How to Change Your Company Name: A Step-by-Step Guide for UK Limited Companies

Every company name tells a story — and sometimes that story needs a new chapter. Maybe the brand you picked on incorporation day no longer reflects what the business actually does. Maybe investors want something sharper for the pitch deck. Maybe you have discovered that your current name is uncomfortably close to a competitor's registered trade mark, and a cease-and-desist letter has forced the issue. Or maybe, candidly, you chose the name in twenty minutes on the Companies House WebFiling screen and have regretted it ever since.

Roughly 60,000 UK companies change their name every year. The process is straightforward in principle — a special resolution, a form, and a modest fee — but the details trip people up. File the wrong form, miss the 15-day deadline for delivering the resolution to the registrar, or break one of the naming rules, and you will burn weeks on rejections and re-filings while your rebrand launch sits in limbo and your contracts remain unsigned under the old identity.

This guide covers the complete process: the legal steps under the Companies Act 2006, the Companies House forms and fees, the naming rules that catch founders out, and the post-change checklist that keeps everything — from your bank to HMRC to your next confirmation statement — aligned with your new company name.

Why do companies change their name?

Companies House does not ask why you are changing — only that you have followed the correct legal process and that the new name complies with the rules. But understanding the common triggers helps you time the change well:

• Rebranding after a pivot — the product has evolved, but the company name still references the original idea
• Merger or acquisition — consolidating entities under a single group brand
• Trade mark conflict — a cease-and-desist or a pre-emptive clean-up before it escalates
• Investor or partner requirement — the current name does not convey credibility or is confusing in the market
• International expansion — the old name was too geographically specific or does not translate well
• Fixing a name you have always disliked — incorporation-day decisions made under time pressure deserve a second look

None of these reasons requires special justification or approval from the registrar. The process is the same regardless of motive.

How to change your company name: the four-step process

Every company name change — whether you are a sole-director micro-company or a multi-shareholder growth business — follows the same four legal steps. Skip one and the filing is either invalid, late, or rejected.

Step 1: Check that your new name is available

Before anything else, search the Companies House register to confirm the name you want is not already taken. Two names are treated as "the same" if the only differences are punctuation, special characters, or common business terms like "UK", "services", "company", or "group". For example, "Hands UK Ltd" and "Hand's Ltd" are both treated as the same as "Hands Ltd" — registering any of them would be rejected.

Beyond the Companies House register, search the UK Intellectual Property Office trade mark register. A name that is available at Companies House can still land you in trouble if it infringes someone's registered trade mark. If a trade mark holder objects, the Company Names Tribunal can direct Companies House to order you to change your name — and you will go through the entire process again, this time on someone else's timeline and with legal costs attached.

A few minutes of due diligence here saves weeks of pain and hundreds of pounds later.

Step 2: Pass a special resolution

Changing a company name requires a special resolution of the shareholders (s. 78, Companies Act 2006). A special resolution must be passed by a majority of at least 75% of the votes cast (s. 283 CA 2006). This is a higher bar than an ordinary resolution (which requires a simple majority) — the law treats a name change as a significant corporate decision.

For most private limited companies, the resolution can be passed as a written resolution under s. 288 CA 2006 — no need to convene a general meeting. The company circulates the proposed resolution to all eligible shareholders, and they sign and return it. For single-director, single-shareholder companies (the classic founder setup), this is a one-page, five-minute exercise.

Key points to get right:

• The resolution must specify the exact new name, including the "Limited" or "Ltd" suffix
• It takes effect when the last shareholder needed for the 75% threshold signs (or at the date specified in the resolution, if later)
• Keep the signed resolution in your statutory records — investors and auditors will want to see it during due diligence
• A copy of every special resolution must be delivered to Companies House within 15 days of being passed (s. 30 CA 2006)

In practice, most founders file the resolution and the NM01 form at the same time — which satisfies both the s. 30 deadline and the name-change notification in a single action.

Step 3: File form NM01 with Companies House

Form NM01 is the notification of a change of name by special resolution. You file it online through Companies House WebFiling or by post. The current fees are:

• Online filing: £20
• Paper filing: £30
• Same-day service: £85

The same-day service guarantees that Companies House processes the application and issues the new certificate within the same working day — useful when a rebrand launch is tied to a specific date and you cannot afford delays.

To file NM01 online, you will need:

• Your Companies House authentication code (sent to your registered office when the company was incorporated)
• The company number
• The exact new company name as stated in the special resolution
• Confirmation that a special resolution has been passed

Since 18 November 2025, Companies House operates under the expanded powers granted by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA). While identity verification primarily affects directors and PSCs, all company officers should ensure their identity verification is in order before making filings — our identity verification guide explains what is required and who needs to act.

