Catchy Business Names

Catchy business names for your small or home business.

The best names for a business are those that get attention, are easy to remember and associate clearly with your business. There are many tried and tested ideas about what makes a good business name and many hours of research have gone into finding why certain business names work and others don't.

We answer frequently asked questions about how to choose a memorable and successful business name with helpful examples.

• What are the most important criteria for a business name? Your business name should include one or two keywords about what your business does so it immediately informs people about your business. It should also clearly highlight why people would want to use your business. It should describe the benefits of your business for the customer. For example if your business is photography a business name such as Inspirational Images or Picture Perfect Photography tells the customer what your business is about and why they should choose you. However a photography business name such as Jack Green Photography does not send any message about what makes that photography business any better than the next one on the list and why the customer should choose it. Catchy business names, in addition to telling people what your business does and how it does it, should be simple, short (preferably no longer than four words), easy to remember and easy to pronounce.
• How do I come up with catchy business names? Use all the resources available. Sit down with a dictionary, a thesaurus, Google the nature of your business and visit associated websites for ideas. Newspapers and magazines can generate business name ideas, particularly specialist magazines in your business field. Get a bunch of friends together and have a brainstorming session. Visit Business Names Ideas to see what steps to take to find the right business name.
• What makes a business name memorable and successful? Consider business names that have caught your attention and that you remember well - what makes them special? A creative and distinctive business name will stick in your mind. Usually the most forgettable names are those that consist entirely of the business owner's name, a geographic location or just literally describe a product or service such as Garden Maintenance. Consider these memorable examples.
  Pay Pal is a hugely successful brand. It's business name managed to put a friendly angle on the payments business. The use of words like pal, buddy, friend send a warm and helpful message about your business.
  Twitter This word clearly describes what the service is about - short little bursts of information like birds twittering. It sends a message that this is exciting (all atwitter) and it is fun to say.
  Burger King A straightforward simple message - this burger rules! The word King creates a perception of quality, something special and above the rest.
• What about acronyms? It is tempting to use an acronym to make it short and simple. However most small businesses do not have the resources of an IBM to educate the market on what the acronym stands for and means. The same applies to business names assembled from word parts such as FedEx which is actually Federal Express Corporation. As a small business you are unlikely to have the marketing budget to inform people where the name comes from.
• What about rhyming words? Do you still remember the nursery rhymes you were taught as a child? Memory management gurus teach people to use rhymes to help remember information. Rhyming is seen to be effective because it helps to fasten words in the mind and make them easier to remember. Research has shown that rhymes also make a phrase more believable, supposedly because the pleasant sound of a rhyme suggests truth to people. Consider catchy business names such as Lean Cuisine, Passion for Fashion, and Toys for Boys. These names are memorable and credible and, importantly, they tell you what the business is about. Rhyming is effective but avoid compromising your business message for the sake of a rhyming business name.
• Does alliteration work? Allieration contains repetition which gives a business name a sing song quality similar to rhyming. It helps to make a name memorable. Consider well known business names like Blockbuster, Bargain Basement and Dunkin' Donuts. However avoid forced alliteration and don't sacrifice a meaningful business name or confuse customers about what you do for the sake of alliteration - alliteration is just one tool that works in a business name.
• What about a play on words? A play on words can be both witty and memorable. As long as the business name still informs what the business is about this can be an effective tool for catchy business names. Consider Just in Thyme Catering, Heaven Scent Cleaners and Cosmopoli-Tan - a tanning salon in New Orleans. These names, while employing the use of puns, also send a positive message about the business. The use of Thyme creates an impression of fresh, natural ingredients while Heaven Scent conjures up a lovely smelling, beautifully clean house and Cosmopolitan generates an image of sophistication and glamour. Consider Get Plastered, a business name for an interior plaster company in California. It may sound funny but it actually sends a negative message about the business - that of sloppy and unreliable workmanship. If you decide to use a play on words for your name make sure it is appropriate for your business image and communicates your business purpose clearly.

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