FAQ

Company Formations

  1. New companies
  2. Public limited companies
  3. Single member companies
  4. Re-registration
  5. Publication of company name and details to be shown on company stationery
  6. The new company - looking forward
  7. Further information

Company Names

  1. Introduction
  2. Choosing a company name
  3. Change of company name and change of status
  4. Sensitive words and expressions
  5. Exemptions using the word ‘limited’
  6. Directions to change a company name
  7. Controls and restrictions
  8. Disclosure of company name and other information
  9. Further information
  10. Appendix

This is a guide only and should be read with the relevant legislation.

  • Companies Act 1985
  • Companies Act 2006
  • The Companies Act 2006 (Commencement No. 6, Saving and Commencement No. 3 and No. 5 (Amendment)) Order 2008 – SI 2008/674
  • The Companies (Trading Disclosures) Regulations - 2008 SI 2008/495

Disclosure of company name and specified other information

A company must disclose its name (as it appears in its memorandum of association) in certain places and on its communications. A company must also give other specified information in all its business letters, order forms and websites.

1. Where and how must I disclose my company name?

A company must display its registered name:

  • at its registered office and at its inspection place (any other place where it keeps its company records). The name must be in characters that can be read with the naked eye. However, from 1 October 2008 a company will be exempt from this requirement if it has at all times since its incorporation been dormant i.e. it has "no significant accounting transactions" during a financial year or entries in the company's accounting records. Further information can be found in our 'Dormant Companies' guidance.
  • at any other place at which it carries on business. However, from 1 October 2008 a company will be exempted from this requirement if the location in particular is used primarily for living accommodation. For example, if that location was the director's home.
  • continuously, however, from 1 October 2008 where the office, place or location is shared by six or more companies, each company is only required to display its registered name for at least fifteen continuous seconds at least once in every three minutes.
  • in all its business correspondence and documentation (in hard copy, electronic or any other form) including bills of exchange, bills of parcels and websites.

From 1 October 2008 the company's name as used to comply with these disclosure requirements need not be exactly the same as the registered name. The permitted differences are the case of the letters, the use of punctuation, accents, etc and formatting. However, the differences must not result in there being a risk of confusion.

The personal civil liability of officers in default will not be applicable from 1 October 2008. If an officer of a company or a person on its behalf signs or authorises to be signed on behalf of the company any bill of exchange, promissory note, endorsement, or cheque in which the company's name is not mentioned he will not be personally liable. He will not be liable either to the holder of that document for the amount of it.

2. What other specified information must I disclose and where?

A company must also include its registered number, its place of registration, and its registered office address in business letters, order forms and websites.

3. What company's information can I request in writing?

From 1 October 2008 a person may request in writing other information of the company it deals with in the course of business including; the address of its registered office, any inspection place and the type of company records kept at that office or place. The company must send a written response to that person within five working days of the receipt of that request.

For a full account of these requirements please refer to The Companies (Trading Disclosure) Regulations 2008 (Statutory Instrument 2008/495).