Business-name registration identifies the individual, partnership or company behind a trading name. Check which CRO form fits the owner and submit the application through the official process; it does not create a limited company.
Identify who will own the trading name
Write down the person or entity that will carry on the business before selecting a form. A founder’s personal trading name and a company’s trading name have different applicants. If your incorporation is still being planned, discuss the intended sequence with your adviser instead of using whichever details are ready first.
In a fictional example, Niamh plans a sole-trader design practice called “Cedar Desk”. A different fictional venture, “Cedar Desk Limited”, intends to trade as “Cedar Studio”. The similar branding does not make the applicant or registration route the same.
Use the current CRO route and fee
The CRO lists RBN1 for an individual, RBN1A for a partnership and RBN1B for a body corporate. Its guidance says the application is due within one month of adopting the business name. The published fee is €20 for electronic filing or €40 for paper filing, checked on 9 October 2026. Additional agent services have separate prices.
Applications can be submitted on CORE. CRO guidance recommends a laptop or desktop for business-name forms. Check the current processing notice before planning around a certificate date.
Prepare a small application brief
| Item | Preparation question |
|---|---|
| Applicant | Who actually carries on the business? |
| Trading name | Is the exact spelling agreed everywhere? |
| Timing | When was, or will, the name be adopted? |
| Contact details | Who can receive and retain official correspondence? |
| Name research | Which company, trading-name and trade-mark questions remain? |
Use this as a preparation aid, then follow the actual fields in the current form. Keep sensitive identity details in your own secure records. They do not need to be sent to Namecheck.ie for a preliminary naming exercise.
Understand the limits of the certificate
The CRO explains that business-name registration does not prevent duplication or establish rights against others. It does not ensure later acceptance as a company name. A registered business name is therefore not a trade-mark clearance or a promise that you can incorporate using the same wording.
Before printing packaging, keep a separate research record for each relevant question. If you intend to trade online, check the domain spelling and availability separately. A domain purchase receipt answers a different question from the CRO registration certificate.
Keep a record you can use later
Save the submitted form, fee receipt, certificate and the exact owner details together. In our fictional example, Niamh would label the folder with the trading name and the applicant, rather than just “company documents”. That helps a future bookkeeper understand the structure accurately.
If an application is returned, read the specific reason and check it against the information you provided. For uncertainty about the owner, legal structure or naming rights, get suitable professional advice. Our company versus business-name guide explains the distinction before you decide which service to buy.
Sources & review
Editorial owner: Thomas O'Sullivan. Sources checked 9 October 2026. Professional review: Thomas O'Sullivan (Company formation expert and writer), 9 October 2026. Scope: Current naming, formation and domain guidance, practical examples and source references.
Examples are fictional and do not establish name or domain availability. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or provider. Report a correction.