Overview
Your trade name is the first asset your company owns, and the biggest time sink is submitting names that get rejected. The Ministry of Commerce sets clear criteria: no similarity to an existing name, no reserved terms or words implying government bodies, and nothing contrary to public decency or regulation.
What many overlook is the distinction between a trade name and a trademark: reserving the name gives you the right to use it as your establishment's name, but grants no trademark protection over your products and services. Full protection requires separate trademark registration.
Rapture helps you choose a name that clears first time: we check availability, screen for conflicts with registered trademarks, and propose close alternatives where your preferred name is unavailable — then reserve it officially.
Who is this service for?
- Founders at the pre-registration stage
- Business owners wanting to change their trade name
- Anyone whose name was previously rejected and needs viable alternatives
- Companies launching a new venture under an independent name
Required documents
- National identity card of the applicant
- Proposed name and alternatives
- The commercial activity associated with the name
How the process works
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Select the name and screen criteria
We review the proposed name against Ministry of Commerce criteria: reserved terms, similarity, and impermissible connotations.
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Check availability and conflicts
We check availability in Ministry records and screen for conflicts with registered trademarks that could cause a dispute later.
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File the reservation request
We submit the reservation officially through the Ministry of Commerce platform and settle the fees.
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Receive the reservation certificate
We hand you the reservation certificate ready for use in issuing the commercial registration, and flag the reservation validity period.
Expected turnaround
Within 24 hours in standard cases.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a trade name acceptable?
It must not resemble a registered name, must not include reserved terms or words implying government or international bodies, must not offend public decency or regulation, and should relate logically to the activity. Foreign-language names carry additional requirements.
How long is a trade name reservation valid?
The reservation is valid for a defined period during which the commercial registration must be issued, otherwise it lapses and the name becomes available to others. We flag the period at reservation.
What is the difference between a trade name and a trademark?
A trade name is your establishment's name in the commercial register; a trademark protects your products' and services' identity in the market. Reserving a name grants no trademark protection — registration is a separate procedure we also handle.
Can the trade name be changed after registration?
Yes, through a commercial register amendment. It requires reserving the new name first and updating records with all connected authorities — so choosing carefully from the outset is preferable.