Botswana - Reserve a Company Name

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Procedure

Apply Online
To Reserve a Company Name online, applicants will have to submit their application through the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) online portal called OBRS by visiting the CIPA website and clicking on “Reserve A Company Name” located under “START A BUSINESS”.

Step 1: Create an Account with the CIPA and Logon.

1. This will navigate the user to the OBRS Logon page,Applicants already registered enter their login credential (Username and Password)and click on the “Logon” button.
2. A user who does not have an account should click on the “Create a profile now” hyperlink under the question “Don't have a profile yet?” to create an account.
3. Upon clicking on the hyperlink “Create a profile” button, this will direct the user to the Create a Profile page.
4. On the first page, The applicant will be required to enter his/her Login details and click on the “Next” button to go to his/her Name and Identity page.
5. On this page complete the required details and upload the applicant Identity evidence then click on the “Next” button to go to his/her contacts details page.
6. Enter the required contact details and location information and click on the “Next” button to go to the review page.
7. On the review page, the applicant will be able to see all the information he/she has proved in creating his/her profile, go through the information and if it is satisfactory click on the “Save” and if the information is not ok, the applicant can cancel the application by clicking on the “Cancel” button.
8. After clicking on the “Save” button, the applicant will be directed to the 2-step verification page, on the blank boxes, enter the log on security code sent by CIPA and click on the “Next” button. At this point, the account will be ready for the applicant to use.
   

Step 2: Name Reservation Process.

1. Select the Entity type (the type of company the applicant wishes to reserve the name).
2. Select the purpose (Incorporation or Change of Name)
3. Enter the proposed name (please choose a unique name, not similar to existing entities).
4. Is the name similar to an existing name or trademark? if it is select YES and upload permission to use it. If not, select NO.
   

Step 3: Payment of the Reservation Fee.

1. Select the payment method that is covienent i.e., “Credit/Debit Card or Mobile Payment” or “Deposit Account” enter the details of the payment method and choose to pay at the moment or pay later by clicking on “Pay Now” or “Pay Later”.
2. Proceed and pay the name reservation fee of BWP 20.00 and upon payment, the applicant will receive a notification from CIPA through the registered email address informing him/her that the payment is successful and the application is being processed.
3. For a credit/debit: the applicant can use any card issued by his/her bank as well as the VISA cards issued by Orange Money or Mascom My Zaka.
4. For a deposit account: tha applicant will need to visit CIPA offices or First National Bank and deposit a sum into the deposit account.
5. Please read the terms and conditions for making a payment and tick to agree.
   • Click on Pay Now
   • Enter the card details or select his/her deposit account.
     

Step 4: Evaluation of application by CIPA

1. CIPA will review the proposed name and confirm that it meets the required standard and if it is not being used by another company.
2. Once CIPA has verified and approved the proposed name, they notify the applicant through their registered email address or SMS within 24 hours.
3. The reserved name shall be valid for a period of 30 working days, within which applicants are required to register it. Failure to register the Company Name within 30 days shall render the proposed name invalid and a new application shall be made.
   

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Required Documents

If the proposed name is identical to an existing name or trademark, the applicant will be required to provide a document proving permission to use that name

Office Locations & Contacts

Companies and Intellectual Property Authority
Address: Plot 54358, Prime Plaza, CBD, Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: +267 367 3700
Fax: +267 318 8130
Email: [email protected]
Contact numbers:

• (+267) 3673797
  
• (+267) 3673758
  
• (+267) 3673783
  
• (+267) 3673748
  
• (+267) 3673700
  

CIPA website

Eligibility

The person who will be applying for the reservation of a company name must be the one responsible for or authorized by the firm or company.

Fees

The name reservation fee is BWP20.00.

Validity

The reserved name shall be valid for a period of 30 working days, within which applicants are required to register it. Failure to register the name within 30 days shall render the proposed name invalid and a new application shall be made.

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

The time frame for processing the application is within one working day.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is dkisplayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

Please note
That the Company Name reserve process is optional, one may register a company without first reserving the company name, however, this is the recommended route, as it will enable CIPA to approve the proposed name before the applicant can proceed to register it.

Required Information

• Proposed Business name for name search approval.
• The nature of Business/activities the business shall undertake.
• Names of the Proprietor/s in Full.
• Postal address for the Business Name.
• Proposed Physical address of the Business. The address includes road, plot number, town, county.
• Copy of ID / Passport of the Proprietor or Partners.
• Passport photo of the Proprietor/s.
• Copy of PIN certificate of the Proprietor/s or partner/s.
• Declaration by the applicant
  

Need for the Document

Before setting up a company, one should reserve the proposed name on the OBRS.  once the company name is reserved and it is approved by CIPA, no other company can incorporate it with an identical or almost identical name.

Information which might help

The requirements of a company name are as follows

• The company name should not be identical or similar to the trade names previously registered by the CIPA.
• The name should not be misleading to other business persons and the society in general.
• The part of the trade name desired to be owned solely by the applicant is not a descriptive or a generic or a common name.
• The trade name should not be represented only by numbers.
• The company name should not be similar to the names of public bodies or public enterprises.
• The name should not be similar to the name of any political party or labor union or any other association or aid organization.
• In case where the company name use is the names of renowned people or leaders of countries, proper authorization is required.
• Where the trade name of the business operated by a sole business person indicates the type of business carried on.
• Where the trade name is not among trade names well known in other countries or is not the one that has international recognition, unless an authorization by the owner to use it has been secured, even though not registered as a trading name in Botswana.
• The proposed trading name should not include prefix or suffix to an already registered trade name.
• Where the trade name is an acronym that is meaningful or is representative of the name of the applicant or where it is composed of the names of the members of a business organization that it contains the beginning letters of the members.
• Where it is intended to use the names of countries as trade names of business organizations, that citizens coming from the countries are establishing the business organizations.
• where it is intended to use a trading name of a business organization or a sole business person registered in another country as a trading name of a business organization or a business of an individual business person, that authorization is obtained and that the same is authenticated in Botswana.
• Does not have similar reading sound with an already registered trade name.
• The company name should not contrary to morality or public order.
  

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses for obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

CIPA - Selecting a Company Name

Others

More information which might help people.