Company Name Approval (Name Reservation)
Lock in your company name before you incorporate. We run availability and trademark checks, frame names to the MCA's rules, and reserve your name through RUN or SPICe+ Part A — reducing the risk of rejection.
Quick answer
A company name is reserved through SPICe+ Part A, either on its own or as part of a combined incorporation filing. Filed separately it costs ₹1,000; filed together with Part B, no separate name-reservation fee arises. An approved name is valid 20 days, extendable to 40 days for ₹1,000, to 60 days for ₹2,000 from 40, or 20 to 60 in one step for ₹3,000. You may propose two names in order of preference, and two resubmissions are allowed to remove defects.
Applies to: SPICe+ Part A name reservation; position as at August 2026Jurisdiction: India — Companies Act, 2013 and the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014Sources checked: 2026-08-20
Starts at
₹999
+ GST | government RUN fee extra
Timeline
Typically 1–3 working days
Documents
Proposed names + objects
Availability & trademark check
MCA name-rule framing
RUN / SPICe+ Part A
Lower rejection risk
Pricing
Reserve your company name
We check availability, screen for trademark conflicts and frame names to MCA rules before filing — so you don't waste a rejection.
Name Reservation
Check + reserve
+ GST | government fee extra
- Availability check
- Trademark conflict screen
- MCA-rule framing
- RUN / SPICe+ Part A filing
Prices are professional fees and indicative. Government fees, stamp duty, DSC, PAN/TAN, state charges and third-party costs are extra and may change. A final engagement summary separates each component before payment.
Overview
What is Company Name Approval (Name Reservation)?
Before a company is incorporated, its name must be approved by the MCA. Reservation runs through SPICe+ Part A, which you can file on its own to lock in a name early, or file together with Part B as a single incorporation application. The choice has a direct cost consequence: Part A filed separately costs ₹1,000, while Part A and Part B filed together attract no separate name-reservation fee.
Approval is not guaranteed, and MCA publishes the grounds it refuses on. The big four are a name that is identical to, too nearly resembles, or is phonetically similar to an existing company or LLP; a name containing a registered trade mark without the owner's consent and KYC; a name that is purely descriptive or uses unexplained abbreviations; and a name inconsistent with the objects or with the NIC activity code entered. There is a specific rule for finance-sounding names: where a name signals finance, leasing, chit fund, investment or securities activity, rule 8(a)(1)(g) requires it to be in consonance with the principal objects in the memorandum, and objects touching insurance agency or broking need the regulator's in-principle approval first. Our guide to why MCA rejects company names works through each ground.
One thing worth being clear about, because it is the source of expensive later surprises: MCA approval is availability, not trade mark clearance. A name can clear the Central Registration Centre and still be challenged afterwards — section 16 of the Companies Act lets the Central Government direct a company to change its name on the application of a registered proprietor whose mark it too nearly resembles. If the name matters commercially, the trade mark search is the check that protects it and trade mark registration is what secures it.
If it does come back, you have two resubmissions under rule 38 to remove defects, and every linked form must be regenerated and freshly downloaded — the system rejects previously downloaded PDFs. And if you need to re-apply for a name you already hold, the existing reservation must be withdrawn first, with an affidavit and the applicant's KYC; re-applying for a name still reserved and unexpired gets treated as undesirable.
We check availability, screen for trade mark conflicts, and frame compliant names before filing, so your reservation is far more likely to be approved.
Is it for you?
Who needs it — and who doesn't
Recommended if
- Founders about to incorporate who want to secure a name
- Anyone who's had a name rejected and wants it done right
- Businesses protecting a brand name before incorporation
May not be needed if
- Businesses already incorporated (you'd use a name-change process instead)
- Proprietorships/partnerships (no MCA name reservation)
Benefits
Why it's worth doing right
Lower rejection risk
Availability and trademark checks plus rule-compliant framing avoid the common rejection reasons.
Secure your brand early
Reserve the name so it isn't taken while you prepare incorporation.
Eligibility
Eligibility & key conditions
- You intend to incorporate a company
- You have one or more proposed names
- A clear business activity for object-matching
Documents
Documents required
Details
- Proposed names in order of preference
- Business activity/objects
- Any significance or coined-word explanation
- Trademark details (if you own one)
Process
A clear path from start to filed
Costs
Fees & cost breakdown
| Cost component | Indicative amount |
|---|---|
| Professional feeOurs. Check + reservation | From ₹999 |
| MCA name reservationGovernment. ₹1,000 when SPICe+ Part A is filed separately; nil when Part A and Part B are filed together | ₹1,000, or nil |
| Extend validity 20 → 40 daysGovernment. Optional, if you need longer to incorporate | ₹1,000 |
| Extend validity 40 → 60 daysGovernment. Or ₹3,000 to go from 20 to 60 days in a single step | ₹2,000 |
Filing Part A together with Part B is the cheaper route when you are ready to incorporate anyway — the separate reservation fee only arises when Part A stands alone.
Deliverables
What you receive on completion
After this filing
What you need to stay compliant next
Use it in time
An approved name is valid for 20 days from approval. Extensions cost ₹1,000 to reach 40 days and ₹2,000 to reach 60, or ₹3,000 to go from 20 to 60 in one step.
Availability is not clearance
MCA approval does not clear the name against the trade mark register. Section 16 lets a registered proprietor apply to have your name changed later, so secure the mark if the brand matters.
Withdraw before re-applying
If you need to re-apply for a name you already reserved, withdraw the existing reservation first, with an affidavit and the applicant's KYC.
