Register Brand Name: How to Protect Your Business Identity in the UK

When you register a brand name, you legally claim ownership of your business name, logo, or slogan in the UK. Also known as trademarking, it stops others from using your identity to confuse customers or steal your reputation. This isn’t just paperwork—it’s a shield. Without it, someone else could register your name, force you to rebrand, or even sue you for infringement. You don’t need to be a big company to need this. A local café, an online store, or a freelance designer all face the same risk if they skip this step.

Registering a brand name ties directly to intellectual property UK, the legal rights over creations of the mind like names, logos, and designs. It’s separate from simply registering a company with Companies House, the UK government body that records company details but doesn’t protect names from being used by others. Many business owners think registering their company name gives them full protection. It doesn’t. Two businesses can have the same name if one is registered as a company and the other as a trademark. That’s why you need both. Your trademark protects your brand across the UK, no matter how you operate—online, in shops, or through services.

There are clear rules. The name must be unique, not too similar to existing trademarks, and not descriptive (like "Best Coffee UK"). You can’t register a name that’s already in use by someone else in the same industry. The process is handled by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), not Companies House. It takes about 4 months if there are no objections. The cost is £170 for one class of goods or services. You can cover more later, but starting with the right category matters—whether you sell products, offer consulting, or run an app.

People who skip this often regret it. A bakery in Manchester spent £12,000 rebranding after a similar business in London trademarked their name first. A Shopify seller lost control of their brand name after expanding into the UK because they never checked if it was taken. These aren’t rare cases—they’re predictable. Checking availability before you spend money on logos, packaging, or ads saves you time, money, and stress. The IPO’s online search tool is free and easy to use. Do it before you launch.

Once registered, you can take action if someone copies you. You don’t need a lawyer to send a warning letter. A simple notice citing your trademark number often stops the issue. If it doesn’t, you can take legal action—small claims court handles many of these cases without huge fees. You can also license your brand to others, sell it, or use it as collateral. A registered brand name isn’t just a legal formality—it’s an asset.

Below, you’ll find real guides from UK businesses that have been through this. Some learned the hard way. Others got it right on the first try. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, these posts show you exactly how to protect your name, avoid pitfalls, and turn your brand into something others can’t copy.