Choosing Your Business Name?

by jsmiz
14 replies
At what point of seing success did you go from running your business under your name to using a business name?

How did you came up with that name?

I'm thinking about it...but not sure how to come up with a good relevant business name. Any tips?

Thanks!
#business #choosing
  • Profile picture of the author asiriusthoth
    Good question...

    I knew from the start, once I left my previous job, I had to start my own company. I teamed up with a friend who I knew for about 2 years. He also had a marketing background. We thought the company needed to be in the SEO field, so that had to be in our name. We then thought; how about the 1st letter in your name and the 1st letter in my name? JRSEO became into existence =)

    Besides that; we needed a company for tax purposes ha ha.
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    • Profile picture of the author blackli0n
      I tend to see business names as being less important than you think it is. From my experience, business names were created on a whim. We had to create a name and LLC in order to accept some big contracts. Usually we had to create in order to fit a business that was already in place.

      What many people do, and not as effectively, is figure out the name first before they establish the business. And it doesn't works because you end up trying to fit the business to the name, instead of fitting the name to the business. Does that make sense? :p
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  • Profile picture of the author andyredsox
    Business Name is important to create a brand for your business.

    It will set you a part from any competition.

    You can come up with any business name as long as you can establish it as YOUR brand.

    Name the business and stick with it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Radegast83
    I think more than ever before when it comes to chosing a business name you also need to check if your chosen name is still available on the social networks, domain names etc.

    Personally, I would say the name needs to be catchy and easy to remember. Also when you name your company TLC, you won't give people any clues what your business does. If you name it TLC Car Care, they will get a pretty good idea what you do. Also it will be easier for you to rank well in Google with a longer tail business name. For example TLC Car Care ltd rather then just TLC.
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  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    When you are online and have a very small business like being an affiliate, you have to register your own business name and have it on paper to do anything. Unless you are doing everything under the table and do not disclose your earnings to the government, you don't have to register a business name.

    I would register it if I were you if you are serious about success and making money online your full time career.

    When I got online for the first time back in 2002 I knew that I was going to be a business owner online and registered my own business name even when I did not earn any money online for my first 5 years.

    I don't think it matters what kind of name you register. You can choose what ever you want.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kenster
    thesaurus.com is how I get most of my product and business names haha.

    I actually spend more time than most people because I like visualize and feel the business (or product) before I even start working on it. A bad product name can have a substantial impact on your commitment and motivation towards it
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyTorrents
    Wow, I was just thinking about posting the exact same thread. I recently made a blog for my writing service and I am planning on making a Facebook page for it but I am not sure what to call the Facebook page. The URL of my blog is just my name. I guess I can just keep it personal unless I plan on setting up a huge content writing business... not sure.
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  • Profile picture of the author thetrusted1
    jsmiz,

    I actually created an LLC entity, years ago, as surprisingly my first step, in my ventures into the online world,....not knowing what the hell I was doing!!

    I remember doing it thru LegalZoom.com (i think!). And it was a pretty weak-azz, generic name that had absolutely nothing to do with what I was trying to sell.

    Anyways,...despite setting that LLC entity up so early in the game, I ended up abandoning it, and reverting back to doing business under my name....

    LOL! in fact, I just added as , Esq. at the end of my name to splash a dash of "professionalism" to it! (it seems to be working!)

    I do, however, plan on revamping my LLC entity soon again though, when the timing is right (i.e. as my business is actually scaling back up rather nicely this year already!)

    Hope this helps! (The eventual tax benefits you'll receive as a business entity, once your business starts making a pretty healthy profit, makes it worthwhile).

    The Best is Yet to Come...

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  • Profile picture of the author chsmart
    I agree that name of our business is very important. The name will motivate us to do better, so choosing the useful and proper name of our business will determine how our business works.
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  • Profile picture of the author jsmiz
    Thanks to all of you for your inputs so far! I'm gonna switch from running my affiliate business under my name to a business name.

    What i'm still unsure about is which words/wording to use after my initials...lol
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  • Profile picture of the author jsmiz
    So guys, how did you cam up with your business names?
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    • Profile picture of the author israelwittow
      Hey, I'm really stuck on this for a while...if someone could give me an idea I'd really appreciate it.I do 3d rendering/ layouts and I'm looking for a name to call my company, any ideas?
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  • Profile picture of the author HorseStall
    This article has some good advice on how to research names, and what to becareful of.

    Here are some tips on selecting a domain name Choose A Domain

    Should get you started!
    Best of luck
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  • Profile picture of the author techbul
    A business under your name represents good-luck. I would always stick with a business under my name.
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