Step 4: Receive your new certificate of incorporation

The name change takes effect on the date the registrar issues a new certificate of incorporation on change of name (s. 81 CA 2006). This is not the date the resolution was passed — it is the date Companies House processes the application and issues the certificate. Until that certificate is issued, your legal name has not changed.

For standard online filings, this usually takes one to two working days. For same-day filings (£85), you will have the certificate by close of business on the filing day. Paper filings take significantly longer — typically eight to ten working days.

Two important facts:

• Your company number does not change. The company is the same legal entity with a new name — all contracts, debts, obligations, and legal history continue under the new name.
• The new certificate is your proof that the name change is legally effective. Save it (PDF for online, original for paper) with your statutory records alongside the special resolution.

Company naming rules: what Companies House will and will not accept

The registrar will reject your NM01 if the proposed name breaks any of the naming rules in Part 5 of the Companies Act 2006. Here is what to watch for:

The "Limited" or "Ltd" requirement

Every private limited company must include "Limited" or "Ltd" (or the Welsh equivalents "Cyfyngedig" or "Cyf") at the end of its name. The only exemptions apply to certain charities and companies limited by guarantee that meet specific criteria under s. 60 CA 2006. Do not drop the suffix because it looks cleaner on your marketing materials — the filing will be rejected outright.

"Same as" names

A name is treated as "the same" as an existing registered name if the only differences are:

• Punctuation, spacing, or special characters
• The presence or absence of common words such as "the", "and", "UK", "company", "services", "group", "holdings"
• "Limited" versus "Ltd"

So if "Bright Solutions Ltd" already exists, you cannot register "Bright Solutions Limited", "Bright-Solutions Ltd", or "The Bright Solutions Company Limited." You may register a "same as" name only if the existing company is part of the same group and gives written consent.

"Too like" names and trade mark conflicts

Even if a name passes the "same as" check, it can be challenged later by the Company Names Tribunal if it is "too like" an existing name or registered trade mark. For example, "EZ Electrix 4U Ltd" is too like "Easy Electrics For You Ltd." If the Tribunal upholds the objection, it will direct you to change your name within a specified period — and if you fail to comply, Companies House will choose a name for you (typically your company number followed by "Limited").

Sensitive words and expressions

Certain words require prior approval from a relevant body before Companies House will accept them. Examples include "Accredited", "Authority", "British", "Chartered", "Council", "Foundation", "Insurance", "NHS", "Royal", and "University." The full list is published by the Department for Business and Trade and runs to several hundred entries. If your proposed name includes a sensitive word, expect the approval process to add several weeks to your timeline.

Offensive names

Companies House will refuse any name that, in the registrar's opinion, would constitute a criminal offence or is offensive. This is rarely an issue in practice, but it is an absolute bar with no appeal route.

What to update after your company name changes

The certificate is just the start. A company name appears on dozens of documents, accounts, and systems — miss one, and you will be trading under your old name in places that matter. Here is the complete checklist:

Statutory and regulatory updates

• HMRC — notify them of the name change for Corporation Tax, VAT (if registered), and PAYE (if registered). HMRC sometimes picks up the change from Companies House automatically, but do not rely on it. Update your Government Gateway account directly.
• Statutory registers — update your register of members, register of directors, and PSC register to reflect the new company name on all headers and document references.
• Confirmation statement — your next CS01 must be filed under the new name. If a confirmation statement is due soon, consider timing the name change to land before the review date so the update is captured cleanly. Our confirmation statement deadline guide covers the timing in detail.
• Contracts and agreements — existing contracts remain valid under the new name (the company is the same legal entity), but notify counterparties and update the name in any renewals or amendments.

Financial and banking

• Business bank account — contact your bank to update the company name. Most UK banks require a certified copy of the new certificate of incorporation and, sometimes, a board resolution. Allow two to four weeks for the change to process. Note that a business bank account is not legally required for a UK limited company, but if you have one (and you almost certainly should), it must reflect your current registered name.
• Payment processors (Stripe, GoCardless, PayPal Business) — update your merchant details. Some processors require the new certificate before processing the change.
• Invoicing and accounting software — update the company name in Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, or whichever tool you use, along with your invoice templates and payslips.
• Insurance policies — notify your insurer. A policy issued under the old name may not respond correctly to a claim made against the company under its new name.

Public-facing updates

• Website, email signatures, and social media profiles
• Branded materials — business cards, letterheads, packaging, signage
• Domain names — if your domain includes the company name, register the new domain before the rebrand goes public to prevent squatters
• Google Business Profile and online directory listings
• Registered office correspondence — if you use a registered office address service, notify the provider so mail addressed to the new name is correctly forwarded. If your registered office is your home, be aware that correspondence will now arrive under the new company name — our guide on why using your home as a registered office is risky explains the broader implications.

