Trading names

[MarkoTVR]

I did a quick search as I thought I'd seen the answer to this somewhere on here, but I couldn't find it.....

Is there a limit to the number of trading names a Limited company can use, e.g. it's own name plus one 't/a' name, or plus 2 't/a' names?

[Eric Mc]

Whay would a business want more than two trading names?

Would that not confuse its customers as to who they are dealing with?

I actually do not think there are any limits as there are no limits to the number of different trades a company can actually carry out.

However, for tax purposes and accounting purposes it would be necessary to ensure that the trading records of each activity be kept separate.

[work-shy-wanabe]

Is it okay to have say 3 websites called:

e.g.

XeonWood.co.uk
XeonBenches.co.uk
XeonFencing.co.uk

All under a Ltd company called Xeongroup. Is it important to have "part of Xeongroup Ltd" somewhere on each website?

Edited by work-shy-wanabe on Tuesday 20th February 14:48

[Eric Mc]

I wouldn't think that there are any rules and regulations governing the number and names of websites (apart from the usual "passing off" issues that sometimes might arise).

However, I wouldn't call a single limited company with more than one web address a "Group".

Legally, a "Group" relates to number of companies which are linked through common ownership. The usual format would be one "Holding" company owning the shares in a number of "Subsidiary" companies.

Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 20th February 15:42

[justinp1]

work-shy-wanabe said:

Is it okay to have say 3 websites called:

e.g.

XeonWood.co.uk
XeonBenches.co.uk
XeonFencing.co.uk

All under a Ltd company called Xeongroup. Is it important to have "part of Xeongroup Ltd" somewhere on each website?

Edited by work-shy-wanabe on Tuesday 20th February 14:48

Oh yes.

Company letters need to have the registered office and registration number on it. From january this year this also applies to websites too.

Getting someone to enforce that though is a different matter!

[work-shy-wanabe]

Is group a reserved word? What else could one use that best describes the above?

[Eric Mc]

What is it a "group" of?

[work-shy-wanabe]

Websites selling products, operating under different names but with one set of accounts.

[Eric Mc]

I am sure you will be able to use the word "group" - so long as it is clear that you are not referring to a "Group" of limited companies, as defined under the Companies Act.

I note that it is now a legal requirement for companies to show their proper limited company name AND their Companies House number on any website set up.

[MarkoTVR]

Eric Mc said:

Whay would a business want more than two trading names? Would that not confuse its customers as to who they are dealing with?

Each trading name would be providing completely different products going to totally separate customer bases. Hence as much separation as possible would be required!

[Eric Mc]

That means you will need to prepare totally separate sets of Profit and Loss accounts for each separate trade and then amalgamte them for the statutory accounts.
You will also need to prepare separate tax computations for each trade showing the profit or loss associated with each trade for tax purposes. This is important as the utilisation of any losses from individual trades needs to be indicated to the Revenue.

[MarkoTVR]

Cheers for the advice, Eric!

[Tiggsy]

Check carefully on Group....when i formed my comp a few years ago i was not allowed to use the word despite wanting to hold more than one company within the "Group"....as i recall its use is restricted (or was)

Edited by Tiggsy on Friday 2nd March 00:39

[Work-Shy-Wanabe]

Tiggsy said:

Check carefully on Group....when i formed my comp a few years ago i was not allowed to use the word despite wanting to hold more than one company within the "Group"....as i recall its use is restricted (or was)

Edited by Tiggsy on Friday 2nd March 00:39

Thanks Tiggsy.