What’s in a name? When it comes to business names, plenty. A business name becomes the representative of the brand. Your business name will project an image and carry with it people’s perception about the quality of your products or services. As result, choosing a business name is one of the most important tasks you’ll take on in launching your business. Here are some tips to choosing the best name for your business.
1. Include your service or products in the business name. When people hear your business name, they need to know what it is you offer. A name like ABC Incorporated doesn’t reveal anything about the company whereas ABC Marketing Services or ABC Toy Company does.
2. Use your given name if you’re well-known. If you’re known in your community or industry, include your given name in the business name.
3. Consider your image. Business names can vary from whimsical to professional. As a result, you need to choose a name that fits the image you want to project. Dot’s Chocolates gives a different image than Le Gourmet Chocolat.
4. Choose a name that will grow or expand with you. While you want your business name to describe what you do (#1), you don’t want to be so specific that you limit your ability to add new products or services in the future. For example, Wedded Bliss Bakery is great for a business focused on wedding cakes, but will have difficulty if it wants to expand to birthday cakes.
Take your ideas from #1-4 and mix and match to come up with different name combinations to find one that you like the best.
Warning!! Before officially choosing and registering a business name, verify that it’s not trademarked. Using a trademarked name can lead to legal hassles. Also check with your local and state business directories to see if anyone else is using the name. While it is possible to use a non-trademarked name that is taken by another business, its not recommended as it can cause confusion with your customers.
