Almost 57,000 business names rejected by Companies House
2-minute read
A new freedom of information (FOI) request submitted by Simply Business reveals that 56,640 business names have been rejected by Companies House since 2019.
Looking at data between January 2019 and April 2022, 25,400 of these names were rejected because they were deemed ‘offensive’.
Why might Companies House reject a business name?
Registering your business name is an important part of setting up a business in the UK, and Companies House is the body in charge of incorporating (and dissolving) limited companies.
A company name can be rejected if it already exists or if it contains a restricted word.
There’s a list of names that need specialist approval as these could imply a connection to the government and royalty. And the use of some names in your business name are protected by legislation, like Building Society and Physician.
For example, if a business wants to use the word ‘King’ or ‘Royal’ in its name, they’ll need to request permission from the specific body. If it’s the name of a pub, the request should detail where it is, and how long it’s been a pub.
More than 1,400 business names that included ‘King’, ‘Queen,’ or ‘Royal’ have been rejected by Companies House since 2019. Examples include ‘Rooster Royal’, ‘Royal Peri Peri’, ‘Queen of Green’, ‘Queenie’,’Banterking’, and ‘Alpaca Kings’.
That said, there’s been a surge in royal-themed small business names, up 70 per cent in the last three years.
Get small business guides and news straight to your inbox
Your email address will be used by Simply Business so that we can send you the latest guides, offers and tips. You can unsubscribe from these emails at any time. For more information, check out the Simply Business privacy policy.
Impact of a memorable business name
Research shows that having a memorable name can help small businesses succeed.
A recent study of 2,000 consumers found that one third (28 per cent) of people would be more likely to shop at a local business with a funny or witty business name compared to those without.
What’s more, 64 per cent of people say they would also be more likely to notice a small business with a funny or witty business name.
Alan Thomas, UK CEO at Simply Business comments: “The impact a memorable business name can have on your business is incredible – our research suggests that a third of customers are more likely to spend with businesses with witty names. Having said that, it is clearly important to tread carefully when considering your options! We’re incredibly proud to provide tailored insurance to over 800,000 witty, creative and diverse small businesses in the UK, recognising their importance to both the economy and our local communities.”
Perky Blenders, a specialist coffee roasters based in London, was awarded ‘Britain’s Best Small Business Name’ and received a £2,500 grant from Simply Business.
Other finalists in the competition included ‘The Air of the Dog’, ‘Donutkillmyvibe,’ and ‘Grout of This World’.
Beyond a name, small businesses can stand out with their marketing strategy and brand colours, logo and identity.
Our latest TV advert showcases four businesses with especially creative names.
Ready to set up your cover?
As one of the UK's biggest business insurance providers, we specialise in public liability insurance and protect more trades than anybody else. Why not take a look now and build a quick, tailored quote?
Start your quote
Written by
Catriona Smith
Catriona Smith is a content and marketing professional with 12 years’ experience across the financial services, higher education, and insurance sectors. She’s also a trained NCTJ Gold Standard journalist. As a Senior Copywriter at Simply Business, Catriona has in-depth knowledge of small business concerns and specialises in tax, marketing, and business operations. Catriona lives in the seaside city of Brighton where she’s also a freelance yoga teacher.
We create this content for general information purposes and it should not be taken as advice. Always take professional advice. Read our full disclaimer
Keep up to date with Simply Business. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow us on social media.
Subscribe to our newsletterInsurance
Public liability insuranceBusiness insuranceProfessional indemnity insuranceEmployers’ liability insuranceLandlord insuranceTradesman insuranceSelf-employed insuranceRestaurant insuranceVan insuranceInsurersAbout
About usOur teamAwardsPress releasesPartners & affiliatesOur charitable workModern Slavery ActSection 172 statementSocial mediaSite mapAddress
6th Floor99 Gresham StreetLondonEC2V 7NG
Northampton 900900 Pavilion DriveNorthamptonNN4 7RG
© Copyright 2024 Simply Business. All Rights Reserved. Simply Business is a trading name of Xbridge Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Registration No: 313348). Xbridge Limited (No: 3967717) has its registered office at 6th Floor, 99 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7NG.