Set up a business partnership
Naming your partnership
You can trade under your own names, or you can choose another name for your business. You do not need to register your name.
You must include all the partners鈥� names and the business name (if you have one) on official paperwork, for example invoices and letters.
Business names
Business partnership names must not:
- include 鈥榣imited鈥�, 鈥楲td鈥�, 鈥榣imited liability partnership, 鈥楲LP鈥�, 鈥榩ublic limited company鈥� or 鈥榩lc鈥�
- be offensive
- be the same as an existing trade mark
Your name also cannot contain a 鈥榮ensitive鈥� word or expression, or suggest a connection with government or local authorities, unless you get permission.
Example
To use 鈥楢ccredited鈥� in your company鈥檚 name, you need permission from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Check which words you need permission to use, and who from.
You鈥檒l need to register your name as a trade mark if you want to stop people from trading under your business name.