Business Name Registration Form (Ghana)

A Business Name Registration Form in Ghana captures the information a regulator requires to assess and process the request it covers.

The Registration of Business Names Act 1962 (Act 151) requires every individual who carries on business under a name that does not consist solely of their own true name — and every firm (partnership) that carries on business in Ghana — to register that business name with the Registrar of Companies within 28 days of commencing business. Section 2 of Act 151 sets out the registration requirement. Section 11 of Act 151 makes it a criminal offence to carry on business without registration or to file a false statement in the register, with penalties including fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment. The ORC maintains the Register of Business Names as a public record that any person may inspect.

A Business Name Registration is distinct from a Company Incorporation, which creates a separate legal entity (a limited liability company) under the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992) registered with the ORC. A business name registration does not create a separate legal entity — the sole trader or the individual partners remain personally liable for all business debts and obligations. For business owners who wish to limit their personal liability, incorporation under Act 992 or registration as a limited liability partnership is the appropriate route. The ORC processes business name registrations through its online portal at ORC.GOV.GH.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) requires all registered businesses in Ghana to obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) as a precondition for opening a business bank account, collecting VAT, and filing tax returns. Following business name registration, the registrant must apply for a TIN at the GRA and register for income tax, and, if annual turnover is expected to exceed the VAT registration threshold, register for Value Added Tax (VAT) under the Value Added Tax Act 2013 (Act 870). The Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) have separate registration requirements for businesses operating in free zones or qualifying for GIPC incentives.

A Business Name Registration differs from a Trademark Registration, which protects the brand name or logo as intellectual property under the Trademarks Act 2004 (Act 664) administered by the Intellectual Property Office of Ghana (IPOG). Registering a business name with the ORC does not confer trademark rights or prevent another business from using the same name in a different industry. Business owners wishing to protect their trading name as a brand should register it as a trademark with the IPOG in addition to registering the business name with the ORC.

A Business Name Registration Form in Ghana is required whenever a sole trader or a partnership begins trading under a name other than the individual's own full legal name, and is particularly important in the following circumstances.

A Business Name Registration Form is needed when an individual in Ghana starts a sole proprietorship business — such as a retail shop, tailoring business, food catering enterprise, transport service, consultancy, or freelance profession — and wishes to trade under a business name rather than their personal name. Section 2 of the Registration of Business Names Act 1962 (Act 151) requires registration within 28 days of commencing business.

A Business Name Registration Form is required when two or more individuals form a partnership in Ghana — such as a law firm, accounting practice, medical practice, or trading partnership — and carry on business under a firm name. All partners must be disclosed in the registration form, and any change of partners must be notified to the ORC within 28 days under Act 151.

A Business Name Registration Form is needed when a Ghanaian entrepreneur applies to open a business bank account at a commercial bank licensed by the Bank of Ghana (BoG). All BoG-regulated financial institutions require a valid Certificate of Registration from the ORC as a precondition for opening a business current account or savings account in the name of the business.

A Business Name Registration Form is required when a business owner in Ghana applies to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for a Tax Identification Number (TIN) or registers for Value Added Tax (VAT) under the Value Added Tax Act 2013 (Act 870). The GRA requires a business name registration certificate as evidence of the registered business identity.

A Business Name Registration Form is needed when a sole trader or partnership in Ghana applies for a county business operating permit (business licence) from the relevant Metropolitan, Municipal, or District Assembly (MMDA) under the Local Governance Act 2016 (Act 936). MMDAs across Ghana require evidence of business name registration before issuing operating permits.

A Business Name Registration Form is required when a Ghanaian SME or micro-enterprise wishes to register with the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA) — formerly the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) — to access business development support, credit guarantees, or training programmes. The GEA requires a business name registration certificate as part of its onboarding documentation.

Parties in Ghana should complete a Business Name Registration Form (Ghana) before commencing business operations. Carrying on business without registration is an offence under Section 11 of the Registration of Business Names Act 1962 (Act 151). The ORC processes registrations through ORC.GOV.GH. The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) issues TINs following registration. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) supervises banks that require the registration certificate for account opening.

A complete Business Name Registration Form in Ghana submitted to the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) under the Registration of Business Names Act 1962 (Act 151) must contain the following essential elements.

Business Name: The proposed business name under which the sole trader or partnership intends to carry on business in Ghana. The ORC will conduct a name availability search; the proposed name must not be identical or misleadingly similar to an already registered business name or company name in Ghana. Names incorporating words such as 'Bank', 'Insurance', 'Trust', 'National', 'Government', or 'Ghana' may require additional ministerial approval.

Nature of Business: A clear description of the principal activities of the business — the goods sold, the services rendered, or the trade carried on. The ORC uses the Ghana Standard Industrial Classification (GSIC) codes for categorising businesses in the register.

Registered Business Address: The principal place of business in Ghana, stated as a full street address with town, district, and region. A post office box address alone is not acceptable as the registered address. The registered address is the address at which legal documents (including court summonses) may be served on the business.

Owner / Partners Details: For a sole proprietorship: the full legal name, date of birth, nationality, Ghana Card number, residential address, and GRA TIN of the sole trader. For a partnership: the same details for every partner, together with a description of each partner's share of the business profits and losses. All partners must sign the registration form.

Date of Commencement of Business: The date on which the business first began trading under the registered business name. If the business has already commenced, the ORC may assess a penalty for late registration under Act 151.

Declaration: A statutory declaration signed by the sole trader or all partners (for a partnership) confirming that the information provided is true and accurate, and that no partner is disqualified from carrying on business in Ghana (e.g., undischarged bankrupt, convicted of fraud).

Fees: The applicable ORC registration fee, payable online at ORC.GOV.GH or at an ORC service centre. The fee schedule is prescribed by the ORC and is reviewed periodically.

Subsequent Obligations: After registration, the business must display its registered name at all business premises, on all business documents (invoices, receipts, contracts, letterheads), and on all online platforms. Any change in the business name, the registered address, the nature of business, or the identity of partners must be notified to the ORC within 28 days on the prescribed change form. Annual renewal of the business name registration is required under Act 151. Forms-legal.com provides this Business Name Registration Form (Ghana) as a professionally prepared template to assist sole traders and partnerships in completing their ORC registration in Ghana. After registration, the business must display its registered name on all business premises, invoices, receipts, correspondence, and digital platforms in accordance with Act 151. Annual renewal of the business name registration is required, and failure to renew may result in the ORC striking the name off the register. The Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA) provides business development support and access to credit guarantee schemes to registered SMEs and micro-enterprises in Ghana. The Registration of Business Names Act 1962 (Act 151) governs business name registration. The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) issues TINs. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) supervises financial institutions that require registration certificates.