Can I change a company name?

Changing a company name is one of the more common changes you’ll make through Companies House, and it’s usually relatively straightforward.

Whether you’re rebranding, correcting a typo from incorporation, or marking a change in direction after a merger or acquisition, the Companies Act 2006 gives you two ways to authorise the change:

• by special resolution of the members, or
• by authority in the articles (this usually manifests as a provision allowing the directors to change the name by their decision)

Read on for how each route works, the fees and timings involved, and what you’ll need to update after making the change.

If you’d like to change your company name, discover Rapid Formations’ Change a Company Name Service.

Change a company name by members’ resolution

For most private companies, the standard route used to change a company name is a members’ special resolution – meaning at least 75% of votes cast in favour.

You can pass the resolution at a general meeting or circulate it as a written resolution. After passing the resolution, you have 15 days to file a copy with Companies House, unless you are submitting your name change online, in which case you do not need to send in the resolution.

You then must file the form NM01. To complete this form, you’ll need:

• Company number
• Existing company name in full
• Proposed new name
• Authentication by someone on behalf of the company
• A copy of the members’ resolution or written special resolution (paper filing only)

Form NM01 should be delivered to Companies House for approval. You’ll also need to pay a fee of £20 (online filing) or £30 (postal filing) to Companies House.

Change a company name by means provided in the articles

If your articles of association allow it, you can change the company name through whatever method they set out – usually a directors’ resolution passed at a board meeting or in writing.

The model articles don’t include this option, so the route generally only applies if your company adopted bespoke or amended articles.

For this route, you use form NM04 – a notice of change of name by means provided for in the articles rather than the NM01.

To complete this form, you must provide the following details:

• Company number
• Existing company name in full
• Proposed company name
• Authentication by someone on behalf of the company.

You must submit the form NM04 as soon as possible. You’ll also need to pay a £30 fee by cheque or postal order.

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Filing with Companies House: fees and timings

Companies House uses different forms depending on how the name change is approved. Use NM01 when shareholders approve the change by special resolution. Use NM04 when the company changes its name using a method set out in its articles of association, such as a directors’ resolution.

NM04 is filed by post, while NM01 can be submitted by post or online. Below are the filing methods, costs, and general turnarounds.

For same-day applications, you’ll need to submit before the daily cut-off. Companies House has listed this as 3 pm, but check the online service before you file.

When can I start using the new company name?

You can start using a new company name as soon as it has been approved by Companies House, which is usually within 24 hours of submitting the relevant form online. Postal applications can take longer, so allow up to 10 working days.

If you file online, Companies House will notify you by email when the name has been approved. You will be issued with a digital ‘Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name’ as confirmation. You can start using the new name as soon as you receive this document.

What is the Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name?

Companies House will issue a Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name to confirm the change and the date it takes effect. This should be kept at your registered office or SAIL address (where applicable) for inspection purposes.

Your original company formation details will remain the same (e.g., date of incorporation, company number, etc.), so you must retain a copy of your original certificate of incorporation.

What do I need to update after the name change?

Once Companies House approves the change, the company’s registered name has legally changed.

Changing the name doesn’t change the company itself. It’s the same legal entity, with the same company number, so your existing contracts and arrangements remain valid.

However, there are a few things to handle:

• Bank accounts and finance agreements – depending on the bank, you may be able to do this easily through internet banking. Otherwise, contact your bank for the change-of-name procedure. You’ll usually need to send a copy of the certificate.
• HMRC – don’t assume HMRC records will update automatically from Companies House. Update the relevant HMRC services, including Corporation Tax, PAYE, and VAT. If you’re VAT-registered, you have to tell HMRC within 30 days of a change to the business name, usually through your online VAT account or your agent.
• Contracts, invoices, and customer-facing communications – your company is the same legal “person” as before, but everything outward-facing has to reflect the new registered name.
• Stationery, websites, signage, and trading disclosures – update these promptly so the new registered name is shown correctly on business letters, order forms, websites, and any other required disclosures.
• Domain name – consider registering a new domain that matches the new name, to keep your branding aligned.

You don’t need to amend the memorandum and articles of association – those documents stay in their original form for the lifetime of the company. You also don’t need to issue new share certificates – the company is legally the same entity, so existing certificates stay valid.

Rules on UK company names

Your new name has to comply with the rules in the Companies Act 2006 and the related regulations.

The core name rules cover the suffix, uniqueness on the register, offensiveness, and any apparent connection with HM Government or other authorities – plus a long list of sensitive words that need prior approval.

In summary:

• Suffix – private companies limited by shares must end with “Limited or Ltd” (or the Welsh equivalents “Cyfyngedig” or “Cyf”), unless they qualify for limited word exemption.
• Uniqueness – Companies House rejects names that are the “same as” or “too like” an existing name on the register.
• Offensiveness – Companies House won’t accept names that are offensive or imply a criminal connection.
• Connection with authority – names suggesting a link with HM Government, devolved administrations, or local authorities need prior permission.
• Sensitive words – terms like “British”, “Bank”, “Tribunal”, or “Architect” need written confirmation from the relevant body. If your proposed name contains one, you’ll also need to file form NM06 alongside NM01, together with the written evidence.

ECCTA: new restrictions and Companies House powers

Since March 2024, Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) has given Companies House extra grounds to reject a proposed name. The new restrictions cover names that:

• Give a false impression that the company is connected to a foreign government or international organisation
• Contain computer code
• Are intended to facilitate fraud or other criminal activity

Companies House can refuse a name on a range of grounds, and rejections have been rising in recent years. For example, 560 company names were rejected in 2024 for being offensive, up from 351 in 2022.

It pays to properly check the rules, whatever the reason for the change.

Common mistakes to avoid when changing a company name

Most company name changes go through without a hitch, but a few recurring issues catch people out – usually around the procedural details ECCTA introduced, or the small print in the resolution and filing process. Watch out for these:

• Skipping the name availability check – passing a resolution for a name that’s “same as” an existing one wastes time and effort.
• Embedding the resolution in meeting minutes – Companies House has required resolutions to be filed as standalone documents since March 2023.
• Missing the 15-day filing deadline – where a special resolution is used, a copy must reach Companies House within 15 days of it being passed. The clock starts when the resolution passes, not when you get round to filing, and failing to file it in time is an offence by both the company and its officers.
• Assuming HMRC will update automatically – Companies House doesn’t pass the change to HMRC for you; you need to notify each tax department separately.
• Trying to file NM04 through the online service – there’s no online route for changes by means provided in the articles, so most companies file NM04 by post.
• Leaving old material unchanged – update business letters, order forms, websites, and signage promptly to keep your trading disclosures correct.

Ready to change your company name?

Changing a company name is rarely complicated, but there are more procedural moving parts than there used to be.

Plan the change carefully, check the proposed name against the current rules, and ensure you leave plenty of time if you need to change the name for any pressing reason – it’ll save time and avoid frustrating rejections.

If you need support with the process, Rapid Formations’ Company Name Change Service can help you with a name change by special resolution, helping you prepare the required documents and filing form NM01 with Companies House on your behalf – with approval typically within 24 hours.