To check if a business name is already registered in Ireland, search the CRO's company register on Businesses.ie or on CORE (core.cro.ie). If the exact name or a very similar name is already taken, you cannot register a new company with that name.
Company Name vs. Business Name
In Ireland, there are two types of name registration:
- Company name: The official name of a registered company (LTD, DAC, PLC, etc.) — registered with the CRO on incorporation
- Business name (trading name): A name used by a sole trader, partnership, or company to trade under a different name — registered with the CRO using Form RBN1
Both types are searchable on the CRO register.
Step 1: Search the CRO Register
Go to the company name search on Businesses.ie and enter the name you want to check. The search will show:
- Exact matches and close variations
- The company's CRO registration number
- Current status (Normal, Struck Off, Dissolved, etc.)
- Company type (LTD, DAC, etc.)
Step 2: Check for Similar Names
The CRO will reject a company name that is "identical to or too like" an existing name. This includes:
- Exact matches (obviously)
- Names that differ only by common endings — e.g., "ABC Limited" vs "ABC Ltd" vs "ABC LTD"
- Names that differ only by punctuation — e.g., "O'Brien" vs "OBrien"
- Names that are phonetically similar
- Names where only "The," "Ireland," or "Irish" has been added or removed
Step 3: Check Dissolved/Struck-Off Names
A name held by a dissolved or struck-off company may still be unavailable. The CRO maintains records of former companies, and name conflicts can arise even with non-active entities. However, it is sometimes possible to use the name of a long-dissolved company — the CRO decides on a case-by-case basis.
Step 4: Check the Business Names Register
If you want to trade under a different name (e.g., "Joe's Plumbing" for "Joe Murphy Ltd"), you must register the business name with the CRO using Form RBN1. The fee is €40 online. You should check the business names register to ensure the trading name is also available.
Names the CRO Will Refuse
- Names identical or too similar to an existing company
- Names suggesting state sponsorship without permission (e.g., "National," "State," "Government")
- Names containing "bank," "insurance," "university" without the appropriate licence
- Offensive or misleading names
- Names using "SE" (Societas Europaea) without meeting the EU regulation requirements
How Long Does Name Approval Take?
If you file the company incorporation (Form A1) online via CORE, the CRO typically processes name approval as part of incorporation within 5–10 business days. You can also reserve a company name in advance for €25 online — the reservation lasts 28 days.
Summary
Search the CRO register on Businesses.ie to check if a company or business name is taken. The CRO rejects names identical to or too similar to existing ones. Name reservation costs €25 and lasts 28 days. Business name registration (Form RBN1) costs €40 online.