Before registering your company, it’s crucial to ensure that the name you’ve chosen is available to use. This step is essential to avoid any potential confusion with existing registered companies and protect your brand’s identity. In this article, we will be discussing the technical and practical aspects of checking the availability of company name. You will get step-by-step instructions for company registration name check in Nepal with graphic demonstration.
In Nepal, the Office of Company Registrar (OCR) is responsible for registering and overseeing companies. They maintain a detailed database of all registered entities. To verify the availability of your desired company name in Nepal, you can use online portal of OCR. It’s important to carry out this due diligence step to ensure that your chosen name is available for use and to prevent any complications down the road.
Step-by-step guide to check company name availability in Nepal
- Step 1: To check if your chosen company name is available for registration, visit the website of the company registrar in Nepal at www.ocr.gov.np. Look for the “reserve company name” option on the website menu and click on it.
- Step 2: If you’re new to the website, you’ll need to sign up by providing your full name, email address, phone number, and other required information. If you already have an account, you can simply log in.
- Step 3: After you’ve logged in, you’ll be taken to a new form where you can reserve your chosen company name. Fill out the form with details such as the type of company and the name you want to register in Nepali or English, and submit it for approval.
That’s it! After you’ve submitted your company name for approval, the company registrar’s office will review it and let you know if it’s available or not. The process usually takes around 3 to 7 days.
Provisions in Companies Act 2063 regarding refusal of company names
Under the Companies Act 2063 (2006), the Company Registrar’s Office has the power to refuse to register a company under certain circumstances. These circumstances include:
- If the proposed name for the company is too similar to an existing company’s name or is misleading, the Registrar’s Office will reject the name during the registration process.
- If the proposed name or purpose of the company violates current laws, appears unfair or against the public interest, goes against decency, morality, or etiquette, or suggests criminal activity, the Company Registrar has the authority to reject the company registration.
- If a company’s registration has been cancelled under the Company Act 2063 (2006) or has been declared bankrupt under the law, the proposed company’s name cannot be used.
It’s important to be aware of these circumstances to ensure that your proposed company name and purpose comply with the law and are acceptable to the Company Registrar’s Office.
What languages are allowed for a company name in Nepal?
When registering a company in Nepal, you can choose to use either the Nepali language or the English language for the name of the company. However, it’s essential to note that the company name cannot contain a mixture of both English and Nepali letters simultaneously. In other words, the name should either be entirely in Nepali or entirely in English. So, keep this in mind when selecting a name for your company to ensure that it meets the language requirements for registration in Nepal.
How does OCR take to approve a proposed company name in Nepal?
Typically, the process of obtaining approval for a company name in Nepal takes between 2 and 7 days, provided that all the necessary information are complete in the name reservation form and there are no issues with the proposed name. It’s essential to keep in mind that the actual time frame may vary depending on the workload and efficiency of the Company Registrar’s Office. Therefore, it’s advisable to plan ahead and allow sufficient time for the approval process when registering a company in Nepal.
What are the things to consider when deciding a company name so that it is not similar to another existing company?
The Office of Company Registrar (OCR) in Nepal has established guidelines to determine if a proposed company name is the same as another. These guidelines include the following criteria:
Use of the same or similar words: If the proposed name includes the same or similar words as an existing company name, it may be considered the same as that name.
For example, if there is a company registered as “ABC Nepal Pvt. Ltd.” and another proposed company is named “ABCD Nepal Pvt. Ltd.,” then the proposed name may be considered the same as the existing company name due to the use of similar words.
Similarity in pronunciation: If the proposed name is pronounced similarly as an existing company name, it may be considered the same as that name.
For instance, if there is a company named “Citizone Finance Pvt. Ltd.” and another proposed company is named “Citee Zone Finance Pvt. Ltd.,” then the proposed name may be considered the same as the existing company name due to the similarity in pronunciation.
Similarity in meaning: If the proposed name has a similar meaning to an existing company name, it may be considered the same as that name.
For example, if there is a company named “Bright Future Pvt. Ltd.” and another proposed company is named “Prospective Bright Pvt. Ltd.,” then the proposed name may be considered the same as the existing company name due to the similarity in meaning.
Confusingly similar: If the proposed name is likely to cause confusion among customers or investors with an existing company name, it may be considered the same as that name.
For example, if there is a company named “Green Ventures Pvt. Ltd.” and another proposed company is named “Green Venture Pvt. Ltd.,” then the proposed name may be considered the same as the existing company name as it is likely to cause confusion among customers and investors.
It’s important to keep these guidelines in mind when selecting a company name to ensure that it does not violate the OCR’s rules and regulations.
