VI The name of an enterprise often carries significant meaning, closely associated with its operational process and development. However, during the course of business, companies frequently need to change their names to meet expansion requirements, restructuring goals, or simply to reposition their brand in the market. Changing an enterprise’s name is not merely an administrative procedure but a vital strategic decision that requires careful preparation. From selecting an appropriate new name and checking availability to avoid overlap, to updating information with regulatory authorities and notifying partners and customers, every step requires meticulous attention to ensure business continuity and a smooth transition. Let’s join Pham Consult in exploring the steps to complete this procedure.
- What is an Enterprise Name?
An enterprise name is the official designation of a business as recorded on its Certificate of Business Registration. The name must be displayed at the headquarters, branches, representative offices, and business locations. It must also be printed or written on transaction documents, files, records, and publications issued by the enterprise.
According to Article 37 of the Law on Enterprises 2020, the Vietnamese name of an enterprise consists of two components in the following order:
– Type of Enterprise: Written as “công ty trách nhiệm hữu hạn” or “công ty TNHH” for limited liability companies; “công ty cổ phần” or “công ty CP” for joint-stock companies; “công ty hợp danh” or “công ty HD” for partnerships; and “doanh nghiệp tư nhân”, “DNTN”, or “doanh nghiệp TN” for sole proprietorships.
– Proper Name: Written using letters in the Vietnamese alphabet, the letters F, J, Z, W, digits, and symbols.
The company name is one of the most critical elements to prepare when establishing a business, as it helps distinguish one company from another. Therefore, before proceeding with a name change, the enterprise must choose a name that is appropriate and compliant with the law. The new name must strictly adhere to the regulations on enterprise naming under the Law on Enterprises 2020 and related legal documents.
- Application Dossier for a Name Change
The application dossier for registering a change in the enterprise’s name is prescribed in Article 41 of Decree No. 168/2025/ND-CP on business registration, including the following documents:
(i) An Application for Registration of Change in business registration contents;
(ii) A copy or the original of the Resolution or Decision regarding the name change by: The Company Owner (for single-member limited liability companies); The Members’ Council (for multi-member limited liability companies and partnerships); The General Meeting of Shareholders (for joint-stock companies).
- Procedures for Changing an Enterprise’s Name
Changing an enterprise’s name is an activity that alters the contents of the Certificate of Business Registration as stipulated in Article 28 of the Law on Enterprises 2020. Consequently, the enterprise must register the change with the Business Registration Authority within 10 days from the date of the change.
Step 1: Submission of Dossier The enterprise prepares one (01) set of documents and submits the application to the provincial-level Business Registration Authority where the enterprise’s headquarters is located.
Step 2: Processing and Results Upon receiving the application, the Business Registration Authority issues a filing receipt and schedules a date to return the result. Within 03 working days from the receipt of the application, the Authority examines the validity of the dossier and issues a new Certificate of Business Registration. If the dossier is invalid, the Authority will provide a written notification specifying the contents that need to be amended or supplemented.
Notes: A change of name does not change the rights and obligations of the enterprise. The enterprise is also responsible for registering the name change for its branches, representative offices, and business locations within 10 days from the date the new Certificate of Business Registration is issued.
