Chapter III · Articles of association · Section I · Execution and registration

Article 10 Requirements concerning the business name

Artigo 10.º · Requisitos da firma

Código das Sociedades Comerciais · Decree-Law No. 262/86 · consolidated text checked 26 October 2026

#

1. The distinctive elements of a company's business name may not suggest an activity other than that constituting its object.

1 - Os elementos característicos das firmas das sociedades não podem sugerir actividade diferente da que constitui o objecto social.

#

2. Where the company’s business name consists exclusively of the names or business names of all, one or some of its members, it must be wholly distinct from business names already registered.

2 - Quando a firma da sociedade for constituída exclusivamente por nomes ou firmas de todos, algum ou alguns sócios deve ser completamente distinta das que já se acharem registadas.

#

3. A company's business name consisting of a distinctive designation, or of such a designation together with the name or business name of a member, may not be identical to another company's registered business name or so similar as to be misleading.

3 - A firma da sociedade constituída por denominação particular ou por denominação e nome ou firma de sócio não pode ser idêntica à firma registada de outra sociedade, ou por tal forma semelhante que possa induzir em erro.

#

4. Designations consisting exclusively of words in common use which identify or relate to an activity, technique or product, or of place names or any indication of geographical origin, are not permitted.

4 - Não são admitidas denominações constituídas exclusivamente por vocábulos de uso corrente, que permitam identificar ou se relacionem com actividade, técnica ou produto, bem como topónimos e qualquer indicação de proveniência geográfica.

#

5. A company's designation may not include:

5 - Da denominação das sociedades não podem fazer parte:

#

a) Expressions liable to mislead as to the company's legal nature, in particular expressions commonly used to designate public bodies or non-profit legal persons;

a) Expressões que possam induzir em erro quanto à caracterização jurídica da sociedade, designadamente expressões correntemente usadas na designação de organismos públicos ou de pessoas colectivas sem finalidade lucrativa;

#

b) Expressions prohibited by law or offensive to morality or accepted standards of conduct.

b) Expressões proibidas por lei ou ofensivas da moral ou dos bons costumes.

What we checked in this article

Distinctiveness, misleading similarity, generic designations and prohibited expressions are all retained.

Is Article 10 relevant to a company you run or plan to set up?

We advise on Portuguese company law in English every day: formation, capital, members’ resolutions, managers’ liability and restructuring. A written answer and a fixed quote within one working day.

Unofficial English translation prepared by BCA Portugal for reference. Only the Portuguese text published in the Diário da República has legal force. Editorial notes are ours and are not part of the statute.

Applying the law

Portuguese company law, explained in English by the people who apply it

Reading the statute is the first step. Applying it to your articles of association, your capital and your board is where mistakes cost money. Tell us what you are deciding and we will set out the rules that apply and what it costs to get it done.

Get a quote