An upgrade in the Companies Office of Jamaica software system used to process amendments in business names has improved the turnaround time to same-day delivery, as well as removed express fees associated with the service.

The expedited service will now see customer’s requests for the renewing and closing business names moving to same-day service from a previous wait time of five days. The agency also removed express service fees of $3,000 and $1,500 for same-day and next-day services respectively.

The COJ, in a release yesterday, said the upgrade intechnology systems was aligned with it’s vision to improve overall efficiency as well as improve customer satisfaction.

“We have been listening to our customers, and the improved offering is another step in catering to entrepreneurs and investors doing business in Jamaica. Provided that there are no changes to the business name, the customer will submit the application for processing and pick up the document an hour after paying the $2,500 fee,” registrar and CEO of the COJ, Judith Ramlogan, said.

Under the Business Name Registration Act, business owners must renew their registration every three years and file a closure notice with the COJ if the business ceases to operate. Failure to renew the registration or close the business name may result in fines and penalties.

The COJ, which is an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries tasked with the registration of all companies and businesses operating in Jamaica, started testing for the improved service in June in order to ascertain the agency’s capacity to offer the new service.

“The results were overwhelming…further testing was done in-house and on our recent COJ Mobile in Trelawny and St Ann, and the feedback has all been positive,” Ramlogan said.