Your business name might not actually be yours.
It’s a mistake we see time and again, and one that can cost tens of thousands to fix.
Sarah’s Story: When Success Turned into Stress
Sarah spent three years building her consultancy.
- She’d invested thousands in a polished visual identity.
- She had a website that ranked on Google and a client base that trusted her.
- Her brand name was front and centre of her marketing.
Then the letter arrived.
A company that had owned the trademark for her business name for years demanded that she stop using it immediately.
Suddenly, everything Sarah had built was at risk.
The Domino Effect of a Forced Rebrand
When you’re told you can’t use your business name anymore, the fallout isn’t just a new logo and stationery. It’s a full reset.
Sarah had to replace her logo, website and business cards; scrap campaigns mid-launch; spend time and money managing client confusion; and watch her hard-earned SEO rankings collapse overnight.
The total cost? Over £50,000. The worst part? It was entirely avoidable.
Why Most Business Owners Get This Wrong
Many founders assume that if Companies House accepts the name, the domain is available and Google doesn’t throw up a conflict, then they’re safe.
But none of these guarantee your rights.
- Companies House only checks that no other limited company is using the same name. That’s about corporate registration, not trade marks.
- Domain names are just website addresses. Owning one doesn’t give you brand ownership.
- Google searches can miss pending applications or unregistered rights that still carry legal weight.
The reality? You could unknowingly spend years growing a brand that belongs to someone else.
Prevention is Simple – and Affordable
A professional trade mark search costs in the hundreds and usually takes less than a week.
And it checks registered trade marks, pending applications and unregistered rights that might still block you.
Compare that to Sarah’s £50,000 bill. Which would you rather pay?
Next Steps
Before you spend another pound on marketing or branding, ask yourself this: do I actually own my business name?
If you’re in the process of creating a new brand, you don’t need to take chances. Our Anti-Rebrand Toolkit gives you the steps and insights to protect your brand from day one – and avoid the cost, disruption and stress of being forced to start again.
You can download it here: https://intangen.gumroad.com/l/gmseb
