How to Pick a Business Name

Choosing a Business Name

Making the decision to open a business on your own is difficult enough, so when the time comes to pick the name you shouldn't have to labor over your final decision. Oftentimes the best name is the very first one you think of.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Creativity
• Notepad
• Internet or Phone Directory

How to Pick a Business Name

1. Start by brainstorming about what the best name for your business would be. You want something that is catchy, precise and pleasing to the eye. You want something that people will remember. Grab a notepad and just start scribbling down everything you can think of, no matter how absurd or silly the suggestions may seem. Make sure that everyone who will have a say in the business is present for this brainstorming session, and consider including people you know who are creative or who have experience in marketing.

2. Toss around several different business names and then pick a few that everyone agrees are the best of the bunch. Talk about the pros and cons of each name, and then settle upon one or two business names that you like and which seem to indicate the image you would like your business to portray. Once you have the one or two names selected, you need to make sure that the names are appropriate and available.

3. Make sure the name you choose does not have any bizarre connotations that might make your business seem like something it's not. For example, don't name your massage therapy business "Rub You Right" unless you want people to giggle every time they see a sign with the name. Be wary of choosing a name that has a double meaning in an attempt to be clever since you never know if consumers will assume your business is something that it isn't.

4. Make sure that no other business has the name. Don't open a business called "Tom's Auto Repair" if down the road there is another mechanic shop with the same name because, not only will it confuse potential customers, but you might wind up in court. You can easily check to see if the name you want is available, or already in use, by flipping through the neighborhood phone directory or conducting an Internet search. You should also avoid using a play on an already famous name when naming your business, especially when there is a trademark involved.

5. Sketch some pictures of your potential business name on t-shirts, billboards, business cards and any other marketing tools you can think of. Make sure you like the way the name looks. If it just doesn't look right then it's time to start over with a new brainstorming session, but if it looks great then you have a name for your business.

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on how you run your business, you may need to add subscripts to your business name such as LLC or Inc.

• You can trademark your business name as long as nobody else already has.

• Avoid legal battles by not copying names of existing businesses.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• How to Start a Small Business