How to Change Your Company Name: The Complete UK Guide

The legal methods for changing a company name

The Companies Act 2006 sets out how a company can change its name. Under section 77, a company may change its name either by special resolution or by other means provided for in the company's articles of association. Most companies use the special resolution route because their articles do not contain a separate name-change mechanism.

A special resolution needs the approval of at least 75 per cent of the votes cast by members entitled to vote. This can be done at a general meeting or, for many private companies, by written resolution circulated to the shareholders. Once the resolution is passed, section 78 requires the company to give notice to the registrar and to send a copy of the resolution as well.

The alternative route, changing the name by a means provided for in the articles, is less common. Where a company uses this route it notifies Companies House on form NM04 rather than NM01, and it must confirm that the change was made in accordance with its articles. Whichever method you use, the change does not take effect at the moment you pass the resolution. It only takes effect when Companies House registers it and issues a new certificate of incorporation.

There is also a special case worth knowing about. Where a change of name by special resolution is conditional on the occurrence of an event, section 78 requires the notice to Companies House to say so. The registrar is not obliged to register the change until you give further notice confirming that the event has happened. For the vast majority of businesses, though, the change is unconditional and the standard NM01 notice is all that is needed.

Current Companies House fees

The fee you pay depends on how you file and how quickly you need the change processed. Filing online through the Companies House service is the cheapest and fastest standard option, while paper filing on form NM01 costs more and takes longer to process. If you need the change confirmed the same day, a premium same-day service is available.

The online change-of-name fee rose to its current level as part of the Companies House fee increase that took effect on 1 May 2024. That increase applied across many services and was introduced so that fees reflect the cost of providing them and help fund the new powers under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. The change-of-name fees were not altered by the further fee changes that came into force on 1 February 2026, so the figures below reflect the current position. Always confirm the fee at the point of filing, because Companies House reviews its charges periodically.

For most companies the standard online service is the sensible default. It is the cheapest option, it avoids postal delays, and the change is usually confirmed within a few working days. The same-day online service is worth the premium only when you have a firm deadline, such as a contract signing or a rebrand launch, and you need the new certificate on a specific date. Paper filing sits between the two on cost but is the slowest, so it tends to suit companies that must use the NM04 articles route, which cannot currently be filed through the standard online name-change service.

Step by step: changing your name by special resolution

The special resolution route is the most common way to change a company name and can be completed online in a single sitting once your shareholders have approved the change. The steps below assume a private company using the standard resolution process.

Filing online is generally quicker and cheaper than posting a paper NM01, and it removes the risk of a cheque or form being lost in the post. If you file on paper, you must attach a copy of the passed resolution and send it with the correct fee to the address on the form.

The naming rules you must follow

Your new name has to comply with the same rules that apply when a company is first incorporated. Companies House will reject a name that does not meet these requirements, so it is worth checking carefully before you file.

A name cannot be the same as an existing name on the register, and it can be challenged if it is considered too like an existing name. When comparing names, certain elements such as company-type endings and some punctuation are disregarded, so simply adding Ltd or changing punctuation will not make an otherwise identical name acceptable. A name that is offensive, that would constitute a criminal offence, or that suggests a connection with the UK government, a devolved administration, a local authority or a specified public body without approval is also not permitted.

Some words and expressions are treated as sensitive and require prior approval before they can be used. Section 82 of the Companies Act 2006 and the associated regulations set out these words, which include terms implying national or regional status, regulated professional or scientific standing, or a connection with an authoritative body. If your proposed name includes a sensitive word, you may need to provide supporting evidence or a letter of non-objection from the relevant body. Finally, private limited companies must end their name with Limited, Ltd or the recognised Welsh equivalents.

What happens after you file

Once Companies House is satisfied that the name meets the statutory requirements and that the change was properly made, the registrar enters the new name on the register. Under section 80 of the Companies Act 2006, the registrar then issues a certificate of incorporation altered to reflect the new name.

The timing of that certificate matters. Section 81 states that a change of a company's name has effect from the date on which the new certificate of incorporation is issued. Until then, your company keeps its old name for all legal purposes, even if the resolution has been passed and the form submitted. If you file the standard online service you should usually receive confirmation within a few working days, whereas the same-day online service is designed to complete the change on the day of filing where the application is received in time.

Reassuringly, changing the name does not create a new company. Section 81 confirms that the change does not affect any of the company's rights or obligations, and it does not make existing legal proceedings defective. Any proceedings that could have continued or been started under the old name can continue or be started under the new one. The company number, its history and its legal identity all stay the same.

Updating your records and stationery

Registering the new name with Companies House is only part of the job. Once the certificate of incorporation on change of name is issued, you need to update everywhere the old name appears so that your business remains compliant and your customers are not confused.

Update your business stationery, invoices, website, email signatures, signage and any statutory registers or company seal. Tell HMRC so that your Corporation Tax, PAYE and VAT records reflect the new name, and inform your bank, insurers, suppliers, landlords and anyone you hold contracts with. If you trade under a domain name or hold trade marks, review those as well. Getting a new company off the ground involves the same attention to detail, and our company formation service is built to help founders keep every one of these records aligned from day one.

It is sensible to keep a copy of the new certificate on file, because banks and other institutions often ask to see it as evidence of the change. Doing this housekeeping promptly avoids the risk of contracts or invoices being issued in a name that no longer matches the register.

A helpful way to approach it is to make a checklist of every place your registered name appears and work through it in the days after the certificate is issued. Prioritise anything with legal or financial weight first, such as your bank mandate, HMRC records and signed contracts, then move on to marketing assets like your website, letterheads and social media profiles. Because the company number does not change, most institutions treat a name change as an update to an existing account rather than a new relationship, which keeps the administrative burden manageable.

Conclusion

Changing your company name is a manageable process once you know the route. For most companies it means passing a special resolution with 75 per cent shareholder approval, filing form NM01, paying the fee, and waiting for the new certificate of incorporation that makes the change official. The current fees are £20 online, £85 for the same-day online service, and £30 by post, and the name only takes legal effect when the certificate is issued.

The parts that need the most care are choosing a compliant name and updating your records afterwards. Check the name against the same-as and too-like rules, watch for sensitive words that need approval, and then work methodically through your stationery, HMRC records, bank and contracts. If you would like help planning a name change or setting up a new company correctly from the outset, get in touch with our team and we will talk you through the options.

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