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I need help with my business name.

by 512 Designs
11 replies
I currently own a video production company called Willow Productions and our website is WillowVideoProductions.com. We do a lot of wedding and event type video shoots and I want to expand our business into the offline marketing and promotion field. SMS marketing, website design, logos, graphic design, etc.

I've been making a few cold calls saying I'm from Willow Productions simply because if I do get a quick sale, I already have that business name, checking and credit merchant account already set up.

But would it be better if I started a second company under a completely different name, different checking account, etc.? Or can I use a different name and simply say it's "a division of Willow Productions" and still use my current business setup to accept checks and payments under Willow Productions?

The other thing is that my website includes the word Video in it because that's what we only originally did and most other website URLs with Willow are taken. So I'd like to make a new site to promote the new marketing services.
#business
  • Profile picture of the author redlegrich
    I would create a very friendly domain name (or many) and make that your "company name". The back end of things, why duplicate it if you already have it. A note on the bottom of a site that it is a division of Willow Productions would be fine.

    It's so easy no to create virtual companies that are really just websites designed to be found in searches. If you are offering text messaging then be Tacoma (or whatever) Text Marketing with that domain name.

    Find the niche, find the domain, name the business. Rinse and repeat. It's all about capturing a search and converting it into a sale.
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    • Profile picture of the author MaxReferrals
      What redlegrich said.
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    • Profile picture of the author mrcouchpotato
      Originally Posted by redlegrich View Post

      I would create a very friendly domain name (or many) and make that your "company name". The back end of things, why duplicate it if you already have it. A note on the bottom of a site that it is a division of Willow Productions would be fine.

      It's so easy no to create virtual companies that are really just websites designed to be found in searches. If you are offering text messaging then be Tacoma (or whatever) Text Marketing with that domain name.

      Find the niche, find the domain, name the business. Rinse and repeat. It's all about capturing a search and converting it into a sale.
      That's exactly what I want to hear I was hoping it was ok to simply put "Division of Willow Productions" and have all invoices and payments go through that company instead of creating a whole new company.

      I assume it would also be ok to create a new logo and letterhead (with the new company name) for mailings as long as "Division of Willow Productions" is still on there.
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  • Profile picture of the author redlegrich
    mrcouchpotatoe, frankly I would not worry too much about this division of WP thing. Maybe a link at the bottom of your website but that's about it. If you deliver the goods then nobody is going to care a bit.

    Heck, I'll bet if anyone asks about it and you explain how you have niche web businesses to target specific business searches they will ask you how you can do it for them! Poof, a new revenue opportunity!
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  • Profile picture of the author TheLocalCoach
    If you have synergy with Willow Video (even if its back-end) for marketing, it would make sense to use Willow in the name. How about combining 2 of the services, in some combo unlikely to already be taken? Something like WillowWebandSMS.com? Or WillowWebandMobile.com? These aren't greta choices, but maybe get some thoughts going. Good luck.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sondor
      Just make sure to register the DBA in your state, and you can have Willow be the umbrella corp.
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      • Profile picture of the author jimevee
        Hi. I'm in the merchant account business and I just wanted to let you know that you will need to set-up a separate merchant accounts for the different types of business's you want to set-up because your original merchant account was set-up, underwritten, approved and assigned an SIC code based on your type of current business. If not you will be very susceptible to charge backs and worse yet fines up to $5,000 each by Visa and Mastercard for violating your merchant agreement on the because the types of services your offering are different that what you stated on your agreement. If this were to happen you would be out on the TMF list which would prevent you from opening another merchant account from any provider. The reason being each different business has different underwriting criteria for approval and possibly different interchange rates based on those factors. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sondor
    For a quick and easy way to accept Credit Card payments, I love SquareUp (google 'em - Not an affiliate).

    2.75% transaction fee, but no monthly, and no out of pocket expense for a portable CC acceptance machine.

    Note in their FAQ's the delay when you are new if you exceed $1,000 in deposits in the first 7 days though.
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    • Profile picture of the author jimevee
      I understand the card swipers are garbage though. There are better IPhone Android solutions available with high quality swipe devices that you can link to a real merchant account.
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  • Profile picture of the author tambajosephfoyah
    What I would suggest is to keep the Willow Productions name since your company is already established under that identity. Plus Willow Productions has an over arching feel so even though you're going into the Print Industry it will still apply.
    What you will however need to do is register a new domain name (or two) that applies to the print niche and redirect it to page on your site that is geared to those new services you're offering. For example you could register WillowPrintProdutions or WillowDesigns etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author fitz10
    If you're trying to establish the second company as a niche service have a second doing business as (DBA) under your main company. So for example I have a company Strategic Advantage Marketing, but we have a few DBA's for certain services and products.

    On the other hand if Willow Productions is well known in the community and has a definite brand to it, you may want to capitalize on that and do business under the old name.
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