Companies House will generally prevent a company changing its name to something similar or identical to a company already on the register.

Our blog here provides a detailed explanation of the specific rules that cover a company’s or LLP’s name which may mean that your chosen company name cannot be used, including listing 'ignored' words and expressions which may render your proposed name as 'too similar' to an existing company.

As an example:

If the company INFORM DIRECT LTD already exists:

• You will not be able to form INFORM DIRECT LLP
• You will also not be able to form INFORM DIRECT (UK) LTD.

Companies House has recently introduced new rules which means that they will ignore the word 'UK' in a company name. Therefore, INFORM DIRECT (UK) LTD is recognised as INFORM DIRECT LTD. Companies House now require that company names are more specific; for instance using place names such as London or Manchester.

Therefore, you will be able to form INFORM DIRECT (LONDON) LTD - however you will need the permission of INFORM DIRECT LTD to do this.

So, how do I do this on Inform Direct?

If you are forming a new company please see Can I Use a Similar Name to an Existing Company when Forming a Company?

However, if you wish to change the name for an existing company you will not be able to use our software to file this change of name. This is because there is currently no facility for us to electronically send the permission documents required to facilitate the change. 

Instead you should use the Companies House service https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/change-a-company-name-nm01

If you have permission to use a similar name from the existing company (which presumably you do) you will need to provide this alongside the application.