Tips For Naming Your Business

Choosing the right name for your startup is so important for many reasons. When naming and branding efforts are successful, you’ll benefit from a massive payoff in terms of recognition. In fact, 80% of people refer to a particular item by the respective brand name –Converse, Chapstick, Kleenex, Sharpie, and Tupperware are such vastly recognizable names that they’ve come to represent an entire range of products. But choosing a name can be difficult for many.

That’s why we have written this guide to come up with a great startup name.

1. NAME CHECK

Every business entity needs to register its name with the Secretary of State. Most Secretary of State websites have a search option that allows you to search for a business name. Search your state’s website to see if your name is already registered.

Also, keep an eye out for similar names to yours. If your name is too similar to another business, the Secretary of State may prevent you from registering your business.

2. SHORT IS SWEET

Don’t choose a name that is overly long. You are going to have to use it over and over. Also, avoid hard-to-spell and hard-to-pronounce names – you wouldn’t want your potential customers getting confused and constantly misspelling your company name, especially when they are trying to search for you online. Opt for a simple and catchy name.  It needs to be easy to type, easy to pronounce, and easy to remember. Keep in mind that most of the world’s best-known business names are just one word – think of AMAZON, APPLE, MICROSOFT, SAMSUNG, TOYOTA.

3. LEARN FROM OTHERS 

Find mentors, join groups with like-minded people, learn everything you can learn about your industry and what it takes to get from where you are to where you want to be. Also, you can attend industry conferences, take training courses when they are available. Even, if you have the opportunity you can buy courses offered by experts. You’ll save a tremendous amount of trial and error by learning from people who have been there before.

4. ADD SOME PERSONALITY

Adding a dash of distinctiveness is part of the creative process of brand naming, bringing a brand to life, making it more memorable and also more ownable in trademark terms. Distinctiveness can be through the way a name looks, and also the way it sounds. Some common techniques are mis-spelling (‘Irn-Bru’), exclamation (‘Yahoo!’), short-hand (‘eBay’), and use of different international languages (‘Lancöme’).

5. YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS A LEGAL NAME FOR THE FORMATION DOCUMENTS

An LLC’s or corporation’s legal name is the official name used when you file with the state to form your LLC or corporation. It appears on your formation document. This name must meet the state’s business entity naming requirements for LLCs and corporations. So, the recommendation from the experts is to be aware of the legal terms.

6. CONSIDER GETTING FEEDBACK FROM YOUR PEERS

A little feedback won’t hurt anybody. Come up with a shortlist of at least 5 names and run them by your family members, close friends, and even trusted colleagues. If you know anyone who currently runs a business or has previous experience it would help to receive their input as well. In that way, you will receive a recommendation from other people, and it will be helpful.

7. THINK PROTECTION BEFORE YOU GO TOO FAR 

It’s all well and good coming up with a great name, but it’s no use to anyone if you can’t protect it. Therefore, get input from your legal advisors early on, at least to agree with some initial parameters of where you can and cannot go with names.