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Register a Business Name

Business Name

A business is a trade, lawful activity or profession, carried on for profit by an individual or by two or more persons, (whether natural persons or legal persons i.e., companies or corporations or a combination of the two).

A business name is the name or style under which any business is carried on, either as an Individual/Sole Trader or as a Partnership/Firm. It is the business name which is required to be registered by law, not the business.

How to Register a Business Name

To register a business name, you are required to:

  • Create a Companies Registry Account (CRA) to access the Companies Registry Online System (CROS)
  • Log into your CRA
  • Choose a business name
  • Reserve the name
  • Complete and submit the business name registration application and pay the fee
  • Sign and deliver the Application for Registration to collect your Certificate of Registration

Registering a Business Name (Individual/Sole Trader)

To register your business name, you must complete the following steps:

STEP 1: Create a Companies Registry Account (CRA)

To create your CRA you will need to:

  • Create a Companies Registry Account (CRA) to access the Companies Registry Online System (CROS)
  • Log into your CRA
  • Choose a business name
  • Reserve the name
  • Complete and submit the business name registration application and pay the fee
  • Sign and deliver the Application for Registration to collect your Certificate of Registration

Create your CRA

For assistance with creating your CRA, you may email the CROS Help Desk at croshelpdesk@gov.tt

STEP 2: Choose a Business Name

You should carefully decide on an appropriate name for your business. That name must not be the same as or similar to, an existing business name, corporation name, or trademark. Other restrictions To ensure that the name is available you must have the name approved and reserved.

You may wish to conduct a preliminary search using the CROS Search Facility before submitting your application. This will give you an idea of whether the name is already in use, before you apply to reserve the name. You are strongly advised not to use the proposed name in advance of receipt of your certificate of registration.

STEP 3: Reserve the Business Name

To have your name reserved, you must electronically submit an Application for Name Approval/Name Reservation to ensure the availability and suitability of the name. To submit your application:

  • Log into your CRA and select the ‘Name Reservation’ service)
  • Complete a new business name reservation and pay the fee

    • (You may upload supporting documents to your application, if needed)

Fee: $20.00.

Processing time: three (3) working days

Once processed, you will receive confirmation, by email, of the Registrar’s decision. The Registrar may:

  • Approve
    • The name is reserved for forty-five (45) days.
  • Query
    • Further information/clarification is needed. You will have to reply to the email, providing the necessary information.
  • Reject
    • The name has not met the availability/suitability requirements. You will have to submit a new application and pay the fee

Once the name is approved and reserved, you must complete the Business Name Registration within forty-five (45) days i.e., before the name reservation expires.

STEP 4: Complete the Business Name Registration

To have your business name registered, you must electronically file an Application for Registration by an Individual. To file your application:

  • Log into your CRA and select the ‘Registration/Incorporation’ Service
  • Complete the business registration application and pay the fee

Fee: $220.00.

STEP 5: Collect your Certificate of Registration

  • Once the payment is processed, you will receive confirmation, by email, that the Business Name was received. Your copy of the completed Application for Registration by an Individual will be included. To collect your certificate:Print and sign the Application for Registration
  • Deliver the signed Application for Registration to the Companies Online Counter

Register your business

Registering a Business Name (Partnership/Firm)

To register your business name, you must complete the following steps:

STEP 1: Create a Companies Registry Account (CRA)

Every partner to the business name must have a CRA. To create a CRA, you will need to:

  • Apply for an individual account
  • Enter your personal details, contact, and address
  • Upload a copy of your birth certificate, two forms of photo identification (ID) and a headshot with one of the submitted IDs held beside your face.

Create your CRA

For assistance with creating your CRA, you may email the CROS Help Desk at croshelpdesk@gov.tt

STEP 2: Choose a Business Name

You should carefully decide on an appropriate name for your business. That name must not be the same as or similar to, an existing business name, corporation name, or trademark. Other restrictions To ensure that the name is available you must have the name approved and reserved.

You may wish to conduct a preliminary search using the CROS Search Facility before submitting your application. This will give you an idea of whether the name is already in use, before you apply to reserve the name. You are strongly advised not to use the proposed name in advance of receipt of your certificate of registration.

STEP 3: Reserve the Business Name

To have your name reserved, you must electronically submit an Application for Name Approval/Name Reservation to ensure the availability and suitability of the name. To submit your application:

  • Log into your CRA and select the ‘Name Reservation’ service)
  • Complete a new business name reservation and pay the fee

Fee: $20.00.

Processing time: three (3) working days

Once processed, you will receive confirmation, by email, of the Registrar’s decision. The Registrar may:

  • Approve
    • The name is reserved for forty-five (45) days.
  • Query
    • Further information/clarification is needed. You will have to reply to the email, providing the necessary information.
  • Reject
    • The name has not met the availability/suitability requirements. You will have to submit a new application and pay the fee

Once the name is approved and reserved, you must complete the Business Name Registration within forty-five (45) days i.e., before the name reservation expires.

STEP 4: Consent of Partner(s)

The other partner(s) must approve their inclusion on the registration application.

  • Where the partner is a natural person

    The individual must:

    • Log into their CRA
    • Select “My Account”, click “Approval”, and enter the:
      • Type – Yet To Be
      • Role – Partner
      • Identifier – Name Reservation Number
      • Name – Business Name
  • Where the partner is a company

    A director/secretary of the company must:

    • Log into their CRA using the role of director/secretary
    • Select “My Company”, click “Approval”, and enter the:
      • Type – Yet To Be
      • Role – Partner
      • Identifier – Name Reservation Number
      • Name – Business Name

Once the other partner(s), as above, have granted their approval(s), they must provide you with their surname and Account PIN/ company name and Company PIN, respectively, to complete your business name registration.

STEP 5: Complete the Business Name Registration

To have your business name registered, you must electronically file an Application for Registration by a Firm. To file your application:

  • Log into your CRA and select the ‘Registration/Incorporation’ Service
  • Complete the business registration application and pay the fee

Fee: $220.00.

STEP 6: Collect your Certificate of Registration

Once the payment is processed, you will receive confirmation, by email, that the Business Name was successfully received. Your copy of the completed Application for Registration by an Individual will also be included for download. To collect your certificate:

  • Print and sign the Application for Registration
  • Deliver the signed Application for Registration to the Companies Online Counter