Choosing a name for your business is exciting, but before you can use it, there’s a legal step many first-time entrepreneurs get wrong: registering it correctly. In Sri Lanka, “business name” and “company name” are not interchangeable. They fall under different laws, different authorities, and different processes, and mixing them up can mean rejected applications, wasted fees, or a name you don’t actually have the right to use.
Whether you’re a freelancer trading under a name other than your own, a partnership choosing a shared identity, or an entrepreneur incorporating a Private Limited company, this guide covers exactly what business name registration means for your situation, including the rules your name must follow, how to check availability, and what it costs.
By the end, you’ll know exactly which process applies to you and how to avoid the naming mistakes that slow new businesses down.
Business Name vs Company Name: Is There a Difference in Sri Lanka?
Yes, and mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes new entrepreneurs make when starting out. In Sri Lanka, “business name” and “company name” fall under two completely different laws, are registered with two different authorities, and follow two different processes.
- A business name is registered under the Business Names Ordinance. It applies to sole proprietors and partnerships who want to trade under a name other than their own true, full legal name. This registration is handled locally through your area’s Divisional Secretariat or Provincial Council.
- A company name is reserved under the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007. It applies to Private Limited Companies, Public Limited Companies, and other incorporated entities, and it is reserved online through the eROC portal run by the Department of the Registrar of Companies.
Keep in mind that these two systems don’t talk to each other. A name being available on the eROC portal does not mean it is free to use as a business name at your Divisional Secretariat, and vice versa.
Quick decision box:
- If you are registering as a sole trader or partnership, then register your business name at your local Divisional Secretariat.
- If you are incorporating a Private Limited or Public Limited company, then reserve your company name through eROC.
Knowing which path applies to you before you start searching for a name saves you from wasted time, duplicate fees, and rejected applications later.
When Do You Need to Register a Business Name in Sri Lanka?
Not every business needs a separate business name registration. Under the Business Names Ordinance, registration is only required if you are trading under a name that is not your own true, full legal name.
For example, if your legal name is Kasun Perera and you run your business simply as “Kasun Perera,” you generally do not need to register a business name. But if you trade as “KP Digital Solutions” or “Perera Trading,” that name must be registered, because it is not your legal name.
This rule applies to sole proprietors and partnerships. Companies work differently: a company’s name is set at the point of incorporation through the eROC portal, so there is no separate “business name” registration step once the company exists.
Quick reference table:
| Scenario | Registration Required? |
| Trading under your own full legal name | No |
| Trading under a different or invented name (sole trader) | Yes, business name registration |
| Partnership trading under any name other than the partners’ full legal names | Yes, business name registration |
| Incorporating a Private Limited or Public company | Yes, but as company name reservation via eROC, not business name registration |
If you are unsure whether your chosen trading name counts as “your own name” or not, it is safer to check with your local Divisional Secretariat before you start operating, since trading under an unregistered business name when required can create compliance issues later.
What are the Rules That Need to Be Followed When Choosing a Valid Business Name?
Before you settle on a name, whether for a sole proprietorship, partnership, or company, it needs to meet a few legal requirements. Getting this wrong is one of the fastest ways to have an application rejected.
- No restricted or protected words: Names cannot include terms like “National,” “Sri Lanka,” “Municipal,” “President,” or “Chamber of Commerce” unless you have specific official permission to use them.
- No misleading entity type: A sole proprietorship or partnership name cannot include words like “Company” or “Ltd,” since these suggest a level of incorporation that doesn’t actually exist for that business structure. These terms are reserved for entities properly incorporated under the Companies Act.
- No identical or deceptively similar names: Your proposed name cannot match, or be confusingly close to, a name that is already registered, whether as a business name or a company name. This is why checking the relevant registry before you apply matters so much.
- No offensive or misleading names: Names that could mislead the public about the nature of the business, or that are considered offensive, will not be approved.
- A business name is not a trademark: This is a distinction many new business owners miss. Registering a business name only confirms that you are legally trading under it. It does not stop someone else from using a similar name for a different business, and it gives you no exclusive brand rights. If protecting your name and logo as intellectual property matters to you, you would need to separately register a trademark with the National Intellectual Property Office.
If you are also building an online business, read our guide to the best online business ideas for Sri Lankans to find out what you can try.
Already Running an Online Business? Consider Registering in the USA or UK
If you are a freelancer or online business owner looking to access global payment platforms like Stripe, open a US or UK bank account, or work with international clients more professionally, registering a company abroad may be a smarter move than a local sole proprietorship.
At BR.lk, we handle your US LLC or UK company registration from Sri Lanka in 24 to 48 hours, including registered agent, EIN, and payment platform setup.
