How to Reserve a Company or LLP Name Using RUN, RUN-LLP and SPICe+ Part A (2026 Guide)

How to Reserve a Company or LLP Name Using RUN, RUN-LLP and SPICe+ Part A (2026 Guide)

Before a single incorporation document is filed, every founder in India must clear one deceptively simple hurdle: getting the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to approve a name. It sounds trivial until your first two choices bounce back as "too similar to an existing entity" or "undesirable" under the naming rules, and days slip away while your bank account, GST registration and vendor contracts all wait on a Certificate of Incorporation that has not even started.

This guide walks through the two routes available in 2026 — the standalone RUN / RUN-LLP service and the SPICe+ Part A name-reservation step embedded in the integrated incorporation form — so you can pick a name that clears scrutiny on the first attempt, or at least know exactly what to do if it does not.

What RUN, RUN-LLP and SPICe+ Part A Actually Are

RUN (Reserve Unique Name) is the MCA's web-based service for reserving a name for a proposed or existing company. RUN-LLP is the parallel service for Limited Liability Partnerships, used both for reserving a name at the time of incorporation and for renaming an existing LLP. Both are lightweight forms — you are not filing incorporation documents yet, only asking the Central Registration Centre (CRC) to "block" a name in your favour for a limited window.

SPICe+ (INC-32) is the integrated web form used to incorporate a company end-to-end — name reservation, incorporation, PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, professional tax (where applicable) and a bank account request, all in one filing. Part A of SPICe+ is specifically the name-reservation section; Part B covers the actual incorporation once the name is approved. In practice, most founders incorporating a fresh private limited or one person company now use SPICe+ Part A rather than a separate RUN filing, because it saves a step — once the name is approved, Part B can be filed within the validity window without a second application. RUN as a standalone service is mainly used today for name changes of already-incorporated companies, or in specific situations where founders want the name locked in before finalising other incorporation paperwork. LLPs, however, still commonly go through RUN-LLP as a discrete first step, followed by FiLLiP for incorporation.

Both routes are checked by the same backend logic at the Central Registration Centre, so the substance of what gets approved or rejected does not change — only the form you use to ask for it does.

Why Getting This Step Right Matters

A rejected name reservation is not just an inconvenience — it has real downstream costs. Each resubmission consumes one of your limited attempts and, more importantly, burns calendar time you may have promised to co-founders, investors or landlords. Founders who have already ordered signage, registered a domain, or opened conversations with a bank on the strength of an unapproved name can find themselves having to unwind branding decisions.

There is also a compliance dimension. Names that are too similar to existing companies, LLPs, trademarks or well-known brands are refused not out of bureaucratic caution but because Indian company law (and the rules framed under the Companies Act, 2013 and the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008) specifically prohibit registrations that could mislead the public or infringe on an existing entity's identity. Getting the name right at this stage also reduces the risk of a costly rename later if a trademark holder objects after incorporation.

Finally, name approval is the trigger point for a validity clock. Once approved, you have a defined window (commonly discussed as around 20 days from approval for a fresh company name reservation via SPICe+ Part A, and a similar but separately tracked window for RUN and RUN-LLP filings, occasionally extendable on payment of additional fees) to complete the next stage. Missing that window generally means starting over and paying the fee again — so understanding the process before you file, not after, is what actually saves time and money.

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Shortlist two names in order of preference. Both RUN and SPICe+ Part A allow you to propose names (commonly up to two in a single RUN application, and typically two attempts within SPICe+ Part A before a fresh submission is needed). Rank them, because the first available name in your list is usually the one that gets reserved.

Step 2: Run a preliminary self-check before filing. Use the free "Check Company/LLP Name" search on the MCA portal, and separately search the trademarks database, to see whether an identical or deceptively similar name already exists. This is not a substitute for the official examination but eliminates the most obvious clashes.

Step 3: Apply the naming rules before you fall in love with a name. Under the applicable Companies (Incorporation) Rules and LLP naming rules, a name will typically be rejected if it is identical or too similar to an existing company/LLP/trademark, contains words suggesting government patronage without approval (words like "National", "Board", "Commission"), uses restricted words (such as "Bank", "Insurance", "Stock Exchange", "University") without the relevant regulator's no-objection, or is simply offensive, generic, or too similar phonetically even with a different spelling.

Step 4: File RUN, RUN-LLP, or SPICe+ Part A online. Log in to the MCA21 portal, select the relevant service, enter your proposed name(s), the object/business activity in brief, and attach any supporting documents (see below). Pay the prescribed fee at submission.

Step 5: Await examination by the Central Registration Centre. A Registrar-level officer or automated system checks the name against the existing company/LLP register and, increasingly, against trademark records. Approval, rejection, or a query (resubmission request) typically follows within a few working days, though this can vary with portal load.

Step 6: Resubmit if required. If the CRC raises a query — for instance, asking for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from a similarly named entity, or asking you to modify the name — you generally get one resubmission opportunity within a specified number of days (commonly discussed as around 15 days) before the application lapses and a fresh fee becomes payable.

Step 7: Use the approval window. Once approved, proceed immediately to SPICe+ Part B (for companies) or FiLLiP (for LLPs) so the reservation does not lapse unused.

