Check Company Name Availability Online in India

A company name search tool tells you whether a name can be registered for a company or LLP with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) in India. Run the check, and it will:

• Compare your chosen name against MCA records to flag any identical or deceptively similar name already on file.
• Verify whether the name follows the Companies Act, 2013, and the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014.
• Help you shortlist a suitable name before proceeding with formal MCA name reservation and company incorporation.

Why is a Company Name Search Important?

Checking your proposed name early helps you identify conflicts and avoid unnecessary costs, delays, and rebranding.

• Avoid unnecessary fees: A RUN application costs ₹1,000, which is not refunded if the name is rejected. Checking first helps you avoid filing with an unsuitable name.
• Identify trademark conflicts: A name can be available on MCA but still conflict with a registered or pending trademark. Check both before finalizing your brand.
• Catch naming-rule issues: MCA may reject names that resemble existing entities, use restricted words, or violate other naming requirements.
• Reduce registration delays: Choosing a compliant name reduces the risk of objections and resubmission during the reservation process.
• Build your brand confidently: Checking company and trademark records before finalizing the name helps you avoid costly changes to your domain, logo, and marketing.

You can check a proposed company name in two ways: use RegisterKaro's free tool for an instant preliminary check, or use the official MCA portal to search existing names and apply for formal name reservation.

Option 1: Check Your Name Using RegisterKaro

Checking your company name availability on RegisterKaro takes under a minute:

1. Type your proposed company name into the search box above.
2. Hit the "Check Availability" button.
3. The tool then identifies whether the name is available or not, along with a reference number confirming the check was live.
4. If your company name is already taken, try a variation or try out a completely different name.

Note: Log in to the MCA portal and formally reserve the finalized name through SPICe+ Part A or RUN service (for existing companies). You can also do an MCA company search or ROC company search on the portal to find existing companies and LLPs with the same names.

Option 2: Check and Reserve Your Name Through MCA

For formal name reservation, use the applicable process on the MCA portal.

1. Log in to the MCA V3 portal at mca.gov.in.
2. Search for existing company and LLP names to identify identical or similar names.
3. Check the applicable naming requirements, including restrictions relating to existing company names, trademarks, regulated words, and other prohibited or undesirable names.
4. Submit the name reservation application through SPICe+ Part A for a new company, or RUN (Reserve Unique Name) for existing ones.
5. Pay the applicable government fee. A RUN application currently costs ₹1,000. For a new company, an approved name is generally reserved for 20 days from the date of approval.

What to Do After You Search Your Business Name?

Here’s what you do next, depending on what the search result returns:

• Name is Available: Proceed with the reservation of the name either through SPICe+ Part A for a new company or through RUN, as the case may be. Normally, a name approved for a new company is reserved for 20 days from the approval date.
• Name is unavailable: Choose a more distinctive name, such as a name with a distinctive element. Run the availability check again before you apply. For example, if “GreenLeaf Technologies” is unavailable, consider “GreenLeaf Infotech Solutions” or another genuinely distinctive alternative. Run the availability check again before you apply.

Note: Company name registration and trademark protection are two separate things. Once you settle on a name for your company, do a trademark search and consider filing an application in the right class before someone else does.

Checking an LLP firm name follows a similar procedure to a company one mentioned earlier. It is crucial that you check whether your proposed name for an LLP firm is available and compliant before submitting the formal name-reservation application. An LLP name must not be identical or too similar to an existing company or LLP and must also comply with applicable naming restrictions.

You can use a preliminary LLP name search on our search tool above to identify existing names and potential conflicts. For formal reservation of a proposed LLP name, the MCA uses the RUN-LLP (Reserve Unique Name – LLP) service under Section 16 of the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008.

If the Registrar approves the proposed name, it is generally reserved for 20 days, giving you time to complete the incorporation process.

Note: A name that appears available in a preliminary search is not automatically approved by the MCA. For an LLP, the final reservation is subject to the Registrar's examination under the applicable naming rules.

Section 4 of the Companies Act, 2013, and Rules 8, 8A and 8B of the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014, set out what your company or LLP name must and must not do:

• Be creative: The name must not be too similar to existing company names, LLPs and registered trademarks. Pluralization, articles, or tweaked capitalization will not make a conflicting name acceptable if it sounds or looks the same.
• Reflect your business: The name should give a hint as to your industry or the type of business you are in.
• Avoid forbidden words: Words like “National,” “Central,” or “Union”, or anything that suggests government backing are either not allowed or require special approval.
• End with the right suffix: A private limited company must end with "Private Limited." Similarly, a One Person Company must end with "OPC Private Limited." There is no flexibility here.
• Avoid trademark disputes: A name confusingly similar to a registered or pending trademark for the same or related goods and services is not going to get approved.
• Not mislead anyone: The name cannot misrepresent what the company does, sells, or stands for.

A name that clears MCA guidelines is only the starting point. Think about these practical considerations:

• Room to grow: Choose a name that describes your core business, but does not tie you to a single product line. Today, “GreenTech Solutions” is fitting for an eco-tech firm, but it also works if the company pivots into adjacent spaces tomorrow.
• Brand fit: The name should reflect what your company actually stands for. "CarePlus Health Services" immediately tells a customer and an investor what the business is about.
• Digital availability: Check domain names and social media handles before you get attached to a name. If "freshbites.com" and "@freshbites" are both taken, you are starting with a handicap.
• Longevity: Avoid names tied too tightly to a city, a trend, or a single product. "UrbanFoods" travels better than "MumbaiSnacks" if the business expands nationally.

There are a few common problems that cause most name rejections:

• Too similar to an existing name: If the name sounds or looks like one already on record, minor spelling changes or punctuation differences are not enough.
• Mismatch with business activity: A name that suggests manufacturing when the company is a consulting firm creates a conflict with the stated objects.
• Too generic: Names that are common, descriptive, or lack any distinctive element rarely make it through.
• Missing suffix: A name missing the required legal suffix.
• Trademark conflict: The name conflicts with a trademark already registered in the same or related category.
• Use of National Identifiers without justification: The use of words like ‘National’, ‘Indian’ or ‘Bharat’ should be justified in terms of scale of operations or prior approval of the government.

RegisterKaro’s name search is more than a superficial check:

• End-to-end search: Every search includes both the MCA database and the trademark registry, providing you with a better view of actual availability before you commit to a name.
• Fewer rejections: Our team knows where the MCA draws the line on naming rules, and we flag issues before they become rejection letters.
• Fast turnarounds: Our process gets names approved in an average of 48 hours.
• Full support for incorporation: We walk you step by step from checking name availability to the Certificate of Incorporation.
• Transparent pricing: Clear, upfront pricing with no hidden or unexpected charges.