Milton Keynes Trading Standards

According to Milton Keynes Trading Standards, one of the pieces of legislation that is often not known, or understood, by small businesses is The Business Names Act 1985.


The Act allows the Secretary of State control over the name you choose for your business and regulates disclosure of business ownership - in other words what and how you must tell others about the ownership of the business.

The Act applies to:

• a company which trades under a name which is not its corporate name
  
• a partnership which does not trade under the names of all the partners;
  
• an individual who trades under a name other than that person’s surname, with or without his or her first names or initials.

If you trade under your own name, e.g. John Smith trading as J Smith, you are not covered by the provisions of the Act, but if you add any words other than your initials or forenames, e.g. John Smith trading as Smith’s Autos, you are covered.

If the Act applies to you (see above), you must comply with all the disclosure requirements. You will need to disclose (as appropriate):

• the corporate name;
  
• the name of each partner, or
  
• the individual name, and
  
• in relation to each person named, an address in Great Britain at which documents can be served.

You must display the information in a prominent position so that it can be read easily, in all the places where you carry out your business and where you deal with customers or suppliers.
You will need to show the information clearly on all:

• business letters;
  
• written orders for the supply of goods or services;
  
• invoices and receipts; and
  
• written demands for the payment of business debts.

Please note
If the business has more than twenty partners, you need not put all the partners’ names on your business documents. However, you must give the address of the principal place of business, and state that a full list of the partners’ names and addresses can be inspected there. Please note that companies are required to display additional information on their business documentation. Further details can be obtained by contacting Companies House either by telephone: 0870 33 33 636, or by visiting their website at
www.companieshouse.gov.uk.

You are required to provide the following information

Full name (s) of Owner (s) Address within Great Britain at
which documents relating to the business may be effectively served.

REMEMBER – this notice must be displayed in a prominent position so
that it can be read easily in all the places where you carry on your
business and where you deal with customers or suppliers.

If you require further information about this legislation you can contact Milton Keynes Trading Standards Service on

Tel: 01908 252504
E-mail:tsd@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Visit Milton Keynes Trading Standards website at www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/milton-keynes

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