How Do I Create A Business Name?

Have you chosen a business name? Or you do not know where to start?

Either way, you need to do some research. After all it is going to be around for a long time.

Consider these before you choose:

1) It should be straightforward to let your customers know what product or service you provide.

2) A clever name may be fun but your customers may not have a clue what you do.

3) Stay away from names that are already registered or trademarked.

4) Make it easy to pronounce and remember.

5) Using your own name works if you are trying to have a close tied to your personal reputation for quality work (lawyers and accountants do this often.) However, if you are planning in selling your business later on, you may not want your name associated with someone else's business.

6) Use geographical location, like a street name or town if "location" is important to what you are offering. This is particularly good for real estate agents of small towns. If you a trying to catch the world you may want to reconsider this option

7) Home business owner want to decide on a name that tells a story.

Follow this simple steps:

1) Brainstorm: Brainstorming for a business name is crucial. Write down all your possible names or ideas. After this, score them in order of preference and only work with the first five on your list.

2) Use Thesaurus.com: Research the root of your name, the translation in Latin, just study your words and do step 1 again with your new added words,

3) Review: Review your list and read each name aloud. How do you feel about each name? What do you like about them? Do you have your five favorite names?

4) Double check: Choose one person that understands who you are and what your goal is. Give that person permission to give you feedback and be open to it. Do not take the feedback personal. Listen and if necessary make some changes to your list.

5) Step away: Step away from your list for at least 24 hours and come back to it. Read all your business names aloud again. If you need to, repeat steps 1 - 3, then do it. Remember that you are going to spend a long time with this name. If you spend 2-3 days finding the right business name then do not hesitate.

6) Get out trouble: Do the necessary research before making your final choice

a. Take your priority names and check trademarks. A trademark law prevents you from using or operating under that name. If you use a trademark name, you may have to pay monetary fees and be forced to change your business name. In other words, do not violate the law and find a name that it is legally available. Refer to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (for federal) trademark registration.

b. Check your county clerk's office and Secretary of the State. This step is especially important if you are planning to incorporate and check the list of fictitious names which are usually not registered trademarks.

c. Check the domain name: Find out if the domain name is available. The most common domain names end in .com and .net. You want to own yourbusiness.com or yourbusiness.net. If these are not available, you may want to reconsider. However, if you still like your name a lot and would like to proceed, you have some alternatives. Read: the domain name for my business is not available, what should I do?

7. Claim it... Congratulations. If you made it here, this means you have found a name and it is time to claim it. Register your new business name and buy your new domain name. MonicaBeltran.com readers get 10% discount with GoDaddy.

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