If you trade under a name that isn't your own, you must register it with the CRO. This guide shows you how to do it online for €20, and what happens next.
You register a business name with the CRO (Companies Registration Office) online through CORE. It costs €20 online or €40 on paper. You should apply within one month of starting to use the name.
Do you need to register?
You need to register if you trade under a name other than your own true name. Adding first names or initials to your surname doesn't count. So "John Murphy" or "Murphy" needs no registration, but "Murphy Builders" does.
Partnerships need to register if they trade under a name other than the partners' own names. Companies need to register if they trade under a name other than their full company name. Your place of business must be in the Republic of Ireland.
| Who owns the business | Form | Online fee | Paper fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| One person (sole trader) | RBN1 | €20 | €40 |
| A partnership | RBN1A | €20 | €40 |
| A company (body corporate) | RBN1B | €20 | €40 |
| Change of details | RBN2, RBN2A or RBN2B | Free | €15 |
| Stop using the name | RBN3 | Free | Free |
What you need
- The business name you want
- Your business address in the Republic of Ireland
- Your NACE code (the code for your type of business, which you can look up on the form)
- An email address, because the CRO emails your certificate
- The owner's personal details
- A short note on why your home suits the business, if you run it from home
- A laptop or desktop: the CRO says phones can cause problems
Step by step
- Search the free company and business name registers on cro.ie to check no one else uses your name. Check trade marks too.
- Create an account on CORE.
- Choose Register a Business Name, then pick the owner type, such as Individual.
- Fill in the name, NACE code, address and owner details, then click Submit Form.
- Pay the €20 fee.
- Print and sign the signature page CORE gives you, and send it to the CRO. Your application counts as received only when the signed page and the fee arrive.
- Watch your email, including your spam folder, for your certificate.
- Display the certificate at your main place of business and every branch.
How much it costs and how long it takes
Names the CRO won't accept
- Names with limited, ltd, teoranta, teo, incorporated, inc. or company. Those words are for companies.
- "Associates" or "Group" on a sole trader (RBN1) application, because they suggest more than one person.
- Names ending in .ie or .com, or starting with www, unless you prove you own the domain.
A business name is not a company
Registering a business name doesn't create a company. A company is formed separately with the CRO on Form A1 and gets a Certificate of Incorporation. Registration also doesn't stop someone else using the same name.
You must also register for tax with Revenue yourself. The CRO doesn't do this for you.
Telling the CRO about changes
Tell the CRO within one month if any detail changes, such as your address. Use RBN2, which is free on CORE. If you stop trading, file RBN3 within three months. You can't transfer a name to a new owner: you file RBN3, and the new owner files a fresh RBN1.
Common mistakes
- Ordering signs or stationery before checking the registers. Someone with a right to the name could take legal action.
- Forgetting to send the signed page. Your application doesn't count until it arrives.
- Thinking registration protects your name. It doesn't.
- Leaving your own name off letters and documents. They must show the owner's name.
If something goes wrong
- If your form comes back, fix the error and resubmit. Incorrect forms are returned, which delays registration.
- If your certificate hasn't arrived, check spam and junk folders first.
- Contact the CRO on 01 804 5200 or info@cro.ie.
Related guides
- How to register as self-employed
- How to get a PPS number
- How to get a verified MyGovID
