Starting a business · Slovakia
Business name reservation
From 17 August 2026, the new Commercial Register Act introduces a register of reserved business names. You can secure your chosen company name before filing for incorporation. The register is maintained by Žilina District Court; applications are filed electronically through a specialised portal and must be authorised by the applicant. We check availability, prepare the application, guide you through authorising and filing it, and prepare the incorporation filing so that the court can enter the company in the register while the reservation is still valid.
- New from 17 August 2026
- We prepare the application
- Reservation valid for up to 60 days
What we'll do for you
We handle the business name reservation from availability checks to register confirmation and then proceed to company formation.
Select an item to see the details.
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Name availability check
We check whether the chosen name is already registered or reserved and flag risks of confusion.
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Preparing the application
We prepare the reservation application and guide you through authorising and filing it electronically through the specialised portal. The applicant must authorise it, otherwise the court disregards it.
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Reservation confirmation
After filing and payment of the court fee, you receive confirmation from the register. The court fee is separate from our fee.
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Monitoring the reservation
We monitor the reservation period so you do not lose the name and alert you as expiry approaches.
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Subsequent company formation
We prepare the founding documents and file for incorporation under the reserved name early enough for the company to be entered in the register while the reservation is still valid.
Deliverableconfirmation of a business name reservation in the register of reserved business names
How it works
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- Checking the nameday 0
We establish availability and recommend alternatives if needed.
- Application and authorisation
We prepare the application; the applicant authorises it and it is filed electronically with the register of reserved business names.
- Reservation confirmationafter payment of the fee
The register issues confirmation; the 60-day reservation period starts when it is delivered.
- Company formation and registrationwithin 60 days
We incorporate under the reserved name and file for registration. Within the reservation period, the company must actually be entered in the Commercial Register; filing the application alone is not enough.
No-obligation enquiry
Ready to start?
Send us an enquiry. We usually reply within 24 hours with a price confirmation and next steps. The first 30-minute consultation is free and commits you to nothing.
- 1Send your enquiry via this form
- 2Usually within 24 h you get a price confirmation and plan
- 3We start work only after your approval
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What clients ask
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What is a business name reservation?
From 17 August 2026, the new Commercial Register Act introduces a register of reserved business names. It lets you secure your chosen company name before filing for incorporation so nobody takes it in the meantime.
How long is the reservation valid?
The reservation ends when the name is entered in the Commercial Register, and at the latest 60 days after delivery of the reservation confirmation. The company must be entered in the Commercial Register under the reserved name within that period; filing the application for registration does not extend it. If the reservation expires before the court registers the company, the name is no longer protected and a new reservation must be applied for.
Who maintains the register of reserved business names?
Žilina District Court maintains it, and it is accessible through a specialised portal forming part of the Commercial Register information system. Applications are filed electronically through that portal.
Can someone take the name during the reservation?
A reservation protects you against an identical name. While it is valid, another reservation for the same name cannot be created, and before registration the court examines whether the name applied for is identical to a reserved one; only someone who proves entitlement to use it may have it registered. A reservation is not a trade mark, though — it does not protect against a similar name that is not identical.
Who authorises the reservation application?
The application is filed electronically through the specialised portal and must be authorised by the applicant, otherwise the court disregards it. This is not authorisation of a contract by a lawyer under the Legal Profession Act, which is a different institution. We prepare the application and guide you through authorisation and filing.
Who may reserve a business name?
Anyone with a legal interest, typically a future company founder. The court may cancel a reservation on its own initiative if it is manifestly abusive or the name is grossly offensive.
Legal Q&A
Common questions on this topic
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Can a business name be reserved before a company is formed?
Yes. Since 17 August 2026, a business name can be reserved in the register of reserved business names maintained by the Žilina District Court. Applications are submitted electronically through a dedicated portal, with a court fee of EUR 50. The reservation lasts until the name is entered in the Commercial Register, up to a maximum of 60 days after delivery of the confirmation. It only protects against an identical registered name; it does not resolve conflicts with trade marks or other business names.
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My fellow member reserved the business name in their own name. May we register our s.r.o. under it?
Yes, if you prove entitlement to use the reserved name when filing the registration application. Identity with a name reserved under Section 51(2) of Act No. 29/2026 Coll. is not an obstacle to registration where the applicant (for an s.r.o., all the managing directors) proves such entitlement. The provision does not specify by what document; in practice, written consent from the party that reserved the name, given for the specific company, is the way to do it. Without entitlement the name remains blocked until the reservation lapses.
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When should we reserve a business name so that 60 days are enough to form an s.r.o.?
Only once your founding documents are all but ready. A reservation ends when the name is entered, and in any event 60 days after delivery of the confirmation; the Act makes no provision for extending it. Signing the memorandum of association in the required form, filing the application and the registration itself, including any objections, must all fit within that window. The longer statutory period for filing the application does not extend the reservation.
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Further reading
Business name and trademark: why registering a company does not protect the brand
A registered or reserved business name protects you against another company registering an identical name, but it does not protect a product brand. This article is for founders and companies that want to use their name as a brand as well, and explains where business names and trademarks meet and how to avoid conflicts.
Read more →
The business name of a new s.r.o.: what the registry court checks and what you answer for yourself
Before registration, the registry court examines whether the proposed business name is identical with a registered or reserved name. The Commercial Code, however, asks for more: the name must be neither confusable nor misleading. This article explains the difference between these two standards and how to choose a name that will hold up after registration as well.
Read more →
A joint-stock company in Slovakia or in the Czech Republic: how incorporation, capital and bodies differ
The Slovak and the Czech joint-stock company share a name but are governed by different statutes. We compare who may incorporate them, what capital they need, what bodies they must have and what shares they issue, for businesses deciding in which country to incorporate a joint-stock company.
Read more →