Availability of a business name

A business can be identified by different names. In any case, it is necessary to ensure of their availability prior to using them. This can be done via a prior art search taking various categories of name in databases into account. The objective is to ensure that the chosen name is not already used by a rival registered company either as a trade name or company name, or as a trademark to label products or services related to the future activity, or even as the address (domain name) of an existing website.

Ensuring that your name is not already used as a company or trade name

You have the possibility to carry out a first-level search on the data.inpi.fr database of the National institute of industrial property (Institut national de la propriété industrielle (INPI)) for free to ensure that your name is not already used as a company or trade name. This database contains the data from the National registry of trade and companies and from the INSEE's SIRENE database.

This is a first step. It is recommended to carry out an in-depth search (considering all the orthographic, phonetic and intellectual similarities) on trade and company names. This service may be purchased online on the INPI's website .

Ensuring that your name is not already used as a trademark

You may carry out a first-level search by searching the data.inpi.fr database on the INPI's website for free.

Ensuring that your name is not already used as a domain name

You have the possibility to search the AFNIC's database (French association for cooperative internet naming) to ensure that your name is not already used as a domain name (.fr domain names).

This is a first step. It is recommended that you complete this first-level search with an in-depth search, which you can purchase on the INPI's website. This search consists in a package comprising a similarity search among trademarks and company names and an identical search among .fr, .eu and generic top-level domain names (.com, .org, etc.).

You may also purchase additional services from the INPI.

Other procedures

If you wish to register a trademark in addition to starting your business, you will find all the information on trademark registration on inpi.fr .

If you wish to register a domain name in addition to starting a business, you need to contact a registrar accredited by the AFNIC. This registrar will act as a compulsory intermediary between you and the AFNIC for any request to register a domain name. Find out about domain name registration on the AFNIC's website .