A business name is the name or style under which a business operates. Registering that name is not the same as incorporating a company, obtaining a tax number or receiving a licence for a regulated activity. Each of those processes answers a different question.
This guide covers initial business-name registration through the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority (DCRA). It does not present business-name renewal as a complete process because the exact enacted instrument governing anniversary-based renewal has not been acquired in the controlled source set.
Quick answer
DCRA’s current business-name page says an applicant should submit the appropriate completed application form, a copy of a national identification card or passport, the processing fee and a copy of the applicant’s TIN certificate. As verified on 14 August 2026, DCRA listed a GYD 5,000 new-application fee and a seven-working-day service period per application. Fees and service periods are operational statements and should be confirmed before filing.
Before you apply
First decide whether a business name is the correct structure for the activity. A registered business name is distinct from a company incorporated under the Companies Act. The choice can affect ownership, liability, governance, tax administration, banking and future investment.
You should also identify whether the proposed activity requires a separate sector licence or approval. Registration establishes the business name; it does not itself authorise every type of commercial activity.
Step 1: Choose the correct application form
DCRA publishes current business-name forms through its Business Names and Forms pages. Select the form that matches the applicant and read every field before signing. The currently linked individual application form bears a 2017 date, so confirm that the linked version remains the current DCRA form at the time of filing.
The form asks for information such as the proposed business name, the nature and principal place of the business, applicant particulars and the commencement date where applicable.
Step 2: Prepare the current document package
DCRA’s current operational list calls for:
- the completed application form or forms;
- a copy of a national identification card or passport;
- a copy of the applicant’s TIN certificate; and
- the processing fee.
Use the name and personal information exactly as they appear on the supporting documents. Differences in spelling, identification details or addresses can delay verification.
Step 3: Submit the application and pay the fee
As last verified on 14 August 2026, DCRA stated:
- new business-name application: GYD 5,000;
- cash payments accepted up to GYD 100,000; and
- amounts above that level payable by manager’s cheque.
Confirm the current fee and accepted payment method directly with DCRA before submission. These are not permanent statutory guarantees.
Step 4: Allow for review and collect the certificate
DCRA currently states seven working days per business-name application. Treat this as a service statement rather than a guaranteed completion time. An incomplete application, a name issue or a request for clarification can extend the process.
Keep the receipt, a copy of the filed application and the issued certificate together in the business’s permanent records.
After registration
Business-name registration is normally followed by other processes appropriate to the business, including:
- confirming the correct taxpayer/TIN route with the Guyana Revenue Authority;
- determining whether VAT registration applies;
- registering as an employer and registering employees with NIS where applicable;
- establishing PAYE processes if the business pays employment emoluments; and
- obtaining any licence or approval required for the activity.
Do not assume that the business-name certificate completes any of these separate obligations.
Changes and renewal
The Business Names (Registration) Act requires changes in registered particulars to be furnished in the prescribed manner. The 2012 consolidation states a 14-day period, subject to a longer period allowed by the Registrar. The current DCRA Statement of Change form contains an unresolved chapter-number anomaly: it cites Chapter 90:06, while the governing Business Names (Registration) Act is Cap. 90:05. The legislation controls.
DCRA currently lists GYD 2,000 for a Statement of Change and GYD 2,500 for renewal. This guide does not state a renewal deadline or complete renewal procedure because the exact enactment supporting the anniversary-based rule has not been acquired.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating a business name as if it were an incorporated company.
- Assuming registration supplies a TIN, VAT registration or operating licence.
- Filing a form without checking that it is the current DCRA-linked version.
- Using inconsistent names or identification details across the form and supporting documents.
- Relying on the seven-working-day statement as a guaranteed deadline.
Official sources
- DCRA — Business Names
- DCRA — Forms
- Business Names (Registration) Act, Cap. 90:05, LRO 1/2012
Editorial note
This guide provides general information, not legal or tax advice. Forms, fees, channels and processing statements can change. Confirm the current requirements with DCRA and obtain qualified advice for the proposed structure and activity.