Documents and Information You Will Need

• Proposed name(s) in order of preference, along with the significance of each word used (why you chose it, especially if it is a coined or unusual term).
• Brief description of the main business activity or object the entity will pursue.
• Details of promoters/partners — names and, where relevant, DIN/DPIN or PAN details already on record.
• NOC from an existing company, LLP, or trademark owner, if your proposed name resembles a registered name or mark that you have permission to use (for example, where a group company is allowing a similar name).
• Trademark registration certificate, if the proposed name is based on a trademark you or a promoter owns, to strengthen the application.
• Proof of relationship, if the name includes a personal name of a promoter or a well-known individual whose consent is required.
• Regulatory NOC, where the name uses a restricted word (banking, insurance, and similar regulated terms) that needs a sectoral regulator's clearance before MCA will approve it.

Fees in 2026 (Indicative — Always Verify Current MCA Schedule)

Government fees for name reservation are modest but do change from time to time, so treat the following as an indicative range rather than a fixed number, and always confirm against the current fee notification before filing. As of recent practice, a RUN or SPICe+ Part A filing for a company name typically attracts a government fee in the range of roughly ₹1,000 per submission, while RUN-LLP for an LLP name has historically carried a broadly comparable, sometimes slightly lower, fee. Resubmission after a query is usually free within the permitted window, but a fresh application after the reservation lapses attracts the fee again. On top of the government fee, professional charges from a CA/CS firm for name-availability search, drafting the object clause, and handling resubmissions typically range from a few hundred to a few thousand rupees depending on how complex the name-clearance exercise turns out to be — a highly distinctive coined name usually clears faster and cheaper than a name close to an existing brand.

Timeline

In routine cases, where the proposed name is distinctive and clears the automated similarity check without a query, approval can come through in as little as one to two working days. Where the CRC raises a query — the more common experience for names built from common English or vernacular words — factor in an additional few days for the query to be issued, your resubmission, and a second review cycle. Overall, founders should budget anywhere from two to ten working days for the name-reservation stage alone, and build in buffer time before promising vendors, landlords, or investors a hard incorporation date.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Choosing overly generic or descriptive names. Names built entirely from common dictionary words describing the business (for example, generic industry terms combined with "India" or "Solutions") are among the most frequently queried or rejected, since they are hard to distinguish from similarly worded existing entities.

Ignoring the trademark register. MCA's examination increasingly cross-checks proposed names against registered trademarks, and even where it does not catch a clash, a trademark owner can object after incorporation, forcing a rename. A quick trademark search before filing avoids this entirely.

Using restricted words without lining up the NOC in advance. Words that imply governmental backing or regulated activity (finance, banking, insurance, and similar) trigger a mandatory NOC requirement. Founders who file without this NOC ready simply convert their filing into an automatic query.

Missing the resubmission window. Once a query is raised, the clock starts ticking on your response. Miss it, and the application lapses, meaning you pay the fee again and start from zero.

Letting the approval lapse unused. Many founders reserve a name and then get distracted finalising other paperwork, only to find the reservation has expired by the time they are ready to file the actual incorporation form. Treat the approval window as a hard deadline, not a soft one.

Filing near-identical names for a group of entities without differentiation. Founders creating multiple entities in the same family of brands sometimes propose names too close to each other or to a sibling entity's existing name, triggering an internal similarity flag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reserve a name without deciding my company's full object clause?

You need only a brief description of the intended business activity at the name-reservation stage, not the final, detailed object clause that will appear in the Memorandum of Association. The object clause is finalised later, at the incorporation (Part B / FiLLiP) stage, though it is sensible to keep the two broadly consistent.

How many names can I propose in one application?

Both RUN and SPICe+ Part A typically allow up to two proposed names in a single submission, ranked in order of preference. If both are rejected, a fresh application (with fee) is generally required, though practice and portal rules can be updated by the MCA from time to time.

What happens if my preferred name is already taken by a company in a completely different business?

Name uniqueness in India is generally assessed on the name itself, not the industry, so a name that closely resembles an existing company or LLP can be rejected even if that entity operates in an unrelated sector — unless you can show sufficient distinguishing elements or you already hold the relevant trademark.

Is RUN mandatory, or can I skip straight to SPICe+ Part A?

For a fresh company incorporation, most founders now use SPICe+ Part A directly rather than filing a separate RUN application, since it is integrated into the same overall incorporation workflow. RUN remains relevant primarily for existing companies changing their name.

How long is an approved name valid before I must complete incorporation?

Validity periods are prescribed by MCA rules and have been revised over time, so always check the current rule, but founders commonly plan around a window of roughly 20 days from approval for a fresh reservation, occasionally extendable on payment of an additional fee in specific circumstances.

Can I use my own surname or a promoter's name in the company or LLP name?

Yes, subject to consent from the individual concerned being on record, and subject to the name still clearing the broader similarity and undesirability checks against existing entities and trademarks.

What if the CRC asks for an NOC from a similarly named company?

You will need to obtain a written no-objection from that entity's authorised signatory and upload it during resubmission. Without it, the name is very likely to be rejected outright.

Does an approved name reservation guarantee my trademark rights over that name?

No. Name approval under the Companies Act or LLP Act only confirms that the name is available for corporate registration purposes — it does not by itself grant trademark protection. Founders serious about brand protection should pursue a separate trademark application.

Why Founders Choose Legal Suvidha

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• One team for the whole journey — start, launch, post-launch and every annual filing after.
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