Register a subsidiary business name in Ghana without confusing it with a new company.

An ORC subsidiary business name lets an existing company operate under a business name that is different from its corporate name. It is not always the same thing as setting up a new subsidiary company or registering a foreign branch.

Start registration

Overview

ORC explains that a company may carry on business under a subsidiary business name that does not consist of its corporate name. The parent company owns the subsidiary business name.

This path is useful when a Ghana-registered company wants a trading name for a product line, branch, or brand. The filing needs the parent company stamp and a signature by an existing director or secretary.

If a company formed outside Ghana is establishing a place of business in Ghana, ORC guidance for external companies may be the more relevant path. That branch-style route has different forms, local manager requirements, foreign incorporation documents, and fees.

Key facts

Registered with	Office of the Registrar of Companies
Official form	Form C
Owner	An existing parent company
Signature	Existing director or secretary with parent-company stamp
ORC processing fee	GHS 100
Annual renewal	GHS 60 each year

Best for

Existing Ghana companies that want to trade under a separate brand, branch name, product line, or operating name.
Businesses that do not need a new company with separate directors, shareholders, and stated capital.
Parent companies that can prove their corporate details and sign the Form C filing through an authorized director or secretary.

What to prepare

Parent company name, registration number, registered office, contact information, and company stamp.
Proposed subsidiary business name options and the business activity to be carried on under that name.
Director or secretary signing details and evidence that the signer is already an officer of the parent company.
If the parent is foreign or creating a Ghana branch, documents may instead need to follow the external company route.

Steps

Decide whether this is a trading name or a separate entity: A subsidiary business name belongs to the parent company. If you need separate ownership, new shares, or foreign branch registration, confirm the right structure first.
Search the proposed business name: Run a name availability check before using the brand publicly or preparing customer-facing documents.
Complete Form C with parent-company authority: ORC guidance calls for a prescribed Form C, signed by an existing director or secretary, with the parent-company stamp.
Submit and pay the ORC fee: Submit the completed Form C for verification and capturing, then pay the listed ordinary processing fee or optional VIP fee if selected.
Renew and keep parent records aligned: Keep the subsidiary business name renewed annually and make sure parent-company changes do not leave the trading-name records out of date.

Costs

ORC registration	GHS 100 ordinary processing fee
Optional VIP service	ORC lists a separate GHS 400 VIP fee in addition to ordinary processing
Annual renewal	GHS 60 per year
Foreign branch alternative	External company registration is listed separately by ORC with USD-based fees

After registration

Renew the subsidiary business name each year and keep the parent-company authority records ready.
Update the official registration records if the parent company changes name, registered office, directors, secretary, or business activity.
Keep invoicing, bank, tax, and customer-facing documents clear about the parent company behind the trading name.
For foreign companies with an established place of business in Ghana, review external company filings, local manager requirements, and group-account filing duties.

Common mistakes

Assuming a subsidiary business name creates a separate company; it is owned by the parent company.
Using the route for a foreign branch when external company registration is actually required.
Letting the trading name renewals drift separately from the parent company compliance calendar.

Frequently asked questions

Is a subsidiary business name a separate company?

No. ORC describes it as a business name owned by the parent company, used when the company carries on business under a name different from its corporate name.

Who signs the subsidiary business name application?

ORC guidance says the parent-company stamp is required and the application should be signed by one existing director or secretary.

What if the parent company is foreign?

A foreign company with an established place of business in Ghana may need external company registration, which has different forms, local manager requirements, and fees.