Why Checking Before You Register Is Non-Negotiable

EU company registries reject names that are identical or confusingly similar to existing registrations. A rejected application means delays of days or weeks, possible legal fees if you used a notary or agent, and the cost of reprinting any materials you already ordered. In Germany, the Handelsregister requires that your name be "distinctively different" from existing entries in the same district — a subjective test that can trip up applicants who did only a surface-level search. In France, the INPI's Sirene system cross-references both commercial and trade names. In all five countries covered here, the safest approach is to check the official national registry before committing to anything.

Germany — Handelsregister

URL: handelsregister.de

The Handelsregister is Germany's official commercial register, maintained by the local Amtsgerichte (district courts). Use the "Company search" function and enter your proposed name. The search is free and covers all German states. Note that name uniqueness is judged at the district level first — a name available in Munich may be registered in Berlin — so search broadly and check similar spellings. The registry covers GmbH, AG, UG, KG, and OHG entities.

France — Infogreffe / Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés

URL: infogreffe.fr

Infogreffe provides access to the Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés (RCS). Enter your proposed name in the search bar to see existing registrations. The INPI portal (inpi.fr) also allows you to search trade names (noms commerciaux) separately from company names — both searches are necessary. France distinguishes between the legal entity name (dénomination sociale) and the trading name, both of which can conflict with existing rights.

Netherlands — KVK Handelsregister

URL: kvk.nl/zoeken

The Kamer van Koophandel (KVK) maintains the Dutch commercial register. The name search on the KVK website is free and covers all registered trade names and legal entity names. Dutch law treats trade names and entity names as potentially conflicting, so searching both categories is important. The KVK also operates a trade name check tool that identifies phonetically similar names, not just exact matches.

Spain — Registro Mercantil Central

URL: rmc.es

The Registro Mercantil Central (RMC) in Spain issues name availability certificates (Certificación Negativa de Denominación), which are mandatory before incorporating a Sociedad Limitada (SL) or Sociedad Anónima (SA). You can apply online for up to five proposed names in order of preference. The certificate costs approximately €16 and takes 1–3 business days. A name is considered unavailable if it is identical or phonetically or visually similar to an existing registration.

Italy — Registro delle Imprese

URL: registroimprese.it

Italy's Registro delle Imprese is managed by the local Chamber of Commerce (Camera di Commercio). Name searches can be performed via the RI.SEARCH portal or through Infocamere's Telemaco service (subscription required for detailed reports). Free basic searches are available at the national portal. Italy does not issue a formal pre-registration certificate, so your notary will check availability at the time of drafting the deed of incorporation.

The Business Registers Interconnection System (BRIS) is available through the EU's e-Justice portal at e-justice.europa.eu/companySearch. It aggregates data from commercial registers in 22+ EU countries, allowing a single name search across multiple jurisdictions. This is especially useful if you plan to operate in several member states or want to check whether a name is already in use anywhere in the EU before investing in branding.

BRIS is a starting point, not a final answer. National registries update BRIS on their own schedules, so very recent registrations may not appear immediately. Always follow up with a direct search in the relevant national registry.

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Brainstorm 3–5 name candidates with different suffixes (your legal entity suffix will be mandatory anyway).
  2. Search each national registry for the country where you plan to register. Use both exact and similar-sounding searches.
  3. Run a BRIS search if you are considering expansion to other EU markets.
  4. Search EUIPO's TMview (tmview.eu) for existing EU and national trademarks that could conflict, even if a company name search comes back clear.
  5. Check domain availability for your preferred .com and country-code TLD (.de, .fr, .nl, etc.).
  6. Secure the name — apply for formal registration or, where available, name reservation — before publicising your brand.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Checking only one country. Even if your entity will be registered in Germany, a French company with the same name could sue you for unfair competition if you operate in France.

Ignoring trademarks. A name can be available in the commercial register yet infringe an existing EU trademark. These are separate databases and separate legal rights. A registered company name does not give you the right to use it as a brand if a prior trademark exists.

Treating phonetic similarity as safe. Most EU registries apply a similarity test, not just an exact-match test. "Novara GmbH" and "Novarra GmbH" are likely to conflict in Germany.

Skipping the national language variants. In multilingual countries or cross-border situations, consider whether a name translates or sounds like something problematic in other EU languages.

Use EU Biz Tools' free business name checker to run an instant cross-registry scan for your proposed name across EU countries — before you invest time in the registration process.