Business Names Act · 1984 Revised Edition
4. Subject to the provisions of this Act -
In plain English
Not legal advice
A firm, individual or corporation with a place of business in Brunei must register its business name unless that name is only the full names of the partners or the individual, or the corporate name. No registration is needed when an official receiver, a trustee in bankruptcy or a court-appointed person runs the business.
Summary · Drafted with AI, checked against the official text on 30 Sep 2026.
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
every firm having a place of business in
firm
"firm" means an unincorporated body of two or more individuals, or one or more individuals and one or more corporations, or two or more corpora-tions, who or which have entered into partnership with one another;
Brunei and carrying on business under a business name which does not consist of
( i) the full names of all partners who are individuals (including their given names or the initials thereof);
the corporate names of all partners {if any)
which are corporations without any addition;
every individual having a place of business in Brunei and carrying on business under a busi-ness name which does not consist of his full names
individual
"individual" means a natural person and does not include a corporation;
(including his given names or the initials thereof)
without any addition;
every corporation having a place of business in Brunei and carrying on business under a busi-ness name which does not consist of its corporate name without any addition,
Business Names shall be registered in the manner directed by this Act;
Provided that -
where the addition merely indicates that the business is carried on in succession to a former owner of the business, that addition shall not of itself render registration necessary; and
( ii) where the business is carried on by an official receiver or a trustee in bankruptcy or a receiver, manager, or other person appointed by any court to carry on the business, registra-tion shall not be necessary; and
a purchase or acquisition of property by two or more persons jointly is not of itself to be deemed carrying on business whether or not the owners share any profits arising from the sale thereof.
illustration
AHMAD bin BAKAR, MOHAMED bin DAUD and ALI bin Y ASSIN are partners in a coffee shop business.
If they trade as "AHMAD and COMPANY'' they MUST register that business name under the Act.
business name
"business name" means the name, style, title or designation under which any business is carried on whether in partnership or otherwise;
If they trade as "AHMAD, MOHAMED and ALI" they
MUST register, as these are not their full names.
If they trade as "AHMAD bin BAKAR, MOHAMED bin
DAUD and ALI bin Y ASSIN" they NEED NOT register under the
Act.
5 5.
Where a firm, individual, or corporation having a Registr.ation place of business within Brunei carries on business wholly or ofnommee mainly as attorney, nominee, or trustee of or for another firm, individual, or corporation, or acts as general agent for any foreign firm, the first-mentioned firm, individual, or corporation shall be registered in the manner provided by this Act.
6
Statement as to certain particulars
Business Names
The regulations may require that additional particulars shall be furnished and registered in all or any of such case:
regulations
"regulations" means regulations made under this Act. 2 of 1958 S.99/59 Short title Interpret-ation 3 Appointment of Registrar Firms etc., to be registered
Provided that where the business is carried on by an official receiver or a trustee in bankruptcy, or a receiver, manager, or other person appointed by any court to carry on the business, registration under this Act shall not be necessary.
Terms defined in s 2
business name
Defined · s 2"business name" means the name, style, title or designation under which any business is carried on whether in partnership or otherwise;
firm
Defined · s 2"firm" means an unincorporated body of two or more individuals, or one or more individuals and one or more corporations, or two or more corpora-tions, who or which have entered into partnership with one another;
individual
Defined · s 2"individual" means a natural person and does not include a corporation;
regulations
Defined · s 2"regulations" means regulations made under this Act. 2 of 1958 S.99/59 Short title Interpret-ation 3 Appointment of Registrar Firms etc., to be registered