Business Names

[Selise]

How do i find out if a company name is available and how do i register it?
I have been working freelance for 10 years with my own name but now want to start up a company (sole trader) and want to name it! Thanks in advance.

[jedimistress]

Look on the companies house website. Do a company webcheck under the name you would like and it will show all names of companies with alphabetically similar names.

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/d7857f23dd8e 0dd5d2c52580fc17d14d/wcframe?name=accessCompan yInfo

[Selise]

Thank you! - very helpful!

[Markandshez]

Form 10 downloaded free from Companies House. Buy some Memorandum and Articles of Association from Staples for about a tenner. Make sure they fit and you understand them.
Form 12, again from Companies House. Get a solicitor or JP to countersign this form (take a tenner cash as they just go down the pub with it - it wil take them thirty seconds)
)
Shove it all in an envelope with a cheque for �20 payable to Companies House.

WARNING: Starting a company is easy, running it properly and legally is different. You are NOT a Sole Trader if you have a Ltd Company. You become an employee of the company. Better to have the company and keep it dormant to protect the name and then stay as a Sole Trader.

You do not need to register any name for a Sole Trader - don't pay the rip off merchants that want to chrge you for it

[schippers]

do a google seach type in business names. choose the first one on the list. type in the business name you want and it will tell u if has already been registered