Updated: June 16, 2025
Published: December 19, 2022
Some people describe a business name as the “brand” of a company. It can, in theory, help shape a company’s identity and set expectations of the public on its services, products, or purpose. It can also influence the company’s own internal culture or serve as a kind of mission statement.
However, legally speaking, using a business name means the owners are trading under a name that isn’t their own. For example, Ribige Limited trading as Ellis & Ellis.
To ensure transparency, the Companies Registration Office (CRO), under the Registration of Business Names Act 1963, keeps a public register of these business names and their owners.
Why might someone search the Business Names Register?
Broadly speaking, business name searches offer two rationales as follows:
Due Diligence: Businesses, lenders, or individuals often search business names to find out who owns or controls the names. Given that registering a business name does not create a separate legal entity (there are no shareholders, directors, secretaries, or limited liability protections), these searches help identify whether a sole trader, partnership, or company is behind the name. This matters, as the person or entity controlling the business name is the one legally accountable for its actions.
These searches can also assist in asset tracing. By identifying who is behind a business name, one may uncover links useful in other legal matters (e.g., divorce cases, debts, settlements) to potentially locate assets, whether tangible or intangible.
Property Transactions: If a property is being sold under a business name (often done for branding reason) a search of the Business Names Register helps confirm the legal person, partnership, or company behind the name. This ensures transparency and meets the conveyancer’s legal requirement to identify the actual party involved in the transaction.
How and what to search for on the Business Names Register?
For due diligence matters, we simply search against the business name or number (if known) provided. This could also pre-empt follow-on searches against the named owners to establish a wider ownership structure and assets associated with the same.
For property transactions (conveyancing property, interests or rights), searches are typically carried out against both the seller and the purchaser if a business name is involved.
Seller Names
In practice, searches of the Business Names Register are usually done when a property is being sold under a business name, but it’s not clear who the actual legal owners are.
If the business name is owned by a company, a follow-up search of the Companies Office is typically carried out to confirm the company’s status, ensure it still exists, and check for any charges or issues that might affect the sale.
If the business name is owned by an individual, the buyer’s solicitor or conveyancer will usually carry out searches to check for any legal restrictions, such as pending lawsuits (Lis Pendens), court judgments, bankruptcy, or insolvency, that could impact the transaction.
Purchaser Names
In cases where a solicitor or conveyancer is acting to protect the interests of a lender, such as when a mortgage is involved, searches are typically needed to confirm who owns the business name, especially if the buyers are operating under a trading name.
Once the owner of the business name (whether an individual or a legal entity) is identified through the Business Name Register, the solicitor or conveyancer can then carry out the necessary follow-up closing or conveyancing searches against the identified parties, as outlined earlier.
What will the Ellis & Ellis business name search result show me?
Our reports provide, amongst other subjects, details as to business name status, the registered address, the date that the business name was registered, and the nature of its business.
The report also provides details of ownership, including ownership type (i.e., a legal entity or person), the address of the company or person, the ownership ‘from’ date, and the incorporation date if owned by a company.
All of the above can be conducted online and instantly via our instant results service.
Use a trusted law search provider
Given the significant implications set out above of either not conducting a business name search at all, or worse, conducting an inadequate or erroneous business name search; it is imperative that purchasing solicitors/ conveyancers use a trusted law search provider such as Ellis & Ellis.
With our blend of a quick and easy-to-use ordering platform, over 130 years of professional know-how, and a quality after-sales experience, we provide clients with a superior searching service.
For added peace of mind, Ellis & Ellis provides a Professional Indemnity Cover of €10 million.
Why not join the thousands of users who trust Ellis & Ellis to deliver them a competitive edge?
Did you find the above information to be of interest? Why not check out one of our other Ellis & Ellis explainers for some related searches below:
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- Bankruptcy Searches
- Judgment (Lis Pendens)
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- Judgment (Debt/Money) Searches
- Company Searches