Updated September 2026: The old ACRA Business Name Alert Service described in the previous version of this article is no longer part of ACRA's current published guidance. We therefore do not recommend relying on the old monthly-alert workflow. ACRA's current guidance is to use its current business-name search tools and to check for identical or similar names every year after registration.
This annual check matters because if another business registers a name that is too similar to yours and may confuse customers, ACRA says a name complaint should generally be filed within 12 months of that registration. If you are still choosing a name for a new company, start with our guide to selecting a Singapore company name.
Is the old ACRA Business Name Alert Service still available?
ACRA's current 2026 guidance on choosing business names, using Bizfile search and filing name complaints does not provide a current subscription route for the old Business Name Alert Service. The previous version of this article, written in 2020, described a free service that could track up to 10 names, run for three years and send monthly email alerts. Those details should now be treated as historical rather than current instructions.
For current monitoring, the practical approach is to search ACRA's current records periodically and act promptly if you find an identical or potentially confusing name. ACRA specifically advises business owners to check for identical or similar names every year so that they do not miss the complaint deadline.
How to check a business name before registration
Before applying for a new business name, ACRA recommends checking whether the name is already in use or reserved. Its current guidance separates this into a few useful checks.
- Use ACRA's e-Adviser for Starting a Business to check existing business names and related availability considerations.
- Use Bizfile's reserved-name search to see whether someone has already reserved the name you want.
- Check trade marks separately if the name will be important to your brand.
- Consider domain names and social media usernames as separate availability checks. Registering a business name does not reserve those for you.
ACRA notes that if a proposed name is identical or too similar to one that is already registered or reserved, you should consider choosing a different name or adding clear, meaningful words that make it distinctive. Its current business-name guidance explains the naming rules in more detail.
If you need help navigating ACRA's current portal, our ACRA Bizfile guide covers the present interface, search functions and common filings.
What differences can ACRA disregard when comparing names?
Small wording changes do not necessarily make a proposed name unique. ACRA lists several types of words or additions that may be disregarded when names are compared. Examples include:
- "The" at the start of a name;
- geographical terms such as Singapore, Asia or Worldwide;
- business descriptors such as Company, Group, International or Trading;
- entity-type words and abbreviations such as Pte Ltd, LLP or Limited; and
- domain suffixes such as .com or .sg.
In practical terms, adding "Singapore" or changing an entity suffix is not a reliable way to distinguish a new name from an existing one. Use wording that meaningfully changes the name instead.
How to monitor similar business names after registration
ACRA's current guidance is straightforward: check for identical or similar names every year. We recommend making that an actual recurring compliance task rather than relying on memory.
- Search your exact business name and close variants using Bizfile's current search functions.
- If you find a concerning result, record the other entity's name, UEN and registration date.
- Review whether the businesses operate in similar areas or serve a similar customer base.
- Keep evidence of any actual confusion, such as messages or documents intended for the other business.
- Repeat the check at least annually, and sooner where your brand name is commercially important.
The registration date is especially important. For a complaint based on an identical or too-similar business name, ACRA states that the complaint must be filed within 12 months of the other name's registration.
When can you file a business name complaint with ACRA?
A name complaint is a formal request for ACRA to require another business to change its name. ACRA currently accepts complaints where a business name is:
- identical to an existing business name;
- too similar to an existing business name and may confuse customers;
- undesirable, such as a vulgar or offensive name; or
- protected by government or restricted by legislation.
For complaints about an identical or too-similar name, the 12-month deadline is important. The clock runs from the registration of the business name you are complaining about, not from the date you first notice it.
Who can file, and what does it cost?
According to ACRA's current name-complaint process, a business owner or authorised representative with Corppass can file the complaint.
The application fee is S$200. ACRA's current process is to submit the complaint and supporting documents through General lodgement on Bizfile. After ACRA accepts the complaint, it will contact the applicant to make payment.
What information and evidence should you prepare?
ACRA asks applicants to provide information about the other business, including its:
- business name;
- Unique Entity Number (UEN);
- address, if available;
- type and location of business activity;
- customer base; and
- registration date.
Supporting evidence can be important, particularly where the complaint is based on likely or actual confusion. ACRA gives examples such as:
- customer emails, letters or calls that were sent to the wrong business;
- invoices or financial records showing losses arising from name confusion;
- communications between you and the other business; and
- court injunctions relating to the use of particular words, where applicable.
A similar-looking name by itself does not tell the whole story. The facts around the businesses, their activities, customers and any evidence of confusion can all become relevant to the complaint.
ACRA business-name registration is not trade mark protection
This distinction is important. Registering a business or company name with ACRA does not give you exclusive intellectual-property rights to that name.
ACRA's current name-reservation guidance states that business-name registration does not provide intellectual-property protection or exclusive rights. The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) makes the same point: registering a business name with ACRA is not the same as registering a trade mark.
If you use your business name as a brand for your goods or services and want trade mark protection, the trade mark position should be considered separately. An ACRA name complaint and a trade mark dispute are different processes and should not be treated as interchangeable.
What should you do if you find a potentially conflicting name?
Start with the facts before escalating the matter:
- Confirm that you have identified the correct entity and record its UEN and registration date.
- Save evidence showing why the name may create confusion.
- Check whether the issue is primarily an ACRA business-name issue, a trade mark or intellectual-property issue, or both.
- If you intend to use ACRA's name-complaint route, do not let the 12-month deadline expire.
- For a complex intellectual-property dispute, consider obtaining legal advice on the appropriate enforcement route.
Key takeaways
- Do not rely on the old 2020 Business Name Alert Service instructions as a current ACRA workflow.
- Check existing and reserved names before applying for a new business name.
- After registration, ACRA recommends checking for identical or similar names every year.
- A complaint about an identical or too-similar name generally has a 12-month deadline from the other name's registration.
- The current ACRA name-complaint application fee is S$200.
- ACRA business-name registration does not provide trade mark protection or exclusive rights to the name.
