How to Choose a Business Name

The name of your business is the first thing that a potential customer will see. It can either entice them to do business with you or it can repel them from doing business with you.

Instructions

1. Create a brief statement about what your business does. Keep it as simple as possible.

2. Use the statement about what your business does to generate a list of words that can be used to describe your business.

3. Use this list to create five to ten potential business names.

4. Evaluate each potential name based on its ability to convey to customers what your company does. Consider simplicity, timelessness, professionalism, uniqueness and its ability to allow your company to expand to include new products and services in the future.

5. Select the business name that will have the most general appeal and that will also not be considered outdated in the near future because it was based on a fad or trend when the company first began operations.

6. Check to make sure that the business name that you selected is not already protected by trademark, and make sure that there isn't already a business using that name in your market or in your future projected markets. If your business name passes all of these tests, then you finally have a good name for your business.

Tips & Warnings

• Silly names are usually not good for business names.

• See what other profitable companies in your industry use as their business name and follow their lead.

• Simple business names make it easier for customers to remember who you are.

• Some company names are protected by trademark and using the business name, even if you don't know that it is trademarked can cost you a lot of money in legal fees.

• Don't make your business name too similar to another business in your industry.

• Register your business name as a trademark to protect it from unauthorized use by another company.