What's in a NAME that MATTERS?

Naming Your Business

What’s the big deal in choosing a business name and why do people even bother to write such articles on the internet? Well, for your information, the reasons are plenty. Although the process sounds as simple as naming a puppy, the implications of naming your business cannot be considered light heartedly.

There’s a lot of difference in opinion of what makes a good business name. On top of that, there are legal issues to think about plus, the name you choose should be able to build a comprehensive ’business personality’ to what you do! So where do you get started?

Naming firms – What on Earth!?!?

Naming firms have the expertise and market knowledge to advice you on good names. Plus they know the way around trademark laws and other legal matters that can be linked to a name. So if you are serious about your business and if you know that what’s in a name is a lot more than a noun – talk to the experts. 

In case if the cost involved in paying for a naming firm is something your startup company budget cannot facilitate, you may take the DIY routine.

1. Determine a one word meaning you want to convey to the world with your business name. It may speak for your vision, the type of services you offer or highlight a special element in your business. However, the name should not be too specific as it will limit your business potentials. Experts also agree that meaningful words should be given preference over fabricated words when choosing a name for your business. As per the experts, meaningful words which are already familiar to people speaks to their mindset and makes them comfortable as opposed to having to adjust to a fabricated word! But of course, there are many exceptions to this rule. Look at Google for example.
2. You may know what you want to convey through your business name but you may run out of ideas how to put it in a nice way. This is where brainstorming comes in handy. If you have business partners, start a brainstorming session to determine the business name. Once you’ve got 5-6 candidates that you feel would make up a good business name, look for second opinions from others such as family and friends.
3. Once you’ve narrowed down your list to 2-3 potential names, start a trademark check. If the names you like are already taken up, you may want to try adding a variation to the names. Two important things to consider when checking names against trademark legalities are the type of business you are offering and the business strength of the company that already uses your preferred name. If the already existing trademark has made a strong presence in the market and if you decide on a similar trademark, you may come out looking like someone who replicated the name for misguided advantage. In such case, since you wouldn’t want to give the wrong message to people,  it is always best to choose another name.