Check and Reserve a Company Name in Bulgaria

Why Is the Company Name Important?

The company name is the first thing clients, partners, and institutions see about your business. It is more than a formality — the company name is an element of your brand identity and legal individuality.

Legal Significance of the Company Name

According to the Commerce Act (Търговски закон), every trader is identified by their company name. It is a unique identifier entered in the Trade Register (Търговски регистър), and no other company in Bulgaria may bear the same name.

The company name must include:

• The name itself (e.g., "Innovation")
• The legal form (e.g., "EOOD," "OOD," "ET")
• Additional information (such as "in liquidation" or "in insolvency," if applicable)

Marketing and Business Aspects

A well-chosen company name can:

• Build trust and a professional image
• Be easy to remember for clients
• Reflect the activity or values of the business
• Help people find you online (SEO advantage)
• Serve as the basis for a future trademark

Also consider practical aspects — how the name sounds on the phone, whether it's easy to spell, how it looks on a business card and invoice, and whether a matching domain is available.

Requirements for Company Names

Bulgarian legislation sets specific requirements for company names. Compliance is a mandatory condition for successful registration.

Mandatory Requirements

1. Cyrillic — the name must be written in Cyrillic. Additional Latin transliteration is permitted, but the Cyrillic version is the primary one.

2. Uniqueness — the name must not be identical to an already registered name in the Trade Register. Confusingly similar names are also not allowed.

3. Legal form — the name must include the designation of the legal form: EOOD, OOD, ET, AD, etc.

Prohibitions and Restrictions

The company name may not:

• Contain words such as "Bulgaria", "national", "state" without special permission from the Council of Ministers
• Be misleading regarding the type, scope, or nature of the activity
• Be identical or confusingly similar to a name under which another trader is entered in the register
• Infringe on registered trademarks of third parties
• Contain obscene or offensive words
• Use other people's personal names without their consent

Tips for Choosing a Name

When choosing a company name, follow these best practices:

• Choose a short and memorable name (1–3 words)
• Avoid overly generic or descriptive names (e.g., "Bulgarian Trade EOOD")
• Check whether a domain with this name is available
• Prepare 2–3 alternative options
• Consider how the name sounds in English as well, if you plan international activity

Checking Company Name Availability

Before submitting documents for registration or reserving a company name, it is mandatory to check whether it is available. The check is free and takes only a few minutes.

How to Check in the Trade Register

The check is performed through the official Trade Register portal:

1. Go to the Trade Register portal
2. Select the "Inquiries" section
3. Click on "Search by Name"
4. Enter the desired name
5. Click "Search"

If the search returns no results — the name is likely available. If there is a match — you need to choose a different name.

Checking for Reserved Names

In addition to registered companies, also check whether the name has been reserved by another person (via application D1). Reserved names also cannot be used — the reservation is valid for 6 months.

Additional Checks

We recommend the following additional checks:

• Trademarks — check the Patent Office database to see if the name is registered as a trademark
• Domain — check whether a .bg and .com domain with this name is available
• Social media — check whether the username is available on major social networks

Reserving a Company Name

Reserving a company name is an optional but recommended step if you need time to prepare the registration documents.

What Is Name Reservation?

Reserving a company name via application D1 secures your chosen name for a period of 6 months. During this period, you can calmly prepare the registration documents.

Reservation Procedure

The reservation is done by filing application D1 with the Trade Register:

1. Fill in application D1 with the desired name
2. Sign the application (with a QES for electronic filing, or by hand for paper filing)
3. Pay the fee
4. Wait for approval (usually 1–2 business days)

Validity of the Reservation

• The reservation is valid for 6 months from the date of entry
• Within this period, you must file the company registration application
• If you do not file within the deadline, the reservation expires and the name becomes available again
• The reservation can be renewed with a new application D1

When Is Reservation Necessary?

Reservation is useful when:

• You have a unique and attractive name that you don't want taken
• Document preparation will take more than a few days
• You are waiting for partners, an address, or other information before registration
• You want to secure a specific name while finalizing the business plan

Fees for Name Check and Reservation

Checking a company name is free, but reservation involves a state fee.

Free Services

• Name check in the Trade Register — free
• Repeated checks — unlimited, free
• Trademark check at the Patent Office — free (online database)

Reservation Fee (Application D1)

Check the current fees at portal.registryagency.bg.

Important Notes About the Fee

• The fee is paid upon submission of the application, before it is approved
• If the reservation is refused, the fee is not refunded
• For resubmission (after refusal or expiry), a new fee is charged
• The reservation fee is separate from the company registration fee (28/56 EUR)