Company Name Registration

Reservation of a Company Name is provided for under Section 28 and Section 29 of the Companies Act 2014.

You can reserve a Company Name on CORE.

A company name can be reserved for both a new company or an existing company changing its name. However, please note that you cannot reserve a Business (Trading) Name.

A Company Name can be reserved for 28 days, the cost of an application to reserve a name is €25.00. You will be reminded by e-mail after 23 days of the expiry date.

You should print out the RCN Certificate and submit it with your application for registering a new Company. If this application is presented within the 28 days specified, the fee will be reduced by the €25.00.

Please note: A RCN Certificate is not a credit note, the reduction in fees can only be given if the RCN certificate is presented with the new company application. It cannot be presented later nor can it be used in connection with other filings.

 
You may extend the reservation by a further 28 days and this will cost another €25.00. The reservation may not be extended any further than this and a fresh application will be necessary after that. You should still print out the RCN Certificate and submit it with your application for a new company. If this is presented within 28 days – now extended up to 56 days – the total reduction in fees remains at €25.00.

The CRO may refuse a Company Name, if:

• it is identical or similar to a name already appearing on the register of companies;
• it is offensive;
• it would suggest state sponsorship.

 
Applicants are, therefore, advised not to incur expenses relating to the proposed name, such as preparing signs, headed note-paper, or stationery, before you receive a certificate of incorporation, a RCN certificate, which confirms that the Company Name is registered.

If your application is considered and rejected you will be invited to modify your application and you can submit it again free of charge. This does not have to be submitted immediately. This modification can be repeated until your application has been accepted. If your application is accepted then you will be informed by e-mail and a RCN certificate will be placed in your workspace in CORE.

If you have any queries regarding this system please contact us:
Phone (01) 804 5200
E-mail: info@cro.ie

The following guidelines are to assist in assessing the acceptability or otherwise of company names:

• It is generally recommended that company names include extra words so as to create a sufficient distinction between names. Certain words and their abbreviations together with accents and punctuation marks are not sufficient to distinguish between company names. Examples of such words include the definite article and the words “company”, “co”, “corporation”, “and”, “&”, “service”, “services”, “limited”, etc. Place names are not considered to be a sufficient distinction between company names, e.g. Ireland, Dublin, West, etc.
• Similar descriptive elements, e.g. press/printing, staff/employment agency, or the inclusion of only a general or weak qualification such as “holding”, “group”, “system”, “services”, “international”, etc. may not be regarded as a sufficient distinction between company names.
• Particular care should be taken with names considered to have a distinctive element i.e. names consisting primarily of made-up words or non-dictionary words. The inclusion of qualifying words may not be sufficient to create a distinction between company names.
• Names which are phonetically and/or visually similar will be refused. This includes names where there is a slight variation in the spelling and the variation does not make a significant difference between the names.
• A number on its own will not be accepted as a sufficient distinguishing mark, unless the company concerned is part of the same group.
• The use of a year in numerals to differentiate between two companies of otherwise the same name is prohibited.
• Names containing certain words cannot be used unless approved by relevant bodies. For example, the words “bank”, “banker”, “banking”, “banc”, may only be used with the permission of the Central Bank of Ireland. This also applies to names such as “hollybank”, “sweetbank”, “canal bank”, “bancorp”, etc. and the surname “Banks” not withstanding the fact that the company may not intend to carry on banking business.
• Words such as “society”, “co-op”, “co-operative” or “Union” cannot be used unless prior permission has been sought from and granted by the Registrar of Friendly Societies.
• The words “University”(Ollscoil), “Regional Technical College”(Ceardcholáiste Réigiúnach) and “Institute of Technology” (Institiúid Teicneolaíochta) cannot be used unless permission has been sought from and granted by the Department of Education.
• If a name includes words which imply specific functions e.g. “holding company”, “group” etc., further information may be required by the CRO to support the application.
• In the case of the word “Charity”, further information may be sought by the CRO to support the application.
• The use of the word “standard” is prohibited.
• The word “architect” either alone or in combination with any other words or letters, or name, title or description implying that the person is so registered, cannot be used unless a Notice of Determination has been issued by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI). This does not apply to the names “landscape architect”, “naval architect”, “architectural technician”, “architectural technologist”, and “interior design architect” and similar terms.
• Please note that there may be a requirement for some management companies to include Owners’ Management Company in the company name. S.14(3) of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 provides that the words “owners’ management company” shall be included in the name of every owner’s management company to which this section applies, which words may be abbreviated to “OMC”. S14(4) “This section applies to owners’ management companies of multi unit developments in respect of which no contract for the sale of a residential unit has been entered into prior to the enactment of this Act”. Section 14 was commenced on 24th January 2011.
• Further clarification may be sought for use of the words “Chamber of Commerce”. Permission from Chambers Ireland may be required.
• Only the name of a Societas Europaea can be preceded or followed by the abbreviation SE. Use of the term ‘SE’ at the beginning or end of the name designates that it is a European Company.