How to Check If a Business Name Is Available
Before you pay any reservation or registration fee, you need to confirm your chosen name isn’t already taken. The catch is that there is no single, unified database covering every business in Sri Lanka, so where you check depends on what you’re registering.
- For companies (Private Limited or Public): Use the official name search tool on the eROC portal at eroc.gov.lk. This checks your proposed name against the Registrar of Companies database and is free to use.
- For sole proprietorships and partnerships: Name checks are handled locally, through your Divisional Secretariat or your Provincial Council’s business registration office. Some provinces have their own online tools for this. Western Province, for example, runs its own portal at bnr.wp.gov.lk, where you can search registered business names before applying. Other provinces may require an in-person or phone check with the relevant Divisional Secretariat.
Because these systems are separate, a name being free on the eROC portal does not mean it is also free at the provincial level, and the reverse is true too.
A few practical tips:
- Have two or three backup names ready before you start the process, in case your first choice is rejected.
- Don’t assume a name is legally available just because the matching .lk domain is free to register. Domain availability and business name availability are checked through completely different systems.
- If your business could expand beyond one province later, it’s worth checking name availability more broadly, not just in your current district, to avoid conflicts down the line.
Business Name Registration for Sole Proprietors & Partnerships
Once you’ve confirmed your name is available, registering it as a sole proprietor or partnership follows a straightforward, in-person process.
You’ll need to visit your local Divisional Secretariat, collect the business name registration application form, and obtain a certified Grama Niladhari report confirming your residential and business details. Along with your NIC and proof of address, these documents are submitted directly to the Divisional Secretariat for review.
Once approved, you’ll receive a Certificate of Registration of Business Name, which you’re required to display at your business premises. The whole process typically takes about one to two weeks, though this can vary depending on your area and how quickly your supporting documents come together.
For the full step-by-step process, required documents, fees, and what to do after registration, see our Individual Business Registration guide.
Company Name Reservation for Pvt Ltd / Public Companies
If you’re incorporating a Private Limited or Public Limited company, name reservation is handled entirely online through the eROC portal, not at a Divisional Secretariat. After searching and confirming your preferred name is available, you reserve it by paying a fee of LKR 2,300 plus 18% VAT, bringing the total to around LKR 2,714.
This reservation isn’t permanent. It holds your name for a limited window while you prepare and submit the rest of your incorporation documents, including Form 1, Form 18, Form 19, and your Articles of Association. If you don’t complete registration within that window, the reservation expires and the name becomes available to others again.
For the full incorporation process, required documents, complete fee breakdown, and timelines, see our Business Registration Guide.
How Long Does a Registered/Reserved Name Stay Valid?
This depends on which type of name you’re dealing with, since a “reservation” and a “registration” aren’t the same thing.
Company Name Reservations (eROC):
When you reserve a company name through the eROC portal, that reservation only holds for a limited window while you complete and submit the rest of your incorporation documents. It is not indefinite. If you let that window lapse without finishing your Form 1, Form 18, Form 19, and Articles of Association submission, the reservation expires and your name becomes available for anyone else to claim.
Additionally, keep in mind that reservation periods and fees can be updated by the Registrar of Companies from time to time. So, it’s worth confirming the current validity window directly on the eROC portal before you plan your timeline around it.
Business Name Registration (sole proprietorships and partnerships):
This works differently. Once your business name is registered at the Divisional Secretariat and your Certificate of Registration is issued, it doesn’t come with the same kind of expiry clock as a company name reservation. It stays valid as long as you continue operating under that name and keep your registration details up to date with the Divisional Secretariat.
The practical takeaway either way is the same: once you’ve reserved or registered a name, treat it as time-sensitive rather than something you can sit on. Delaying the rest of your registration risks losing the name entirely, especially on the company side, where the reservation window is strict.
Can You Change or Renew a Registered Business Name Later?
Yes, but the process looks different depending on whether you’re changing a business name or a company name, and neither one is as simple as just updating a form.
Changing a business name (sole proprietorship or partnership):
If you want to trade under a new name, you’ll need to check the availability of the new name first, then submit a fresh application at your Divisional Secretariat, along with an updated Grama Niladhari report and any other supporting documents they require. Your old business name registration doesn’t automatically transfer over. Until the new name is approved and your updated Certificate of Registration is issued, you should continue operating and invoicing under your currently registered name.
Changing a company name:
For a Private Limited or Public company, renaming is a more formal process handled through the Registrar of Companies. It typically involves passing a board or shareholder resolution to approve the name change, checking availability of the new name through eROC, and submitting the required forms and fee to have the change officially recorded. Your company’s registration number stays the same, but its legal name on record needs to be updated everywhere it’s used, including your Certificate of Incorporation, bank accounts, and contracts.
