Tag: small business name

16 tips for choosing a small business name

small business name tips

Your small business’ name is important, but there are a few guidelines and tips that can make the process a little easier. Here are 16 of our top tips for choosing a great small business name.

  • Keep your small business name memorable.
  • Keep your business name short.
  • Be creative, but not too out there.
  • Allow room for future growth.
  • Can your ideas fit together to form one name?
  • Use synonyms or words starting with the same letters to find something catchy.
  • Go online to search – try trademark searches, a simple web search, or a NUANS name search.
  • Check domain name availability – you may not be able to get a .com of your exact name, but look for alternatives such as .ca and .net. You can also get a descriptive URL, such as waveapps.com.
  • Look for a name that you’ll be able to use in the same form across various social media platforms – you may need to add a descriptive word here too, like with your URL.
  • Avoid restricted small business names – these include names that are too similar to existing businesses, are considered obscene or inappropriate, or suggest a connection with the Royal Family or with the government.
  • Ask yourself how the name will follow your brand.
  • Determine how your name will distinguish you from competitors in your industry.
  • Decide to what extent the name will describe the product or service that you’re offering. This doesn’t have to necessarily be right in the company name – it could always be used as a tagline or catchy phrase.
  • Think of some distinguishing names that would work for your business and write them down. Don’t second-guess yourself – let your creativity fly!
  • Take some time away from your list of potential names and focus on something else for a while.
  • After some time, return to your list and start the process of elimination.

Good luck!

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How to choose a small business name

Choosing a great name for your small business doesn’t have to mean years of work and a few sleepless nights, but there are several things to consider.

  • How will the name follow your brand?
  • How will you distinguish your name from competitors?
  • How will your name describe the product or service that you’re offering? This doesn’t have to necessarily be right in the company name – it could always be used as a tagline or catchy phrase.

Think of some distinguishing names that would work for your business and write them down. Don’t second-guess yourself – let your creativity fly!

Now, take some time away from your list of potential names and focus on something else for a while. When you return all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, take another look at your ideas and start the elimination process.

Is there a way that your ideas can fit together to provide one name? Use synonyms or words starting with the same letters to find something catchy. If catchy doesn’t work, why not pick out some of your favourite letters and start trying to make up some words?

Finally, before going any further, take the top possibilities and do some searching online. Whether it’s through NUANS name searches, trademark searches or just a simple Google search, check out whether or not the name, or anything similar, is in use. Don’t forget to check domain names too if this is something important to your company.

Want more tips? Check out our related post, Choosing a great small business name.

Good luck!

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Choosing a great small business name

What’s in a name? Well, when it comes to your small business – quite a lot. Your name will be one of the first things customers know about you. It’s important that your name is easy to remember and says something about the kind of business you are. Read on for more tips on choosing a small business name – unless you’re a sole proprietor operating under your own name, that is.

  • Keep your small business name memorable – What name is more likely to stick in your brain: Maria’s Delightful and Custom-Made Floral Boutique, or Flowers By Maria?
  • Keep your business name short – As you can probably tell by the first example, shorter names tend to be easier to remember. They also reduce confusion about what you offer.
  • Be creative, but not too wacky – Let your imagination loose when creating your small business name, but keep the first two tips in mind. Whatever you do, make sure your small business’ name isn’t unintentionally funny or involves elaborate spelling. And write out your name in all one word so you can run the same tests on your potential URL.
  • Avoid restricted small business names – Stay clear of names that are too similar to existing businesses, or that are considered obscene or inappropriate. You also won’t be allowed to register a name that suggests a connection with the Royal Family or with the government.
  • Allow room for growth – If your small business is one that could expand from its current product or service offering, it might be a good idea to keep your name slightly more general. For example, a graphic design business operating under the name Crystal Clear Print Design might find itself stuck once it decides to expand into web design.

 

 

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