What’s in a Business Name?

When you’re naming your business, it’s important not to get cute, but be clear. To many times, new business owners try to get really creative with their business name, only to confuse their would-be customers as to who you are and what you do.

Consider the following when you’re developing your business name:  

1. Is it easy to say?
   1. If you become known for doing some really great work in your market or your industry, the last thing you want is for it to be hard for people to refer you! If you have to correct people on the pronunciation of your business name more than they get it right, you might want to consider something else.
2. Is it easy to spell?
   1. When you give out your email address or website, will you have to repeat it multiple times? Is it likely that a potential customer or partner will spell it wrong when remembering you at a later date?
3. Is it easy to remember?
   1. Having a memorable business name can be really helpful for brand recognition, referrals, and follow up.
4. Is it available?
   1. If someone else has already built a big brand out of the name you want, you’ll want to consider something else. It’s also good to look at social media handles, web addresses, and trademarks to see how much trouble you’ll have using the name you want.

Creativity counts, but clarity wins. Avoid inside jokes or complicated acronyms. Think about what you do and who you help. If your name fits with both, then you’re on the right track.

Pro tip: Say it out loud. Tell it to a stranger. If they get it, you’re golden. If they ask a lot of questions, you may want to go back to the drawing board.