Five common mistakes when changing a company name

1. Filing NM01 before checking trade marks. The Companies House register is not the only register that matters. An available company name that clashes with a registered trade mark will cost you far more than the £20 filing fee — potentially a forced rebrand under legal pressure, with Tribunal costs on top.
2. Passing an ordinary resolution instead of a special resolution. A name change requires a special resolution (75% majority), not an ordinary resolution (simple majority). File the wrong type and Companies House will reject the NM01. You will then need to go back to your shareholders and do it again properly.
3. Forgetting the 15-day deadline for the resolution. A copy of every special resolution must be delivered to Companies House within 15 days of being passed (s. 30 CA 2006). Miss this and the company and every officer in default commits a criminal offence — even though the NM01 itself has no separate filing deadline beyond this.
4. Not updating HMRC separately. Companies House and HMRC are separate organisations with separate systems. While HMRC sometimes picks up the change automatically, there is no guarantee or defined timeline. If your Corporation Tax, VAT, or PAYE records show the old name, correspondence goes astray and returns get queried.
5. Announcing the rebrand before the certificate is issued. The name change is not legally effective until Companies House issues the new certificate (s. 81 CA 2006). If you launch the rebrand, update your website, and announce to clients before the certificate arrives — and the filing is then rejected for a naming-rule breach — you will be trading under a name that is not legally yours. Wait for the certificate.

How long does the whole process take?

For a well-prepared company with a single shareholder-director, the entire legal process can be completed in under 48 hours:

• Day 1: Check name availability, pass the written special resolution, file NM01 online (£20)
• Day 1–2: Companies House processes the filing and issues the new certificate of incorporation
• Day 2–14: Work through the post-change checklist (bank, HMRC, contracts, insurance, marketing)

If you use the same-day service (£85), the certificate is issued on Day 1 — ideal when you are coordinating a brand launch with press, investors, or partners.

For companies with multiple shareholders, add time for circulating and collecting signatures on the written resolution. If your Articles of Association require a general meeting rather than a written resolution, factor in the statutory notice period — 14 clear days for a general meeting at which a special resolution is proposed, unless short notice is agreed by the requisite majority (at least 90% of shareholders for a private company, under s. 307 CA 2006).

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to change a company name at Companies House?

The fee is £20 for online filing, £30 for paper filing, or £85 for same-day processing. There is no separate fee for delivering the special resolution — it is included in the NM01 filing process.

Does the company number change when you rename the company?

No. The company number stays the same permanently. The company is the same legal entity with a new name — all contracts, debts, obligations, and legal history continue unaffected. Counterparties, HMRC, and banks all continue to reference the same company number.

Can I change my company name to anything I want?

Not quite. The new name must end in "Limited" or "Ltd", must not be the same as or too similar to an existing registered name, must not contain sensitive words without prior approval from the relevant body, and must not be offensive. See the naming rules section above for the full breakdown.

Do I need to tell HMRC about the name change?

Yes. While HMRC sometimes picks up the change from Companies House automatically, there is no guaranteed timeline. Update your Corporation Tax, VAT, and PAYE records via your Government Gateway account. If you use an accountant or tax agent, let them know too so their records stay in sync.

What if my NM01 is rejected?

The most common reasons for rejection are naming-rule breaches — sensitive words without approval, "same as" conflicts with an existing name, or a missing "Limited" suffix. You will not be charged for a rejected filing, but you will need to fix the issue and re-file (paying the fee again if required). If the name itself was the problem, you will need to choose a different name and pass a fresh special resolution.

Can I revert to my old company name later?

Yes. Reverting to a former name follows the exact same process — special resolution and a new NM01 filing. There is no shortcut or "undo" button at Companies House. You will pay the filing fee again and wait for a new certificate of incorporation. Provided no other company has since registered your old name (which is possible once it has been vacated), the reversion will be accepted.

How Filing HQ helps during a name change

At Filing HQ, we help founders keep their company's statutory records in order — so that when it is time for a change, whether that is a rebrand, a new director, or a share issue, the foundations are clean and the filings are current. A name change is smoother when your confirmation statements are up to date, your PSC register is accurate, and your statutory records are investor-ready.

If you are planning a name change alongside other corporate updates — a new director who needs identity verification, a PSC notification, or a share transfer — our packages bundle a full year of Companies House compliance into a single annual cost, so the compliance calendar is our problem and you can focus on making the rebrand count.