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Naming literally anything is a hard task. Finding the perfect name for your small business? It can be daunting. The name should be descriptive without being too wordy; unique without being too hard to remember; something that will set you apart from competition yet keeps you relevant to what you do; and most of all, reflect you as a business owner. There are so many factors that it can start to feel overwhelming, yet it’s one of the most important elements to starting a small business. Following the tips below can help streamline the process and make it seem a little less challenging than it is.
Take Your Time
Since the name is one of the most important pieces of your business, it can take some serious time, so let that happen. You don’t want to rush into a name that can potentially pigeonhole you and not allow your business to expand in the future. A change of name can be costly and can confuse your customer base, so trust the process and take your time.
Know Your Goal
In order to name your business, you need to know your end goal. What services do you want to offer? What do you want to sell? How will your business help your community? Who is your target audience? Is there something unique that you want to convey? Answering questions like these will help you distinguish your business and make naming it a little easier.
Brainstorm
Write down a list of words you associate with your business and then write down their synonyms. Even though not all of them will be keepers, it will help you focus on creative and unique words that can either inspire your business name or become your business name.
Check, Check, Then Triple Check
Once you’ve thought of your business name, it’s time to check all sources. First, if you plan on registering as an LLC, you’ll need to ensure with the State and Federally that your business name is unique to you and there aren’t any companies with similar names. This business name search tool is a great resource for this part of the process.
Next is a domain name check. GoDaddy is a great way to check if a domain name has already been taken or if it’s still up for grabs. Keep in mind that there are many extensions you can use, such as .NET, .ORG, .CO, etc., but a .COM domain is still the easiest to remember.
Finally, do a social media search. Social media is huge these days, and for a lot of small businesses, it’s their sole way of marketing and making money. Take some time to check different platforms for your business name to make sure someone else hasn’t already used it.
Namechk is a great site to look over your business name in all aspects. It will check if a domain is open and under what extension, as well as check for social media usernames across many platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc.
When you’re just starting out in the small business world, many things can seem scary… especially figuring out the perfect name. Following some simple tips and really exploring the creative process can make things feel a lot less intimidating. Have fun with it and trust the process. You’ll thank yourself later!
