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A lot of people choose to start their own business just to be able to enjoy freedom and complete independence. This could be greatly understood since being the business owner yourself will allow you to utilise and apply your own creative ideas and be your own boss. No matter how easy being the boss may seem to be, most bosses discover that they work more being the owners themselves rather than when they worked for someone else. To start your own business can really bring you lots of benefits but you would need to have the courage and guts to finish the journey no matter how hard things may be.

Choosing A Company Name

This is a very important thing to do since this is what you will use when answering the phone and this is how the public will remember you. It is what other people will see in your different advertising formats, brochures and business cards. This step should be taken as a fun experience as many company names aren’t always sensible but many are memorable.

Why It Is Important To Choose The Right Name

It is essential to select the right name. Since you already know this, what you need to do is make sure what you are applying for is not registered legally already and also be aware of the restricted descriptions and words. It is the Register who will advise you that if your name is already taken, then you will get permission from the State Secretary to guide you in choosing another name without a fee.

Making Sure Another Company Hasn’t Already Registered The Name

It is just as essential to not copy an existing organisation’s name in the field or industry you are in. There may be no sure way to detect ahead the existence of some business names, it is then recommended that you check out the local telephone directories and other related journals to have an idea if there’s any other business the same as yours.

How To Register Your Company’s Name

The largest and most reliable source for business information these days is the internet. People resort to the internet to find information on any business that sells any goods or provides any services. For a small business, it is important that it establishes its internet presence by developing an internet strategy. Whichever way you choose, if you ever plan to have a business website, it will be necessary to choose and register a business domain name. In this article, we will look at what is involved in choosing, registering, hosting and renewing a business domain name.

Choosing a domain name:

A domain name consists of a combination of letter and numbers followed by top-domain designations like.com,.biz,.net etc. The domain name in this case acts as a kernel of the URL. A URL is a Uniform Resource Locator that takes the form where domain name is the business domain name.

Finding the appropriate domain name is difficult because there are millions of domain names already registered. However, there are other ways to make a situation work for you if you find that a business domain name you wanted to register has already been taken by someone else. These are:

a) Conceptual thinking – If a name you gave to your company has already been taken, think of alternative names that will still factor in the kind of service or products you offer. You can even turn your tagline into a successful domain name.

b) Add words to the name – Adding unique or common words before or after your business name can give you a domain name that is catchy and specific.

c) Consider different top-level domain – Most businesses always look for a.com domain. If you cannot find it, you may consider choosing a.net,.biz or other top-level domains. Recently, there are even newer top-level domains that are intriguing and available like.cc,.web and.ws.

d) Use a domain search service – If you are not certain about what you can take, use a domain search service like VeriSign to find the right domain name for your business. These often require that you enter certain keywords and concepts surrounding your business and your appropriate domain name will be generated for you automatically.

There are 10 easy steps to company registration in Kenya. You begin at the Companies Registry at Sheria House.

1. Name search: It goes without saying. You need a name. This part take two days and costs under $5.

2. Prepare Memorandum and Article of Association: These documents describe the objectives, rules, subscribers and authorised share capital of your company.

3. Pay Stamp Duty: The amount of money that you pay depends on your declared nominal capital. You begin by collecting four forms from the Kenya Revenue Authority at Times Towers. Two copies go to the Lands Registry, one is retained by you and the other by the bank.

4. Declaration of compliance: A commissioner of oath must sign this form on your behalf.

5. File Deeds at Registrars office: You then need to file your documents at Companies Registry.

This includes your memorandum and articles of association. There is a varied fee attached to this.

6. Register for a Personal Identity Number, VAT & PAYE: This takes a day to register at Times Tower and is free.

7. Register for NHIF: NHIF stands for National Hospital Insurance Fund. This is mandatory medical contribution for your employees.

Register at the NHIF building.

8. Register for NSSF: NSSF stands for National Social Security Fund. It is mandatory to contribute to your employees retirement fund. Registration is done at the NSSF building at the bottom of Valley Road.

9. Register for a Business Permit: This application is made to the City council. You will need office space prior to submitting this application.

10. Get your Company Seal. This is the last bit. You can get good quality company seals from Seal Honey Stationers in Nairobi.

