Naming a Business: Things to Consider

So you want to start a business, and you have a pretty good idea of what’s going on, but you do not have a name! Well, here are some things to consider before doing too much more work on your new business venture.

Make sure the domain name is available. Nothing secures a domain name until you buy it. You cannot legally claim a domain just because that is your business name. So since you are starting anew, you can base your business name around available domain names. Try to avoid hyphens on the basis that they will be hard for your customers to remember; but, if you have to, use them, because they do help the search engines. Consider buying more than just .com because it will ensure that your customers find you.

Keep it short and simple. It will enhance memorability for your customers, and make things easier on you in terms of business branding (to be discussed in future blogs, of course). This will be something you will appreciate as your business grows, and help to establish it.

Think about it. Be sure that you think about the future, and consider facets of expanding your bsuiness later. You want to make sure that you leave room for growth. Also, think about what the name conveys, and other aspects of the name in that respect.

Marketing and Advertising are what you make them! Do not let the name determine your marketing and advertising. You can make it what you want, though some concepts will be easier to work with than others. If your budget allows, you can always hire a firm for help with that. If not, you can force yourself to think outside the box and be a bit more creative.

Consider Copyright and Trademark issues. You want to make sure that you are not infringing on anyone’s rights with this new business venture. You will also want to consider aspects of trademarking now, because even though you may not be able to afford it right now, it may be something that needs to be done in the future as your business grows. If you reach that point and find that you cannot trademark your business, you may have trouble then. Avoid it with some research. We will also discuss this in future blogs.

Of course, these are not the only things you must consider, but this will get you covered for sure. Take plenty of time to consider your business name, because this is a major part of your business. People will recognize you by, and you will be stuck with it.

Next week, we will cover ways to help you come up with your business name.

Share your thoughts about naming your business below.