Any business which trades using any names other than their legal
name must display certain information on the business premises and
on business stationery.
The information that must be given is:
- For an individual trader - his or her
name
- For a partnership - the name of each
partner
- For a company - the full corporate name as
registered at Companies House.
In each case, an address in Great Britain where legal documents
may be served (e.g. the headquarters of the business or
the registered office address recorded at Companies House).
In addition, Companies must have their full corporate name
painted or affixed outside every office or place of business.
A 'Business Names Notice' may be used to disclose your business
details as required.
The Business Names Act of 1985 still currently applies to the
above and the following, Schedule 16 of the Companies Act of 2006
contains provision to repeal the Business Names Act. It is expected
that the Business Names Act will eventually be repealed in its
entirety when Schedule 16 comes into force. This is currently
expected to be October 2008, at which time (or earlier, if needed)
further guidance will be provided.
Companies Act 2006
Business Stationery - New Rules From 1
January 2007
The
Companies (Registrar, Languages and Trading Disclosures)
Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006 No.3429) came into force on 1
January 2007, which amended the Companies Act 1985 and applies to
business stationery, whether in hard copy, electronic or any other
form as follows:
A company must state its name, in legible lettering, on the
following:
- all the company's business letters, order forms
- all its notices and other official publications
- all bills of exchange, promissory notes, endorsements, cheques
and orders for money or goods purporting to be signed by, or on
behalf of, the company
- all its bills of parcels, invoices, receipts and letters of
credit
- on all its websites
On all of its business letters, order forms or any of the
company’s web sites, the company must show in legible
lettering:
- its place of registration
- registered number
- its registered office address
- and if it is being wound up, that fact
Whenever an e-mail is used where its paper equivalent would be
caught by the stationery requirements then that email is also
subject to the requirements.
The above also applies to Limited Liability Partnerships.
For further information please get in touch with the Companies
House Contact Centre on 0870 33 33 636.
This information is not an authoritative interpretation of
the law and is intended only for guidance.
If you would like more information as a first step we recommend
visiting the London Trading Standards Authorities
(LoTSA) website and Trading Standards Central
website where a range of advice is given on issues important to
businesses and consumers such as price marking and fair
trading. If you do not find the information you require or would
like an information pack, please contact
Trading Standards.