How to reserve a company name in Morocco in 2026?
To reserve a company name in Morocco, first check free of charge in the databases of OMPIC (Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property, Office Marocain de la Propriété Industrielle et Commerciale) that no identical or similar company name or trademark exists, then apply for a negative certificate (certificat négatif), which reserves the name for 90 days. Proposing up to three names in order of preference and ruling out names too close to existing ones limits the risk of refusal. With Charikaty, the check and the reservation are done online, as part of your company formation.
The essentials
In shortBefore reserving a name, consult the OMPIC databases (registered names and registered trademarks), rule out identical or similar names as well as prohibited or regulated terms, and prepare alternative names. The reservation is then made through the negative certificate, which certifies that no company is registered in Morocco under this name and costs 232.76 MAD online. It is the first mandatory step to register (immatriculer) your company.
the information provided in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute personalized legal advice. We recommend that you consult a qualified legal expert before making any decision. Charikaty provides experts to support you: contact us for free advice.
How does the reservation of a company name work?
In Morocco, a company name is reserved through a negative certificate (also called an "availability certificate", attestation de disponibilité) issued by OMPIC, a public institution created by Law 13-99, which keeps the central commercial register (registre central du commerce): under Article 74 of the Commercial Code (Code de commerce, Law 15-95), no company name (dénomination sociale), trade name (nom commercial) or business sign (enseigne) may be entered in the Commercial Register (Registre du Commerce, RC) without this certificate. It costs 232.76 MAD online, is generally issued within 24 to 48 hours and remains valid for 90 days; the procedure, the documents and expiry are detailed in our guide to the OMPIC negative certificate.
Why check availability before reserving?
- Avoid a refusal and unnecessary fees: OMPIC refuses a name identical or similar to a name already entered; a free search before the application saves you from paying for a refused name
- Also cover trademarks: the negative certificate limits the risk of conflict with a name already entered, without replacing a trademark (marque) search or a trademark filing (Law 17-97)
- Secure the reservation: once the certificate has been issued, OMPIC does not issue a certificate for an identical name for 90 days, and you have the mandatory document for the registration file filed with the commercial court registry (greffe du tribunal de commerce)
How do you check that a company name is available?
Step 1: List your candidate names
Before any search, select several names that reflect your company's activity and comply with Moroccan regulations: the rules for choosing your company name in Morocco (legal form, prohibited terms, language, distinctiveness) are detailed in our dedicated guide. Keep backup names: a single negative certificate application can indicate up to three names in order of preference.
Step 2: Search the OMPIC databases
💡 Practical tip: Consult OMPIC's public databases free of charge on the OMPIC website to check that there are no conflicts before paying the fees:
- Registered names: company names, trade names and business signs entered in the central commercial register
- Registered trademarks: signs filed with OMPIC; the negative certificate does not amount to a full prior-rights search on trademarks
Step 3: Analyze similarities
A name is not available merely because no company bears exactly the same one: OMPIC also refuses a name so similar as to cause confusion, even if the spelling varies slightly. For each candidate name, identify:
- Identical company names and trademarks
- Close spelling variants of an existing name or trademark
- Generic terms in your sector, which are not sufficient without a distinctive element
Step 4: Reserve the chosen name
Once availability has been checked, reserve the name through an online negative certificate application, with a copy of your identity document. No proof of address or draft articles of association (statuts) is required at this stage, and an MRE (Moroccan living abroad) or a non-resident can file the application from abroad with their passport, as when creating a company in Morocco as a non-resident. With Charikaty, we file the application online for you, as part of your company formation.
On what grounds is a company name refused?
The chosen name must comply with the conditions derived from the Commercial Code (Law 15-95), Law 5-96 (SARL and SARL AU), Law 17-95 as amended by Law 19-20 (SA) and Law 5-96 as amended and supplemented by Law 19-20 (SAS). It must be different from any name already entered in the central commercial register and must not contain prohibited or reserved words.
❌ Grounds for refusal:
- Names identical or similar to existing company names or trademarks, to the point of creating confusion
- Names evoking public bodies or State institutions without authorization
- Regulated terms ("bank", "insurance") without the corresponding approval
- Terms contrary to public order or morality
- Names that are misleading as to your actual activity
- Generic terms in the field of activity without a distinctive element
✅ Also check: the name is preceded or followed by the indication of the legal form (SARL, SARL AU, SA or SAS); on documents intended for third parties, it is accompanied by the amount of the share capital (capital social).
What should you do if the chosen name is already taken?
If your search reveals an identical or overly similar name, or if OMPIC rejects your application, several solutions are available:
- Change the name: add a distinctive element or choose another name, then file a new application
- Plan backup names: by proposing up to three names in order of preference from the outset, you avoid starting from scratch
- Challenge the refusal through administrative remedies, if you consider that your name does not create confusion
Avoid getting around a refusal with a mere variant of an existing trademark: a name too similar to a well-known trademark exposes you to an opposition or an infringement action by its owner (Law 17-97).
How does Charikaty reserve your company name?
To reserve your name, here is what you need: a search in the OMPIC databases, one to three names, the legal form, the activity, the city of the registered office (siège social) and an identity document; with Charikaty, you do everything online. Law No. 88-17 allows all company formation formalities to be completed electronically: we check the availability of your name, obtain your negative certificate from OMPIC, have your articles of association signed electronically (Law 43-20) and file your application with the commercial court registry, online and within the certificate's period of validity.
Discover our online SARL formation service, which includes the reservation of your name. More than 250 companies have already been set up with Charikaty.
What should you remember to reserve a company name?
💡 Early reservation: You can apply for a negative certificate as soon as the name, legal form and activity have been decided, after a free search in the OMPIC databases.
Limited duration: The negative certificate expires after 90 days. Arrange the drafting of the articles of association and the filing of the registration file before this deadline.
Change of name: If you change your mind after obtaining the certificate, you will have to apply for a new one. You can draft your company's articles of association in parallel, but they must reproduce exactly the name in the certificate.
Negative certificate and trademark: The negative certificate protects the company name; the trademark (name, logo, slogan used with customers) is protected by a separate filing with OMPIC, valid for 10 years, renewable (Law 17-97). See what the negative certificate does and does not protect against a trademark.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a company name remain reserved?
A company name remains reserved for 90 days from the issue of the negative certificate. Lasting protection comes with registration in the Commercial Register within this period; otherwise, a new application must be filed.
How much does it cost to reserve a company name?
The search in the OMPIC databases is free; the reservation by negative certificate costs 232.76 MAD online, plus the payment operator's fees. Professional fees are added if you entrust the procedure to a service provider.
Can you reserve a company name from abroad?
Yes. The search and the negative certificate application are made online with OMPIC, with a copy of your passport, without traveling to Morocco. With Charikaty, we reserve your name as part of your remote company formation.
Why can a name reservation application be rejected?
OMPIC may reject a negative certificate application if the name is identical or similar to an existing company name or trademark, or if it contains prohibited or regulated terms. You can then propose another name.
Should you check trademarks as well as company names?
Yes. The negative certificate does not amount to a complete prior-rights search on trademarks: also consult the OMPIC trademark database, because a name too similar to a well-known trademark exposes you to an opposition or an infringement action by its owner (Law 17-97).
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