Company law · When something changes

Changing your company name

Companies Act 2006 (c. 46) · £20 online

A company changes its name by a special resolution of the members, or by other means set out in its articles, and by filing the change with Companies House. The new name does not take effect on the day of the resolution. It takes effect when Companies House issues the certificate of incorporation on change of name, and the company must use the new name from that date.

The online fee for a change of name is £20. The new name must be permitted, so it cannot be the same as another registered name and it cannot include restricted words without approval. The company then updates its stationery, its website and its records to match the new name.

The Company Name working file in the ComplianceSME Companies Act 2006 system takes you through the resolution, the filing and the effective date. It records how the change was approved, when it was filed and when the certificate on change of name was issued. It asks you how the members agreed the new name, one question at a time, then produces the evidence that the change followed the Act.

Everything beyond the Companies Act 2006 has its own system in the full register.