One Common Portal

Business Names

A business name is important because it provides a unique identity for your business and to differentiate it from your competitors. In order to have the business names exclusively yours, you can either register it under the Business Names Act (Chapter 92) as a Sole Proprietorship/ Partnership, or under the Companies Act (Chapter 39) as a Private Limited Company (Sdn Bhd).

How to choose a name for your business?

When choosing a business name, keep the following tips in mind

Do’s :

Choose the right name that will help create the right image for your business
The business name should reinforce the key elements in your nature of business
Submit the meaning of your applied name (in English or Malay) if you have applied in a different language.

Don’ts:

Submit names that are identical to the names already registered under the Business Names Act or Companies Act
Submit names that do not have any meaning that can mislead the public as to the nature of its business
Submit names that are identical or resemble names that are already registered in the Registry.

The name also SHOULD NOT contain any of the followings:

Undesirable names
The words “Royal”, “Diraja” or any name that may suggest the patronage of the Sultan or connection with the Government of Brunei
The word “Brunei”, “Co-operative”, “Savings” or “Trust/Trustee”

Please note that the name application may be referred to the Relevant Licensing Authorities for their approval depending on the business nature applied. For more information, please refer to the table below:

How do you check for the availability of a name?

Before applying for a business name, check existing names to determine if your proposed business name is available. By doing so, you have a higher chance of getting the name approved and reduce the risk of complaints against your business entity’s name.

To check the availability of your proposed business name, conduct a thorough business name search with these steps:

1. On the OCP Homepage (www.ocp.mofe.gov.bn) , type the proposed business name and click Search.

2. A Search Result will then show whether it is available or not

The following are examples of when you want to do a thorough and comprehensive name search:

Types of example	Proposed Names	Search tips
Identical or Similar Names	GLC Management Services	Type to search “GLC” “G.L.C” "G.& L.C” “G.L & C” “G & L and C” and “G and “L.C”, etc.
Identical or Similar Names	H.B Sdn Bhd	Type to search “H.B” “H&B” “H – B” “H and B” “H n B”, etc.
Similar Pronunciations	Aishah Advertising Services	Type to search “Ayesha” “Aysha” “Aisha” “Aisyah”, etc.
Similar Pronunciations	D’Comel Collections	Type to search “Comel” “The Comel” “D-Comel” “D.Comel”, etc.
Different Sequences	Ali Baba Express	Type to search “Ali – Baba” “Express Ali & Baba” “Baba – Ali” “Ali Express” “Baba Express”, etc.
Symbols – Not Allowed	# hashtag Café	Type to search “Hash Tag” “Hash” “Tag” “Hash-Tag” “Hash.Tag”, etc.
Names that can be misleading – Not allowed	Lego playhouse	Names that are already a trademark.

Referral Authorities

Applications such as Company Incorporation/Business Registration/Change of Company Particulars may be referred to Relevant Licensing Authorities for their approval, depending on the business nature applied.

The information in the table below serves to assist business owners in planning their timetable for applications in ROCBN.

Referral Authorities	Applicable Business Activities
Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism	Businesses involving with the following activities: Travel agency activities Tour operator activities Accommodation Veterinary BDSIC Codes 55 ACCOMMODATION 75 VETERINARY ACTIVITIES 79 TRAVEL AGENCY TOUR OPERATOR AND OTHER RESERVATION SERVICES
Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB)	Businesses involving with the following activities: Finance Companies General Finance Companies Financial Leasing Companies Insurance Services Insurance Agents Money Changers Money Remittance Pawn Brokerage BDSIC Codes 64 FINANCIAL SERVICES ACTIVITIES, EXCEPT INSURANCE AND PENSION FUNDING 65 INSURANCE, REINSURANCE AND PENSION FUNDING, EXCEPT COMPULSORY SOCIAL SECURITY 66 OTHER FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Ministry of Education (Department of Private Education)	Businesses involving with the following activities: Music School Schools (Primary, Secondary, Colleges, Pre-University Centres, Foreign System Schools) Tuition Schools (Commercial School) BDSIC Codes 85 EDUCATION
Ministry of Health	Businesses involving with the following activities: Clinics Dental Services Optical Services General / Specialised Medical Services Pharmacies / Drug Stores / Medicine Shops BDSIC Codes 86 HUMAN HEALTH ACTIVITIES
The Board of Valuers and Estate Agents (BoVEA), Ministry of Development	Businesses involving with the Real Estate BDSIC Codes 68 REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES
Law Society of Brunei Darussalam	Businesses involving with the Legal Services BDSIC Codes 69 LEGAL AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES
Public Accountants Oversight Committee (PAOC), Revenue Division, Ministry of Finance and Economy	Businesses involving with the Accounting/Audit Services BDSIC Codes 69 LEGAL AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES
Department of Community Development (JAPEM), Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports	Businesses involving Daycare BDSIC Codes 87 RESIDENTIAL CARE ACTIVITIES 88 SOCIAL WORK ACTIVITIES WITHOUT ACCOMODATION Note: For Register New Business Name, approval from JAPEM will be given after application approved from ROCBN For Change Business Names Details, the Registry required approval from JAPEM to be uploaded in the application
Board of Architects, Professional Engineers and Quantity Surveyors (BAPEQS), Ministry of Development	Businesses involving Architect / Engineer / Quantity Surveyors BDSIC Codes 71 ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES AND RELATED TECHNICAL CONSULTANCY
Registry of Companies and Business Names Divisions, Ministry of Finance and Economy To submit the relevant qualifications of the proposed owner as per applied	Businesses involving in any Consultancy services or Related services BDSIC Codes 42 CIVIL ENGINEERING 43 SPECIALIZED CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES 63 COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, CONSULTANCY AND RELATED ACTIVITIES 72 SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 74 OTHER PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES

