UK trade mark search

A company name that's free on the Companies House register can still clash with someone's trade mark. Searching the trade marks register takes a few minutes and can save you a forced rebrand later.

Why check trade marks as well as company names

The two registers are separate. Companies House checks your name against other company names, not against trade marks. If your company name is too similar to another business's trade mark, the owner can complain and you may have to change it. Owning a company name also doesn't give you a trade mark.

How to search the UK register

The Intellectual Property Office's free search lets you look up trade marks by keyword, phrase or image, by number, or by owner.^source

1. Open the official trade mark search and choose a keyword search.
2. Search the distinctive part of your name. For "Copper Bakery Ltd", search "copper bakery" and then "copper".
3. Look at the classes of each result. A clash matters most where the goods or services are similar to yours.
4. Check similar spellings and sounds, such as "Kopper", as these can conflict too.
5. Repeat for any logo or slogan you plan to use.

Also check the company name and the domains, so all three line up.

Registering your own trade mark

Trade mark fees changed on 1 April 2026; the figures above are the current ones.

Choosing classes

Pick the classes for what you actually sell or plan to sell soon. Each extra class costs more, and registering classes you don't use invites challenges. Class 35 (business services) and class 41 (education and entertainment) are common for service businesses. The IPO's classification guidance lists what each class covers.