A note on renewal:
Unlike some countries, business name and company name registrations in Sri Lanka generally don’t require periodic renewal in the same way a license does.
Once approved, the name stays valid as long as you keep your details current and continue operating under it. What does need ongoing attention is keeping your registered address, directors, or partners up to date whenever they change.
What are the Costs Associated With Business Name Registration in Sri Lanka
The cost of registering a name depends entirely on which path applies to you, and the two aren’t directly comparable since one is a flat government rate and the other varies by location.
| Registration Type | Fee | Notes |
| Business name (sole proprietorship or partnership) | Varies by Divisional Secretariat | No fixed nationwide rate. Amount depends on your declared business capital and local office. Confirm directly with your Divisional Secretariat before applying. |
| Company name reservation (Pvt Ltd or Public) | LKR 2,300 + 18% VAT (~LKR 2,714 total) | Paid online through the eROC portal at the time of reservation. Fee applies once per reservation window. |
For sole proprietors and partnerships, the lack of a fixed fee means it’s worth calling or visiting your local Divisional Secretariat ahead of time to confirm the exact amount and avoid surprises on the day you submit your application.
For companies, the LKR 2,714 name reservation fee only covers the reservation itself. It’s separate from the other incorporation costs, such as Form 1, Form 18, Form 19, and your Articles of Association, which are paid later in the process.
Conclusion
Registering a business name in Sri Lanka isn’t complicated once you understand which system applies to you. The real risk isn’t the paperwork itself, it’s assuming “business name” and “company name” mean the same thing, checking the wrong registry, or letting a reservation lapse before you’ve finished the rest of your registration.
If you take one thing away from this guide, let it be this: confirm whether you’re registering a business name under the Business Names Ordinance or reserving a company name under the Companies Act before you do anything else. That single decision determines where you apply, what you pay, how long your name stays valid, and what documents you’ll need.
From there, the process is straightforward. Check availability through the right channel, follow the naming rules, and register through your Divisional Secretariat or the eROC portal depending on your business structure. And if you’re ready to move on to full registration, our Individual Business Registration guide and Business Registration Guide walk you through everything else, from documents to fees to your Certificate of Incorporation or Registration.
Get the name right, and everything else that follows becomes a lot easier to build on.
Key Takeaways
- “Business name” and “company name” are legally different in Sri Lanka, governed by different laws and registered through different authorities.
- A business name is registered under the Business Names Ordinance and applies to sole proprietors and partnerships trading under a name other than their own legal name.
- A company name is reserved under the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 and is handled entirely online through the eROC portal.
- You only need to register a business name if you’re trading under a name that isn’t your true, full legal name.
- A valid business name cannot include restricted words, mislead about entity type, or match an existing registered name too closely.
- Registering a business name does not give you trademark protection, so a separate trademark registration is needed if you want exclusive brand rights.
- Name availability must be checked through the correct system, eROC for companies and your Divisional Secretariat or Provincial portal for sole proprietorships and partnerships.
- Company name reservations expire within a limited window, so incorporation documents need to be completed and submitted before that window lapses.
- Business name registrations don’t come with the same expiry clock, but changing either type of name later requires a fresh application rather than a simple update.
- Registration costs differ by path, with a fixed government fee of around LKR 2,714 for company name reservation and a variable, location-dependent fee for business name registration.
FAQs
No. A business name is registered under the Business Names Ordinance for sole proprietorships and partnerships trading under a name other than their own legal name. A company name is reserved under the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 through the eROC portal when incorporating a Private Limited or Public company. They are governed by different laws, registered with different authorities, and one being available doesn’t mean the other is.
Generally, no. If you trade strictly under your own true, full legal name, you don’t need to register a separate business name. Registration is only required when you’re trading under a different or invented name, such as “KP Digital Solutions” instead of your personal name. This applies to sole proprietors and partnerships specifically, not to companies.
For sole proprietorships and partnerships, registration through your Divisional Secretariat typically takes about one to two weeks, depending on your area and how quickly your documents are ready. Company name reservation through eROC is usually much faster, often completed within minutes online, though full incorporation afterward takes longer.
Possibly, since business name registration is handled locally through each province’s own registry, and these systems don’t cross-check each other. However, if you plan to expand beyond your current province, it’s worth checking name availability more broadly first, since similar names elsewhere could cause confusion or conflict later.
No. Registering a business name only confirms you’re legally trading under it. It doesn’t stop others from using a similar name for a different business and gives you no exclusive brand rights. If protecting your name and logo matters to you, you’ll need to separately register a trademark with the National Intellectual Property Office.
For companies, yes. The eROC portal lets you reserve a company name before completing the rest of your incorporation documents, though the reservation only holds for a limited window. For business names, registration and name approval typically happen together as one step through your Divisional Secretariat.
