered at Companies House, and the name used on any legal documents relating to the business.
It must be unique and cannot look or sound like another company.
You must include your company’s name on all company documents, marketing materials and letters.
On business letters, order forms and websites, you must show:
What are trading names?
You can also trade using a different name from your registered name. This is known as a ‘business name’ or ‘trading name’.
Although not bound by the same rules as company names, trading names must not:
Businesses should still take care and conduct checks to make sure that they do not breach an existing trademark, or be accused of passing off or misrepresentation.
It doesn’t actually need to be registered anywhere and doesn’t have the same restrictions as the company name.
A single company can have many trading names, or they can just choose to use their company name as their trading name. For example, a company might acquire a business whose name attracts customer loyalty, so the new owners may keep that name.
What about trademarks?
Trading names and trademarks are different, and a trademark is a way of registering a name as Intellectual Property (IP).
This prevents rogue businesses from pretending to be another company and siphoning off their customers.
A trademark can be a name, a logo, or anything that can distinguish your goods or services from a competitor.
Names and trademarks can be complicated, and Companies House advises getting professional advice.
Need help with organising your business? Contact us today.
Small business confidence dips ahead of new customs controls coming into force
Four in 10 exporters have reported a fall in international sales since the end of the Brexit transition period, a major study has revealed. According to the tracker, four in 10 – around 41 per cent of traders – have reported a “drop off” in international sales in the three months to September 2021.
Business
HMRC asks sole traders to correctly report SEISS grants or “repay in full”
Sole traders who have not correctly reported their Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grants may be forced to repay them in full, it has been warned.
Compliance
Small businesses call for Government support to tackle climate change
According to new research, many are addressing energy usage, increasing recycling and investing in microgeneration, but only a third of those have a formal plan to tackle climate change within their business.
Economy
Almost 800,000 tax scams reported to HMRC in past 12 months, figures reveal
Nearly 800,000 tax-related scams were reported to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in the past 12 months, a major study has revealed. According to the report, HMRC responded to 797,010 referrals of suspicious contact from the public in the last year. Around 358,000 of these involved scams where taxpayers were offered bogus tax rebates.
Tax Planning