Avoid delays
Common mistakes & reasons for rejection
Common mistakes
- Assuming a small spelling change, a plural, or an added word like 'India' or 'Solutions' creates enough distance — the test reaches phonetic similarity, not just exact matches
- Ignoring registered trade marks, or treating MCA approval as trade mark clearance
- Choosing a purely descriptive name that only describes the activity
- Using an abbreviation without explaining what it stands for in the significance field
- An NIC activity code that does not match the objects
- Reserving the name before the documents are ready, then spending the 20 days waiting on a landlord NOC
- Re-applying for a name still reserved and unexpired, instead of withdrawing it first
Why filings get rejected or delayed
- Identical to, too nearly resembling, or phonetically similar to an existing company or LLP
- Includes a registered trade mark without the owner's consent and KYC
- Descriptive name, or unexplained abbreviations
- Wrong class, category or sub-category, or an NIC activity code inconsistent with the objects
- Name not in consonance with the principal objects where it signals finance, leasing, chit fund, investment or securities activity — rule 8(a)(1)(g)
- Regulator's in-principle approval missing where the objects touch insurance agency or broking
- Recovery: two resubmissions are allowed under rule 38 to remove defects. On resubmission every linked form must be regenerated and freshly downloaded — the system rejects previously downloaded PDFs
AI-powered assistance
AI does the heavy lifting. Experts make the call.
AI assists with checks, drafting and explanations only. A qualified professional reviews every defined checkpoint and the final filing before submission. AI does not make consequential compliance decisions on its own.
Get your name approved the first time
We check, screen and frame your company name to MCA rules before filing — so you don't burn a rejection.
Why MyFinancialAdvisory
A more accountable way to stay compliant
Quality & accountability
Reviewed by compliance experts
Every company name approval (name reservation) engagement is prepared with structured checks and signed off by qualified professionals before anything is filed — speed without sacrificing accuracy.
Reviewed by
Reviewed by MyFinancialAdvisory Compliance Team
Company law & incorporation review
Our incorporation work is prepared with AI-assisted checks and reviewed by qualified professionals experienced in company law, MCA filings and post-incorporation compliance before anything is filed.
Structured document checks
Documents and eligibility follow structured checks before expert review.
Expert-reviewed before filing
A qualified professional signs off every defined checkpoint.
Compliance-safe guidance
Advice mapped to current rules — no shortcuts, no guesswork.
Resources
Related guides & reading
Why MCA Rejects Company Names
MCA's own grounds, the resubmission limit and the withdrawal step people miss.
Read morePrivate Limited Company Registration Process in India
Step-by-step from name to incorporation certificate.
Read moreDocuments Required for Private Limited Company Registration
Exactly what the MCA expects, for directors and the office.
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FAQs
Company Name Approval (Name Reservation) — frequently asked questions
How do I reserve a company name?
Through the MCA's RUN service or SPICe+ Part A. We check availability, screen for trademark conflicts and frame compliant names before filing.
Why are company names rejected?
Usually for being identical or too similar to an existing company/LLP, conflicting with a registered trademark, using restricted words, or not matching the proposed activity.
How many names can I propose?
Up to two, in order of preference, in a SPICe+ Part A application. We shortlist the most viable after checks — and a genuinely different second choice is worth far more than two variations of the same idea.
How long is a reserved name valid?
Twenty days from the date of approval. You can extend it to 40 days for ₹1,000, from 40 to 60 days for ₹2,000, or from 20 to 60 days in one step for ₹3,000.
What does name reservation cost?
₹1,000 when SPICe+ Part A is filed separately for name reservation. If you file Part A and Part B together as one incorporation application, no separate name-reservation fee arises. Our professional fee is separate.
How many resubmissions do I get if the name is rejected?
Two resubmissions are allowed under rule 38 to remove defects. Note that on resubmission every linked form has to be regenerated and freshly downloaded, because the system rejects previously downloaded PDFs. A separate limit lets you edit and regenerate a saved SPICe+ up to five times before upload — that is about editing, not resubmission.
Should I check trademarks too?
Yes — a name can clear MCA availability but still conflict with a registered trade mark. MCA approval is availability, not clearance. Section 16 of the Companies Act lets the Central Government direct a company to change its name on the application of a registered proprietor whose mark the name too nearly resembles, so screening both is what avoids a forced rename later.
Can I reserve a name without incorporating immediately?
Yes, by filing SPICe+ Part A on its own for ₹1,000, but you then hold only a 20-day window. If you are not close to incorporating, either time it carefully or plan for the extension fee.
How do I re-apply for a name I already reserved?
Withdraw the existing reservation first, by application to the Central Registration Centre escalation address with an affidavit and the applicant's KYC. Re-applying for a name that is still reserved and unexpired gets treated as undesirable and refused.
What words are restricted?
Words implying government patronage, certain regulated terms, and undesirable names need approval or are disallowed. We flag these upfront.
Is name approval guaranteed?
No. The Registrar decides. Our checks and rule-compliant framing significantly improve the odds.
What do I receive?
Your availability and trademark screen, compliant name options, and the filed reservation.
References
Official sources
- MCA — Instruction Kit for webform SPICe+ Part A (₹1,000 fee, 20-day validity, extension fees)
- MCA — FAQs on Incorporation and Allied Matters (resemblance, trade marks, objects consistency, resubmission and withdrawal)
- Companies Act, 2013 — s.4 (memorandum and name reservation), s.16 (rectification of name on a trade mark proprietor's application)
- MCA — Annexure, Table of Fees (Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014)
Rules, fees and due dates change by notification. Confirm the current position on the official portal before you act.
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