 
Only companies which are particular company types may have the following words in their name:-

• Limited (ltd) – Teoranta (teo)
• Public Limited Company (plc) – Cuideachta Phoiblí Teoranta (cpt)
• Designated Activity Company (dac) – Cuideachta Ghníomhaíochta Ainmnithe (cga)
• Company Limited by Guarantee (clg) – Cuideachta faoi Theorainn Ráthaíochta (ctr)
• Unlimited company (uc) – Cuideachta Neamhtheoranta (cn).

 
Under the Companies Act 2014, company types are included at the end of the name of the company unless exempted, please see below.

It is possible to incorporate a company with limited liability without including the company type “Designated Activity Company” or “Company Limited by Guarantee” at the end of the company’s name.

The phrases “Designated Activity Company” or “Cuideachta Ghníomhaíochta Ainmnithe” (see Section 971 of the Companies Act 2014 for more information) or “Company Limited by Guarantee” or “Cuideachta faoi theorainn Ráthaíochta” (see Section 1180 of the Companies Act 2014 for more information) may be dropped from the company’s name where:

(a) its objects are the promotion of commerce, art, science, education, religion, charity or any other prescribed object, and
(b) its constitution:
i) require its profits (if any) or other income to be applied to the promotion of its objects,
ii) prohibit the payment of dividends to its members, and
iii) require all the assets which would otherwise be available to its members to be transferred on its winding up to another company whose objects comply with paragraph (a) and which meets the requirements of this paragraph, and
(c) a director or secretary of the company (or, in the case of an association about to be formed as a limited company, one of the persons who are to be the first directors or the person who is to be the first secretary of the company) has delivered to the Registrar of Companies a statement in the prescribed form that the company complies or, where applicable, will comply with the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) above.

 
The Registrar will refuse to register as a DAC limited by shares, or by guarantee, any association about to be formed as a limited company by a name which does not include the word “Designated Activity Company” or “Cuideachta Ghníomaíochta Ainmnithe” unless a statement pursuant to (c) above has been delivered.

The Registrar will refuse to register as a CLG, Company Limited by Guarantee, any association about to be formed as a limited company by a name which does not include the word “Company Limited by Guarantee” or “Cuideachta faoi theorainn Ráthaíochta” unless a statement pursuant to (c) above has been delivered.

Section 971(4)/1180(4) provides that a company which was exempt, pursuant to Section 24(1) Companies Act 1963 (as amended), from including the company type in its name is prohibited from altering its constitution so that it ceases to comply with the requirements of Section 971(1)/1180(1).

Section 971(5)/1180(5) provides that if it comes to the Registrar’s attention that a company which has claimed the exemption from using the company type has carried on any business other than the promotion of any of its objects, or has applied any of its profits or other income otherwise than in promoting such objects, or has paid a dividend to any of its members, the Registrar may in writing direct the company to change its name within such period as may be specified in the direction so that its name ends with the relevant company type and the change of name shall be made by the company in accordance with Section 30 of the Companies Act 2014.

A person who provides incorrect, false or misleading information in the statement furnished pursuant to Section 971(1)(c)/1180(1)(c), or alters its constitution in contravention of Section 971(4)/1180(4), or fails to comply with a direction from the Registrar under Section 971(5)/1180(5), shall be guilty of a category 3 offence, prosecutable in the District Court by the Registrar.

A reduced rate of tax may apply in the case of a company which is precluded by its constitution from distribution of any part of its profits among its members. This is a matter for decision by Revenue. Please note that if a company wishing to avail of the Section 971/1180 exemption also intends to seek charitable status from Revenue, the main object of the company must be charitable and a specific clause must also be inserted in its memorandum of association.

New Company
Applicants should furnish the following documents, all of which must be filed together, to the CRO in respect of a company which is applying for incorporation:

• Form G5 – Declaration of compliance
• Form A1 – Application for incorporation
• Bond – if there is no European Economic Area (EEA) resident director
• A clear print of the constitution containing the original signatures of the members of the proposed company.

 
Existing Company
Applicants in respect of a company that is already formed, i.e. which has already registered a constitution with the CRO and obtained a certificate of incorporation, should furnish to the CRO the following documents, all of which must be filed together:

• Manual G1Q in relation to the change of name
• Form G5- declaration of compliance
• A clear copy of the amended constitution
• As the company is changing its name to delete the company type, the company should file Form G1 in relation to the amendment of the constitution of the company online with a copy of the amended constitution.

 
It is not the function of the Registrar of Companies to ensure that the constitution of a company is framed so as to express the intentions of the members/proposed members.

Every Company must paint or affix its name on the outside of every office or place in which the business is carried on, even if it is a directors home.

The Company Name must be both conspicuous and legible.

In addition, the company must state its name, in legible lettering, on company letter heads, order forms, invoices, etc.

For further information on the statutory requirements, please visit Letterheads.

Once incorporated, a company can change its name.

Please visit Change of Name for more information.