India · updated
Business name ideas for India, and how to check a name is free
Starting a company, an LLP or a side business in India? This guide gives you name ideas to start from, then the official rules: what the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) refuses, what IP India charges for a trademark, and what Udyam, GST and a .in domain do and do not protect.
24 name ideas to start from
These are starting points, not cleared names. Some may already be in use. Run each one through the checks below before you file anything.
Short and invented
Zorvi · Kaviro · Nuvra · Tavik · Rivora · Elaro
Rooted in Indian words
Aarambh Studio · Udaan Goods · Saathi Home Services · Kalpa Crafts · Prakash Lighting Co. · Dhara Organics
Online sellers and D2C
Chai & Chapter · Masala Box Co. · Indigo Thread · Monsoon Market · Saffron Shelf · Brass & Bloom
Services and freelancers
Clearpath Tutors · Swift Fix Repairs · Brightdesk Accounts · Neat Nest Cleaning · Pixel Patra Studio · Northstar Consulting
One tip from the MCA itself: a name made only of common words can be rejected as “descriptive”. Adding one distinctive or invented word makes approval more likely.
Reserving a company or LLP name with the MCA
- New company: the name is reserved in SPICe+ Part A on the MCA V3 portal. The fee is ₹1,000. If you file Part A on its own you can propose up to 2 names; if you file Parts A and B together, only 1. An approved name is held for 20 days, and you can pay to extend it, up to 60 days in total (SPICe+ Part A instruction kit).
- Existing company changing its name: uses RUN. The fee is ₹1,000, you can propose 2 names, and an approved name is held for 60 days (RUN instruction kit).
- LLP: uses RUN-LLP. Its December 2025 instruction kit lists a fee of ₹200 and says an approved name stays valid for 3 months. Many websites still quote an older figure, so confirm the fee on the portal before you pay (RUN-LLP instruction kit).
- Format: up to 75 characters, plain letters only (no special or non-English characters), and don’t type “Pvt” or “Ltd” yourself; the form adds them.
Names the MCA refuses or wants approval for
From the MCA’s SPICe+ FAQ, the most common reasons a name is rejected:
- It is identical or too close to an existing company, LLP or reserved name, or it sounds the same.
- It contains a word that is a registered trademark (unless you attach the owner’s consent).
- It is only common, descriptive words.
- It uses Finance, Investment, Capital, Holding or Insurance when the business doesn’t match.
- It uses words such as Board, Commission, Authority, National, Union, Central, Federal, Republic, Bureau or Court, which need prior Central Government approval. Bank, Insurance and Mutual Fund need the regulator’s approval.
Six free checks before you file
1. MCA name search
The MCA’s Check Company/LLP Name page shows names already taken. It opens without a login.
2. IP India trademark search
Search before you file with the MCA, because a name with a registered trademark in it can be refused. IP India lists its trademark search tools on one page.
3. Google and marketplaces
Search the name on Google, and on Amazon.in, Flipkart or Meesho if you plan to sell there.
4. Domains
Check the .com and the .in. You buy .in names through an accredited registrar, who sets the price (.IN Registry FAQ). Spark’s free name check looks up the .com live.
5. Social handles
Grab the same name on Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp Business.
6. Say it in two languages
Say the name aloud in English and in your customers’ language. Make sure it is easy to spell and doesn’t mean something awkward.
Trademarks in India
A trademark is what protects a brand name. IP India’s official fee for an application (form TM-A) is per class:
| Who files | Online | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Individual, startup or small enterprise | ₹4,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Everyone else | ₹9,000 | ₹10,000 |
Classes follow the international Nice system: 1–34 for goods and 35–45 for services. A registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed, and you can apply for a name you only plan to use (IP India basics). Startups and small enterprises attach their certificate to get the lower fee.
Don’t use ® until your mark is registered. The Trade Marks Act (Section 107) makes it an offence to present an unregistered mark as registered.
Sole proprietors and side businesses
- Udyam registration is free, paperless and Aadhaar-based, and classifies your business as an MSME (Udyam portal). It doesn’t reserve or protect a name.
- GST uses your legal name as shown on your PAN, and lets you add trade names (GST registration guide). A trade name on GST is not a trademark.
- Shops & Establishments registration is run by each state, so rules differ.
How Spark helps: describe your business in one sentence and get 6 brand names, each with a .com check, a logo, colors and a brand photo. Spark’s first trademark screen covers the U.S. and some international marks; it may not include every Indian filing, so still run checks 1 and 2 above. Prices are in US dollars.
Questions people ask
How do I reserve a company name in India?
For a new company, the name is reserved in SPICe+ Part A on the MCA portal, for a fee of Rs 1,000. RUN is now used when an existing company changes its name. An approved name is held for 20 days, and you can pay to extend it up to 60 days.
How much does a trademark cost in India?
IP India's fee for a trademark application (form TM-A) is Rs 4,500 per class when an individual, startup or small enterprise files online, and Rs 9,000 per class for everyone else filing online. Paper filing costs more.
Does Udyam or GST registration protect my business name?
No. Udyam registration is free and classifies your business as an MSME, and GST lets you add trade names, but neither gives you the exclusive right to a name. A registered trademark is what protects a brand name.
Can I use the ® symbol before my trademark is registered?
No. Under Section 107 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, it is an offence to present an unregistered mark as registered, including by using a symbol that refers to registration.
Not legal advice. This summarises official MCA and IP India pages as of October 2, 2026. Fees and forms change, so confirm on the official portals before you file, and talk to a company secretary or trademark attorney for anything important.
Keep going
how to check if a name is taken · online store name ideas · Amazon brand name ideas · free name generator · free naming handbook (PDF)
Want a name that already passes these checks?
Tell Spark your idea in one sentence. Get 6 brands, each with a name, a live .com check, a first trademark screen when one is available, a logo, colors and a brand photo.
Founding price $39 one time for the first 100 customers · Regular price $49 · one payment, no subscription
Build my brand — $39One payment · No subscription · Secure checkout