Protecting Sole Trader Name

SANDYLODGE

Hi all.

My OH is just setting up on her own self employed as a sole trader. Say for example she was going to call herself "Jo Blogs t/a Red Chair", is it possible to protect the name Red Chair or what ever she's going to call herself.
I wanted to check up on this before she starts putting out any adverts with the name on.
I am going to register the .co.uk and .com names for her anyway.

Thanks.

brownhandbag

Hello Sandylodge,
The cheapest way I know of is to mail yourself her logo/tradename. You can sign over the envelope seal and even get a n other to witness and sign. Then when the envelope arrives you don't open it, just put it somewhere safe. You then have a really good piece of evidence proving you had that design/name in use on that date (ie the postmark). If you ever got into a legal battle with someone else this would be pretty hard to ignore. Hope that makes sense, we are printers and do this with our most precious designs
Good luck with own business!

SANDYLODGE

Thanks brownhandbag I'll give that a go.
But is there anywhere you can officialy register the name?

brownhandbag

There is a website and it costs about £60 a year, we used to do it but don't bother anymore. You can also check out if anyone else has the name in your area doing the same thing. I will look it up for you

windswept

Surely the date of registering with hmrc under your business name would be proof enough?
There is a company calles argoss though, :rolleyes: I wonder if they existed before Argos?

MORPH3US

http://www.justcompanies.co.uk/

EDIT

Sorry, just noticed its for a sole trader.. the link probably won't apply!

M

Jo_anne_2

You could try the National Business Register http://www.start.biz/home.htm for advice.