How to check company name availability in India
Checked against the Trade Marks Act, 1999, the Trade Marks Rules, 2017 and IP India's fee table on 30 October 2026.
To check if a company name is available in India, search the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' list of companies and LLPs for the name and names too like it, then search registered trademarks: the Companies Act, 2013 does not allow a name identical with or too nearly resembling an existing company's, and the Registrar can refuse one that resembles a registered trademark. Then apply through RUN (Reserve Unique Name, ₹1,000) or in Part A of SPICe+.
The steps
- Search the MCA list for the name and for each distinctive word in it. Ignore words like Private Limited, India and LLP: SUNRISE FOODS PRIVATE LIMITED and SUNRISE FOODS INDIA LIMITED count as the same name.
- Search registered trademarks in the classes of the business, by word and by sound. A company name that copies a registered mark is a common reason for refusal and for disputes.
- Check that no word needs approval: names suggesting a link with the government, or words such as Bank, Insurance or Stock Exchange, need the regulator's approval.
- Apply. For a new company, give up to two names in RUN, or one in Part A of SPICe+, with what the business will do. The Central Registration Centre checks the name against companies, LLPs and trademarks.
- Once approved, a name reserved through RUN for a new company is held for 20 days: incorporate within that time. LLPs reserve a name through RUN-LLP; check the current fee and period on the MCA portal.
Why the trademark matters
A company name and a trademark protect different things. The company name lets you incorporate; it does not stop anyone using the brand. Using someone's registered trademark as your trade name or company name for the same goods or services can itself be infringement (Section 29(5) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999), even after the company is registered. So check both, and file the trademark for the brand you will trade under.
Nishaan's free name check looks at every company and LLP in the MCA list, every trademark and the main domains in one search, and Company watch tells firms when a new company takes a client's name.
Check a name freeCommon questions
- Is the MCA name search free?
- Searching the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' company and LLP master data is free. Reserving a name through RUN costs ₹1,000.
- How long is a reserved company name valid?
- For a new company, 20 days from approval of the name in RUN. For a change of name of an existing company, 60 days.
- Can I register a company with a name that is someone else's trademark?
- The Registrar can refuse it, and if it is registered anyway, the trademark owner can sue for infringement under Section 29(5) and ask the company to change its name.
- Does a registered company name give me trademark rights?
- No. Trademark rights come from registering the mark with the Trade Marks Registry, or from earlier use of it. A company name alone does not stop others using the brand.
Related guides
This guide explains the law in general. It is not legal advice for a particular case; check the Registry's records and speak to a trademark attorney before you act.