Tonga - Register Business Name

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Procedure

1. Search the registrar to see if your preferred business name has already been registered or is the name of an existing company. In this case your name would not be allowed.
2. Register using the paper form:
   1. If the name is available and you would like to register using the paper form, then you will need complete the Application for Business Name (Form 1) and submit it to the Registrar. Note: A link is provided under "Documents to Use" section which you can use to download the form.
   2. You can hand in your application during normal business hours or you may also send it by post (address given below).
3. Register your business online:
   1. You may also register your business name online, first you will need a Business Registries user account.
   2. Follow the process of registration online and at the end pay the fee.
4. Once the application has been approved a Certificate of Business Name Registration will be sent to you, meaning that the process is complete and your name will be shown on the Register. If you have provided an email on your application, the Certificate will be emailed to you.

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Required Documents

List down the documents required for successfully completing the procedure.

e.g.
1. Proof of child birth from the Hospital.

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Trade, Innovation & Labour

Head Office:
Phone: +676 23688 or +676 24836
Fax: +676 23887
Latai Estate, Fatafehi Road, Fasimoeafi
Nukualofa, TONGA

You may send your application by mail to this address:
Registrar of Companies
Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Labour
PO Box 110 Salote Road,
Nukualfoa, Tonga.

Eligibility

• a sole proprietor (or husband and wife) operating a business under a trading name or a d/b/a, or ii)
• a registered company seeking to do business in a name other than its own for marketing purposes.

Fees

Business Names Prescribed Fees :

• Application for Re-Registration of Business Name : No charge
• Application for Business Names Registration submitted via paper : 50
• Application for Business Names Registration submitted via on-line services : 25
• Statement of renewal of business name registration submitted via paper : 20
• Statement of renewal of business name registration submitted via on-line services : 10
• Registration of changes via Amendment of Business Names registration and/or Certificate submitted via paper : 20
• Registration of change via Amendment of Business Names registration and/or Certificate submitted via on-line services : 10
• Inspection of physical Business Names Register maintained at the Ministry : 10/per name
• Paper copies from the physical Business Names Register maintained at the Ministry : 1 /per page
• Online inspection of electronic database that contains the Business Names Register : No charge
• Certification by the Registrar of a Business Names Register record : 100
• Late fee for filing required amendment to business names register : 20
• Late fee for filing Statement of Renewal : 20
• Reinstatement fee after cancellation of business name registration : 50
• Notice of cessation of business by registrant : No charge

Note: Schedule 1 - Registration of Business Names Regulations 2014

Validity

You are required to submit an annual renewal (Form 3) every year so that the Registrar can keep accurate records on what business names are still active. You can make this changes via the online service by registering as a user and gaining authority over your business name.

Documents to Use

Business Names - Forms

Sample Documents

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Processing Time

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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 displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Instructions

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e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

Required Information

A list which displays the kind of information which is required to complete the procedure.
e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the Document

Any person engaged in a business activity in Tonga under a name other than their own must register that business name with the Registrar.

This procedure provides you information on how you can register a business name in Tonga.

Information which might help

Enter other informations which might help

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

The purpose of business name registration is to give the public the names of the true owners of a business with whom they might be interacting.

Having the name of the business name registered is often a first step for a small business in entering the formal economy. Holding this registration may allow the small business person to open a bank account and otherwise transact business using the registered name.

NOTE: It is critical to remember that unlike with a company incorporation, there is no independent legal entity created by a business name registration. Thus, there is no personal liability protection for the owner of a business name registration. Therefore, if you are a sole proprietor or in a partnership, you should carefully consider whether a business name registration is the proper type of registration for your small business.

External Links

Business Registries Office

Others

More information which might help people.