Business Name Registration in Zimbabwe

Registering a business name records the trading name under which a person or entity carries on business. It does not create a separate legal entity, so the proprietor remains personally responsible for the business's obligations.

A company, by contrast, is a separate legal person that can contract, own assets and incur liabilities in its own name.

• Sole traders trading under a name other than their own
• Partnerships operating under a firm name
• Registered companies operating a brand or division under a separate name

• The proposed business or trading name
• Full particulars of the proprietor or each partner
• The nature of the business
• The principal place of business in Zimbabwe
• Identity documents and proof of address

Does a business name protect my brand?

Registration records who trades under the name; trade mark protection is a separate process.

Can I later convert to a company?

Yes — many businesses register a company once they need limited liability, and Partzile handles that registration.

Is a name search needed?

A name availability check is normally carried out first so the name is not already taken.