Business Name Registration in Zimbabwe

A business name registration records the trading or assumed name under which a person or entity carries on business, so that the public can identify who is behind the name.

Partzile captures the applicant details and proposed name online, lodges the application and uploads the issued documents to your dashboard.

• Sole traders and partnerships trading under a name other than their own
• Companies operating a division or brand under a separate trading name
• Businesses formalising an existing informal trading name

• The proposed business or trading name
• Full particulars of the proprietor or partners
• The nature of the business
• The principal place of business in Zimbabwe

• Identity documents for each proprietor or partner
• Proof of the business address
• Company documents where the applicant is a registered entity

1. 1Start the applicationOpen a business name application from your dashboard.
2. 2Capture the detailsEnter the proposed name, proprietor details and the nature of the business.
3. 3Upload documentsAttach identity and address documents.
4. 4Pay and submitPayment finalises the submission; your officer lodges the application.

Business names are administered by the same Registry that handles company registrations in Zimbabwe, and the prescribed forms are published under S.I. 46 of 2020.

Is a business name the same as a company?

No. A business name is a trading name; it does not create a separate legal entity in the way company registration does.

Do I still need a name search?

A name availability check is normally carried out so that the name is not already taken. Your compliance officer will confirm what is needed.

Can a company register a trading name?

Yes — a registered company can register a separate trading name for a brand or division.