How to Name a Business

How to name a business. Practical help for selecting the right name for your business. Find answers to your questions about business names.

These are the most frequently asked questions about how to name a business.

• What is the best type of name for my business? The best name depends on a number of factors. A good business name should be distinctive, easy to remember, simple to spell and pronounce, describe your products/services/business and set you apart from the competition. Find out more about what makes a business name successful at Business Name Ideas
• How do I come up with a good business name? There is no one right way to find a business name. There are some good ideas and suggestions about the steps to take to find the right name and the resources available for how to name a business at Steps to Finding Business Names Ideas
• What issues must I consider when selecting my business name? As you narrow down your final choice of business name you should keep these considerations in mind. Is your business name available or is it already in use? Can your business name be trademarked? If you plan to set up a business website is the domain name available? If you want to start a corporation, LLC, company or partnership does the name comply with your state's naming requirements?
• How do I check if my business name already belongs to another business? Before deciding on a final business name it is important to check that you are not violating someone else's trademark rights to a business name. This is how you can find out about the availability of your proposed business name.
  Type your business name into a few search engines to check if anything comes up.
  Check if the name is trademarked using the US Patent and Trademark Office search facility at the www.uspto.gov site.
  For LLCs and Partnerships do a business name search on the database of your state's "Secretary of State" website.
  Sole Proprietorships can check with the County Clerk's office to see if your business name is already on their database of fictitious or assumed business names.
• What is the legal name of my business? The legal name of the business is the official name of the person or entity that owns that business. If you are the sole owner then the legal name of your business is simply your full legal name. In a general partnership the legal name is the name given in the partnership agreement or the last names of the partners. For LLCs, corporations etc the legal name of the business is the business name registered with the state government.
• What is a fictitious business name? A fictitious business name is a doing business as name or trade name. It is a business name that includes anything other than your full legal name. For example if Jack Sparrow runs a lawn service business and uses the business name Jack's Local Lawncare this is a doing business as or assumed business name.To legally use this type of business name it must be registered with your state or local office.
• Can I include Inc. or LLC in my business name? No, you cannot just put a designated business mark at the end of your business name. These marks represent a type of business structure and are not merely part of the business name. In order to legally use those marks you should follow your state's rules regarding ownership structures.
• How do I register my business name? This is an essential aspect of how to name a business. If you are using a business name other than your legal name you will be required to register the business name with the appropriate government agency depending on where you live. At The US Small Business Administration website you can find out the requirements in your specific state. Corporations, LLCs and limited partnerships usually automatically register their business name when they file their business formation documentation. Find out more about Register a New Business Name
• Should I register my business name for a trademark? This is not a requirement but you may want to trademark your business name to protect it against potential competitors. You can file a trademark application online using the Trademark Electronic Application System at www.uspto.gov
• Do I need a domain name? It is a good idea to plan ahead and purchase a domain name when you settle on a business name. If your business name is not available as a domain name you can consider using abbreviations, hyphens and other ways to create an available domain name. You can check for domain name availability with one of the many Domain Name Registrars advertising on the web.

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