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. We check availability, file the authorised application and proceed smoothly to incorporation while the reservation remains valid.
- New from 17 August 2026
- Electronic filing through a lawyer
- 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 and authorising the application
We prepare the reservation application, authorise it and file electronically through the specialised portal. Without authorisation, it is disregarded.
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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
While the reservation is valid, we prepare founding documents and file for incorporation under the reserved name.
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 and authorise the application and file it electronically with the register of reserved business names.
- Reservation confirmationafter payment of the fee
The register issues confirmation; the period for incorporation starts when it is delivered.
- Company formationwithin 60 days
We incorporate under the reserved name; entry in the Commercial Register fulfils the reservation's purpose.
No-obligation enquiry
Ready to start?
Send us an enquiry. We 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
- 2Within 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 incorporated under the name within that period; otherwise, the reservation expires and a new application is needed.
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?
No. While a reservation is valid, another reservation for the same name cannot be created; a name already entered in the Commercial Register cannot be reserved either. That is the purpose of reservation.
Must a lawyer file the application?
The application is filed electronically through the specialised portal and must be authorised, otherwise it is disregarded. We handle authorisation and filing so you need not deal with the technical requirements.
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.
Read the answer -
Must a memorandum of association now take the form of a notarial deed, or is lawyer authorisation sufficient?
A lawyer is sufficient. Since 17 August 2026, incorporation documents must take the form of a notarial deed recording a legal act or a document authorised by a lawyer; both forms are legally equivalent. The lawyer drafts the agreement, verifies the founders' identities, authorises it and deposits it in the central authorisation register. A notary who drafted the document may not register the same matter themselves. An exception applies to an s. r. o. formed under the simplified procedure using the state electronic form.
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We are contributing real estate to an s. r. o. When does the company become its owner?
Only when ownership is registered in the land register, rather than when the company comes into existence. Rights to other contributions in kind pass to the company on incorporation, but the Commercial Code makes an exception for real estate. The document required for the land register is the contributor's written declaration with a certified signature, rather than an agreement. Until registration is approved, the company does not own the property, and the member risks having to pay the contribution's value in cash.
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Further reading
Forming a Czech s.r.o. from Slovakia: the complete process without a trip to Czechia
Step by step, from the power of attorney to the commercial register extract. How remote formation of a Czech limited liability company works and what to prepare.
Read more →
The new Commercial Register Act: changes for your company from 17 August 2026
Company name reservations, lower fees, higher fines and a new mandatory form for key corporate documents. An overview of the changes introduced by Act No. 29/2026 Z. z. and what to do about them.
Read more →