Trading name protection

zax47

Gazaxel22 wrote: »

Now you know why I am confused haha.

I know you can't protect a trading name and others can use it too.
But I was under the impression "you should ensure no one locally or doing the same trade already has your chosen trading name" as this could be a problem (the passing of point).

So my thoughts were if I registered a dormant ltd company name, and used that name without the ltd as a trading name, it would put me in the better position if someone else in a similar trade (mobile phones) used the same trading name.

Would that make sense or would it be irrelevant?

I still am of the opinion (having been in a similar position in the past) that it is irrelevant. It would stop the other company registering that exact name for a Ltd company, yes, - but despite what Antrobus would have you believe, that's about it! No influence at all on sole trader trading names.

However, even then there's nothing to stop them registering a very similar Ltd co. name - say you are both in Wigan and you have registered "Freds mobile phones Ltd", someone could legitimately register "Freds mobile phones (Wigan) Ltd..... Just go on the Companies House webcheck site and see just how similar lots of Ltd co. names are!

As a sole trader you takes yer chances... I went for Ltd status straight away.