Steps to Registering a Business

Legislation - Acts

Downloadable Forms

Go to www.ocp.mofe.gov.bn
Login using your credentials
On the top right of your dashboard, click on ‘New Entity’
Select ‘Register Business Name’
Fill in the required fields and provide supporting documents

Click here (link) for the step by step guide on how to register a Business Name

Bruneian Citizens or Bruneian Permanent Residents are eligible to register a sole-proprietorship or a partnership.

Must be at least 18 of age and they must not be a declared bankrupt.

No. The business name applied will be rejected. You may have the option to write to the owner of the existing business for consent to use the same name or you may submit a new application with a different name.

No, only a single name per application.

You cannot use a name that is trademarked, unless you provide an authorisation letter from the said company holding a trademark.

One (1) working day.

‘Letter of Approval’ requirement means you are required to upload an approval letter from relevant licensing authorities before registering your business.

For example:

Tuition School - Ministry of Education.
Clinics/Dental Clinics – Ministry of Health;
Money Exchange/Remittance Company - Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam.
Day Care - Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports.

Upon successful registration, it does not mean that the Owner(s) can carry out business immediately. Depending on the nature of business, the Owner(s) may be required to apply for written approval or licenses from relevant authorities.

For more information on licenses / approvals, please visit www.business.gov.bn

Your Certificate of Registration will be emailed to you upon approval of your application. Alternatively, you will be able to go to your dashboard and select the business. In the view screen, click on ‘Request Certificate’. From here, you will be print a copy of the certificate.

Go to ocp.mofe.gov.bn
Login using your credentials
In your dashboard, select your entities under the “My Entities” section.
Select ‘Action: Registry” and select “Change Business Name Details”
Update any details in any of the sections.
Click “Save and Exit”

Click here to find the step by step guide on how to update business details

Yes, there is a fee of BND$30.00 for all updates.

Below is a summary of fees:

No.	List of Services	Fees in BND
01	Registration of Business Names	$30.00
02	Change Business Name Details: Change of Business Name Change of Business Address Change of Owner(s) details Change of Owner Address Change of Business Ownership Structure Change of Business Activities	$30.00
03	Cessation of Business Name	-

No, it is mandatory to have a consent letter to cease a business name.

You should write in to ROCBN as soon as possible for ROCBN’s consideration. Please include the reasons for the mistake.

Alternatively, you can choose to register a new business using the same name but with a different registration number; the fee payable is $30.

Alternatively, you can submit an appeal to the Registrar of Business Names through ROCBN for the reinstatement of the business registration. Send your appeal in writing and set out the grounds for the appeal. The letter is to be addressed to the Registrar of Business Names, ROCBN.

All partners must endorse the termination before the business name can be ceased.

Are you looking for help?

Step 01	Create your OCP account by logging on to www.ocp.mofe.gov.bn
Step 02	Once successfully logged in, on the top right of your dashboard, click on +New Entity
Step 03	Select Register a Business Name
Step 04	Fill in the online form
Step 05	For proposed name, click Validate Name
Step 06	Upload the required supporting documents and click Submit
Step 07	The cost to register a business is $30 which can be paid online or over the counter by providing your Application ID
Step 08	Once your application has been approved, an electronic Certificate of Registration will be emailed to you

Main Menu

Resources & Guides

Registering a Business Name

Returned Business Name

Rejected Business Name

Viewing Approved Business Name

Changing Business Name Details

Lodging General Form

Ceasing a Business Name

Payment Search

Request Certificate

Request Extract

1. Sole Proprietorship

2. PARTNERSHIP

Business Names Act (Chapter 92)

Change of Particulars Form

Cessation of Business Form