This article is written by Maggie Nguyo. An Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Holder of a Law Masters Degree in Banking and Finance from the London School of Economics, a Masters of Arts Degree in Gender Culture and Development from the University of Sunderland and the current editor.

It is becoming a popular and paying strategy to register a business in UK. Even those businesses that are set up elsewhere want to register a business in UK. The reasons for this enthusiasm are clear. Registering and setting up a business in the UK is a fairly straightforward procedure. It is easy, quick and profitable. There are tax benefits to be thought of besides the highly streamlined process that is available for incorporating a business in UK.

Fortunately, registering a business in the UK follows well established guidelines. So, there is no need for any confusion.

The first step is to have a physical address in the UK. This is not a problem for native residents. However, foreign companies may require a temporary office address before they can set up their actual office. In this case, the company can pay a small amount to a solicitor and use their address temporarily. An address in England, Wales or Scotland would do. Mind you, all official communication must carry this address. Also, copies of official documents have to be kept at this address.

Equally important is the decision regarding the business structure. There are a number of structures to choose from. Most small businesses prefer to become sole proprietorships because this is the quickest and the least complicated route. However, in case the business is big enough, it might be better to consider a partnership or a Limited Liability Company.

The last thing to do before you register a business in UK is choose the name of your company or business. The name has to be unique and there should be no copyright violations. Legally, that is all there is to choosing the name of your business. But, remember that you have to live with the name you choose for a long, long time. So, apply some thought and choose wisely.

So, you finally settled on the perfect name for your product or service – it describes the business without being overly descriptive, it tells your customers exactly what you want them to know and it’s catchy. That’s fantastic! Finding just the right name is vitally important to the success of any product line or service.

Is it required that I register my trademark?

No, not at all. However, registering your trademark, specifically your Federal trademark, does provide you with several advantages:

• The right to use the circle-R symbol as notice to the public about your Federal trademark
• The exclusive rights to the name within your industry across the country
• Establishing brand identity

But what if someone else already came up with that name?While the name may be unique and distinctive to you, there is a possibility that another party already has prior trademark or common-law rights to the name for your industry. Before you invest time, money and effort into your name, do some research. The first places to check are right at your fingertips – the World Wide Web – and they’re free!

Preliminary Search Sites:

• The Trademarks section on the USPTO Web Site
• Your Secretary of State to see if they have a searchable database of names. You can find a listing of all states here
• Major search engines – put your product name in quotes to find exact matches; use keywords with your product name to find relevant hits
• Yellow pages

However, please be aware that this is merely scratching the surface of what’s out there. Only comprehensive research will tell you if the name is truly available. But, these links are free & a great place to start, so try them first. If the name appears to be available, then you can move on to getting comprehensive research done by a private company or an attorney.

Ok, so the name is clear; now what?

While you are registering a business, you should know some vital points which are included in this content. Your first option for registering a business is to choose the structure and it should well fit contentedly, just like a pair of shoes. If you chose a bad business structure then it may lead the way to great hassle. Sole trader, proprietary limited company, partnership, association and co-operative are some of the most common business structures known in recent market. In each structure you will find advantages as well as disadvantages.

If you want the right choice then you must consider such factors such as taxation, finance needs, establishment costs, type and size of your business etc. You must consult your accountant or solicitor before you take the finial decision. If you need additional help on legal advice regarding the choice of your business structure then please contact us through our inquiry form.

The next thing after registration is trademark and here are some of best tips on how to trademark. The most valuable marketing tool of your business is none other than the trademark. If you choose a perfect branding strategy which signifies your product with image then you can easily get the top notch of your services in the market place. If you desire to establish an image for a new product or service then you must consider a distinctive trademark regarded to marketing.

Before you use and register a trademark it is recommended to search the database. If you choose similar or identical trademarks for your new goods or services then it could lead the way to block your application when you on registration. You must search the identity or previous existence of the trademark that you are choosing before finalizing the registration process. By doing so you could save your money as well time. If you choose the similar trade- mark which is already exist then the owner of the pre-exist trademark could go for legal action. Ensure the identity of the trade name before filling out the form.