Golden Rules for Choosing your Business Name

Naming your business can be a nightmare. The journey from what you thought could work, to what you end up using, can be a nail-biting, hair-pulling nightmare. These rules make it easier for you.

DO:

• Use real words / combinations of real words.
• Reinforce your business offering.
• Remind your customers of your business when they hear/read your business name.
• Make it appealing to your customer demographic.
• Make it easy to spell, pronounce, and remember.
• Try for unique & unforgettable (sticky), but still making sense.
• Make it meaningful for your audience, not just for you.
• Consider a name that lends itself to wordplay.
• Try to give a clue to what your business does.
• Go for positive connotations, something pleasant & uplifting.
• Keep it simple and short.
• Play with phrases.
• Consider a visual element.

DON'T

• Get friends & family involved; rather ask potential clients.
• Pick a long, confusing name.
• Use obscure puns.
• Add an adjective to a noun - it ends up being awkward.
• Use a vanilla term like "General" or "Regional".
• Use your city / state / region.
• Include over-used terms like "Best" or "Peak", etc.
• Pick an obscure word or term that is hard to spell or relate to.
• Use awkwardly constructed terms.
• Keep a name that does not work for your business.
• Use acronyms, numbers, or initials.
• Try for unusual spelling of common words.
• Use hyphens or special characters.
• Create a trendy name (which will become dated soon).
• Copy an existing business name.
• Name your business after yourself (unless you're famous in your field already).

Make a short-list of 3 to 5 business names

• Try them out on potential investors or clients.
• Practice using them in conversation & print.

Check that the domain names are available

• Make sure the domain names are available - you want your company name and internet domain name to be the same, else it gets confusing for your clients.
• Favour common suffixes, like .com.

Make your final decision

Which one best matches your business objectives? Register that one!

The most fabulous business name is no good without a business plan - get yours here.