Name check

Compared with the KBO register · free

Is your company name already in the register? Type the name you want to use. You see at once whether an active company in the KBO register already has the same or a similar name, and whether it works in your sector. Trademarks and domain names are checked separately.

“WHY NOT”

An active company already has this name

The name is not unique in the register. In another sector the risk of confusion is smaller, but customers and search engines do not always make that distinction.

Also pick your activity to see whether a similar name exists in your own sector.

What this check does and does not say

We compare against every name in the KBO register today: the name, the abbreviation and the trade names of enterprises and their establishments. Capitals, accents, punctuation and legal forms (bv, nv, srl, ...) do not count.
This is not a trademark search and not legal advice on using the name. A name that is not in the register can still be protected as a trademark. Trademarks are searched in the official registers of the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP, boip.int) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO, euipo.europa.eu).
A domain name or a social media handle is also separate from the register.

Same or very similar names

44 registered enterprises with a name easily confused with yours.

WHY NOT same name

Hasselt · since 1977
Why Not same name

Knokke-Heist · since 1986
WHY NOT same name

Elsene · since 1987
WHYNOT same name

Groothandel in suiker, chocolade en suikerwerk · Etterbeek · since 1993
WHY NOT (sole trader) same name

Full-service restaurants · since 1997
WHY NOT (sole trader) same name

Cafés and bars · since 1993
WHY NOT same name

Hairdressing and barber services · Mons · since 2014
WHY NOT same name

Name of an establishment of WHY NOT 1962 · Cafés and bars · Jodoigne · since 2015
WhyNot same name

Abbreviation of WhyNot.Digital · Computer consultancy and computer facilities management · Gent · since 2015
WHY NOT (sole trader) same name

Full-service restaurants · since 1996
WHY NOT (sole trader) same name

Visual arts creation · since 1979
why not same name

Courcelles · since 2018
Why Not (sole trader) same name

Other amusement and recreation activities · since 2020
Why Not (sole trader) same name

Performing arts by independent artists · since 2008
WHY NOT (sole trader) same name

Other holiday and short-stay accommodation · since 2010
WHY NOT (sole trader) same name

Full-service restaurants · since 1972
WHY NOT (sole trader) same name

Manufacture of outerwear · since 1977
WHYNOT?(ASBL) same name

Abbreviation of WHYNOT?SUSTAIN(ASBL) · Promotion and organisation of arts and performing arts events · Soumagne · since 2024
Why Not (sole trader) same name

Public relations and communication consultancy · since 2026
Why Not same namein bankruptcy or liquidation

Name of an establishment of MAVRYC · Event catering · since 2008
WHY NOW very similar

Retail sale of women's outerwear · Bütgenbach · since 2021
WHY NOT BIO very similar

Full-service restaurants · Mortsel · since 2016
Why not Wein (sole trader) very similar

News agency activities · since 2006
WHY NOT MUSIC (sole trader) very similar

Non-specialised wholesale trade · since 1994
Why Not Store (sole trader) very similar

Detailhandel in overig textiel · since 2016
Why_not_Nessa (sole trader) very similar

Other retail sale of food · since 2026
LE WHY NOT (sole trader) very similar

Limited-service restaurants, excluding mobile food services · since 2013
so, why not? very similar

Organisation of conventions and trade shows · Ingelmunster · since 2025
WY NOT very similar

Development of residential building projects · Rumst · since 2022
WHY NOT GLOBAL very similar

Wholesale of information and communication equipment · Schoten · since 1999
WHY NOT CORNER very similar

Non-specialised retail sale with food, beverages or tobacco predominating · Sprimont · since 2017
WHY NOT ? RACING very similar

Activiteiten van overige balsportclubs · Rumes · since 2017
WHY NOT BURGER very similar

Limited-service restaurants, excluding mobile food services · Aiseau-Presles · since 2023
WHY NOT TRAVEL very similar

Travel agency activities · Maasmechelen · since 2025
BAR WHY-NOT (sole trader) very similar

Full-service restaurants · since 1982
why not clothes (sole trader) very similar

Retail sale of other household articles · since 2018
WHY MOT (sole trader) very similar

Full-service restaurants · since 1983
WHYNUT very similar

Computer consultancy and computer facilities management · Merelbeke-Melle · since 2020
Why Not Wine Nat (sole trader) very similar

Freight transport by road · since 2026
W.H.Y. very similar

Business and other management consultancy · Antwerpen · since 2001
WHY very similar

Business and other management consultancy · Putte · since 2020
WHY NOT CONSULTING very similar

Business and other management consultancy · Schaarbeek · since 2024
WHY WHY very similar

Name of an establishment · Graphic design and visual communication · Elsene · since 2015
WHY NOT BAR very similarin bankruptcy or liquidation

Cafés and bars · since 2014

Names that resemble it 6 registered names with shared words or a related spelling.

WhyNot Gastrobar similar

Full-service restaurants · Gent · since 2020
Y NOT similar

Advertising agencies · Sint-Katelijne-Waver · since 2001
Y-NOT similar

Other information service activities · Ravels · since 2020
Y not (sole trader) similar

Post-production of films, video and television programmes · since 2009
Y?NOT similar

Business and other management consultancy · Tongeren-Borgloon · since 2006
YNOT similar

Other business support services · Andenne · since 2025

Next steps

How many businesses like yours are there already?Competitors in your municipality and your sector's figures. Already have a company?See how banks and suppliers see it.