Auxiliary company names

A business that has been entered in the Trade Register can use an auxiliary company name for running a certain part of its operations. In order to gain an exclusive right to use an auxiliary company name, the business must either register the name or establish it as provided in the Trade Names Act.

You can submit an auxiliary company name to the Trade Register by filing a Start-Up Notification or a Notification on Amendments. Each company form has a specific form for this purpose.

If you want to register auxiliary company names for your business, please remember to fill in the names on the notification form even if you have a decision of the board meeting attached where the decision to take up the new auxiliary company names can be read.

Please note:

In order to be valid for entering in the register, an auxiliary company name must fulfil the same basic requirements as those for actual trade names. This means that an auxiliary company name must differ from the names already registered. Furthermore, it must not be confusingly similar with registered company names or trademarks, and it must be able to individualise the business. Please also note that an auxiliary company name must not contain any indication of corporate form. Read more in the company name instructions.

A business can run a part of its operations by using an auxiliary company name

The business run under the auxiliary company name must not cover the company’s whole line of business. When you notify an auxiliary company name for registration with the Trade Register, you must, at the same time, indicate which part of the company’s line of business it applies to.

For example:

• The line of business of Ramux Ltd is construction, sale of technochemical products and car rental. The company sells technochemical products under the auxiliary company name “Don’s Detergent” and rents cars under the auxiliary name “Martin the Motorist”.

If a company’s line of business consists of one type of business only, e.g. restaurants, the line of business under the auxiliary company name must be limited for example geographically so that it is narrower than the main line of business.

For example:

• The company “Starworld Ltd” operates in the sale of shoes. It uses the auxiliary company name "Espoo Star Shoe" for its shoe shop in the city of Espoo, and the auxiliary name "Tikkurila Shoes” for its shoe shop in Tikkurila, in the city of Vantaa.

Decision to take up an auxiliary company name

A sole trader can independently make decisions about the auxiliary company name. In partnerships and general partnerships, the decision to adopt an auxiliary company name is made by the general partners. An auxiliary company name does not have to be entered in the partnership agreement. In limited liability companies and co-operatives, the board of directors can decide on the adoption of an auxiliary company name, i.e. the auxiliary name does not have to be entered in the articles of association or cooperative rules. The decision must state the business that is conducted under the auxiliary company name (the business must form part of the company’s line of business).

When filing a notification to the Trade Register, please note that a separate handling fee (€75 per auxiliary company name) must be paid, see Price list and How to pay.

Decision to give up an auxiliary company name

The decision to give up an auxiliary company name is made by the same organ that initially decided to adopt it. For instance in a limited liability company, the board of directors makes the decision if the auxiliary name is not included in the articles of association. The handling fee for giving up an auxiliary company name or auxiliary company names is €65.