Name Approval/RUN filing

Who Needs This Service

Founders about to incorporate a private limited company, public company, OPC, LLP or Section 8 company need name approval. So do existing companies planning a name change. If you are launching a brand, it is wise to settle the name early, because documents such as the MOA and AOA depend on it.

It is also useful for founders who have been rejected before and are unsure why. Common reasons include similarity with an existing name, use of restricted words, or inclusion of terms that suggest a government link.

Brand-conscious founders benefit from combining RUN with a trademark search. A name that is available at the MCA but already registered as a trademark can lead to objections, legal notices or forced rebranding later.

If your name is critical to your brand, you may want to prepare several alternatives. Since only two names can be proposed per RUN application, choosing them carefully increases the chance of approval.

Key Benefits

• Names pre-checked against MCA rules and existing company names
• Faster approval with fewer rejections
• Reservation timed to match the incorporation filing
• Awareness of trademark conflicts before you invest in branding
• Support for alternate names if the first choice is rejected

Next Steps & Related Services

Once the name is approved, file SPICe+ (or the change-of-name forms) within the reservation window.

Related services: Pvt Ltd Company registration, LLP registration, Company Name Change, TM Search and Trademark Registration.

Common Mistakes

• Proposing names too close to existing companies or trademarks.
• Using restricted words without prior approval.
• Missing the reservation window and losing the name.
• Assuming MCA approval gives brand protection.
• Choosing a name that is hard to spell or not aligned with the business.

Timeline, Costs & Practical Tips

RUN typically takes one to two working days for a decision, per the sources reviewed. The fee is Rs 1,000 as quoted, and the name is reserved for 20 days.

Practical tip: prepare four to five alternatives and your DSCs and documents before applying, so that you can file SPICe+ promptly after the name is approved.

Additional Information

The Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014 and the MCA's naming guidelines set out how company names are approved. The Registrar will reject names identical or too similar to existing companies or those that violate the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, for example suggesting government patronage. The RUN service provides a faster, standardised way to reserve a name. Because the Trade Marks Act, 1999 is a separate regime, company name approval and trademark protection operate independently.

Practical Scenarios

Scenario 1:

Two founders choose a brand name for their private limited company and use RUN to confirm it is available.

Scenario 2:

A company that wants to rebrand reserves a new name before starting the name-change forms.

Scenario 3:

A founder whose name was rejected for being too similar to an existing company picks a differentiated name after a pre-check.