Prepare the wording before the application so the name, activity, bank file and tax records tell the same basic story about the business.
Describe the real commercial activity
Start with a verb and the product or service: retail sale of..., installation of..., consulting in..., food preparation and sale of..., or another plain description that fits the work.
Do not hide a regulated or specialized activity behind broad wording such as “general services” if the business will actually operate in a specific field.
Keep the description broad enough for the intended work, but truthful
A description that is too narrow can stop matching the business quickly, while wording that covers every imaginable industry can be unclear.
List the core activities the owner genuinely expects to conduct and ask for appropriate professional advice where the activity affects licensing or tax treatment.
Use similar language across the business file
The Registry description, bank application, business plan, website and invoices do not need to be identical sentences, but they should describe the same underlying business.
Conflicting descriptions can cause extra questions when a bank or authority is trying to understand the company.
Update the Registry when the registered particulars change
The Registry publishes a Statement of Change process for changes to individual or partnership business particulars, including nature of business.
Companies use the post-incorporation or amendment process that applies to the company record being changed.
Write the activity description so a reader can understand what the business actually does.
Use plain commercial language. State the main product or service and, where useful, who it is supplied to or how it is delivered. Avoid a list of every possible activity the owner might pursue one day.
A focused description is easier to reuse later when a bank, insurer, tax authority or supplier asks what the business does. If the business operates in a regulated sector, a clear description also makes it easier to identify whether a separate licence or approval may be needed.
Review the description before filing and make sure it matches the business model discussed with customers and other institutions.
Questions people ask
Can I write “general services” as the activity?
Use wording that clearly describes the actual business. Very broad wording may not help the Registry, bank or customer understand the activity.
Can the activity change later?
Yes, but the applicable Registry record should be updated when the registered particulars change.
Should my bank application match CROS?
The wording can differ in detail, but the business activity should tell a consistent story across official and banking records.