NAME YOUR BUSINESS
You have made an important decision to start your own company. Now you have another big decision to make: you must choose a name for your business, for every great business should start with a great name. First, you should start with a corporate name search. If you have a great idea for your company’s name, check to make sure this name is available and not used by other businesses.
Choosing the right name for your company is extremely important. Here’s why:
- The name becomes your brand asset
- The name differentiates your business from others
- This is the first thing your customers will see or hear
- The name sums up everything the company is about
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A COMPANY NAME
When selecting a name for your company, you should always remember that the name will be the first impression when you introduce your company. With a well-chosen concise name, it will be easier to establish itself on the market and build brand reputation.
Below are the questions every business founder should ask him/herself when deciding on the name for their company:
- Does the name have the right vibe for your business? When choosing the name for your company you should ask yourself if the name has the right vibe in relation to your business and your company values. Does it project trust, quality, expertise? Your company name should be perceived positively by your customers and the industry or line of business you are in.
- Is the name easy to remember and descriptive? If you start a company, it’s important for your customers to know right away what your business is about. At the same time, you don’t want a too complex and long name that is hard to remember or easy to misspell.
- Does the name restrict your business growth? When Jeff Bezos started his online book-selling business, he could have called his company Online Books, or something similar. Online Books could never have grown into an online major store that sells virtually everything. If you give your business a too restrictive name, you will also be restricting your company’s growth.
- Does the name have a negative connotation? When choosing a name think about how the name will be perceived by different people from all cultural or social backgrounds.
- Does the name is somewhat familiar to your target market? Although your chosen name should stand out and differentiate you from other companies, you don’t want it to sound too unfamiliar. Most people tend to shy away from the unknown. Your name should sound familiar enough for your potential clients to be able to trust you.
HOW TO CONDUCT A CORPORATE NAME SEARCH
You have found a perfect name for your business. Now you need to make sure that your perfect name is not already taken by someone else. To ensure that and to avoid any legal issues in the future, you should conduct a corporate name search before you register your business under a chosen name. BizStarter can easily find out if your business name is available.
To order a corporate name search please provide the following:
- The chosen name for your business
- The state where your business will operate
- The type of your business entity: LLC, C Corporation, S Corporation, DBA, non-profit corporation, etc.
Our experts will use this information to search all the appropriate state databases and to verify the availability of your selected name.
HOW DO I PROTECT MY BUSINESS NAME?
- Trademark
To keep your name and your logo secure, you need to apply for a trademark. A trademark will prevent others in the same or similar sphere of business in the United States from using your trademarked name. Before your trademark your company name you should check it against the official trademark database maintained by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
- Forming an LLC or Incorporating
When you register your business as an LLC or corporation, the name of your business becomes automatically protected within the state where it was registered. No other limited liability company or a corporation in the same state and in the same line of business can use your name. However, keep in mind that if a business is operating under DBA and uses your name, they have a legal right to do so. Also, your business name protection for your LLC or corporation extends only in the state where your business is registered.
- Filing a DBA
In some states it is required to register a DBA with the state, county, or city where your business is registered. A DBA allows you to run your business under an identity other than your formal business entity name, or your personal name. Several businesses can use the same DBA in one state, which makes you less restricted. Before you file for a DBA check for the DBA requirements in your specific location. DBA requirements vary by type of business entity as well as by state, county, and city, so make sure you check with local government offices and websites.
- Reserve a business name
If you have not registered your business yet but already came up with the name for it, you can reserve it by filing for a name reservation with your Secretary of State. Reserving your name with the Secretary of State will allow you to hold your name while you are going through other business registration formalities. Business name reservation is temporary and depending on the state generally varies from 30 to 90 days. If you have not registered your business within the reserved period, your reservation will expire and your business name will become available for other prospective business owners.
HOW BIZSTARTER CAN HELP YOU PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS NAME
You have found your perfect business name, you made sure it is available. Now what?
BizStarter can help you with the following:
• If you have not been able to register your business yet but want to make sure your business name does not get taken by someone else, BizStarter can reserve your business name while you prepare to register your business.
• BizStarter can register your corporate name with the Secretary of State office. Our services include filing all necessary documentation required for the registration of an LLC or Corporation.
• BizStarter will research and submit a trademark application to protect your business name in all fifty US States.
BUSINESS NAME RESERVATION SERVICE WITH BIZSTARTER
BizStarter can reserve your business name with the state until you are ready to form your LLC or corporation. Our services include submitting an application for a business name reservation with the Secretary of State office. Keep in mind that you cannot reserve a business name forever, generally the reservation can be held for 30 to 90 days, after this period the corporate name reservation expires and the name becomes available for anyone to take.
Trust BizStarter with reserving your corporate name while you can focus on other things. With us starting a new business and running it is easy and stress-free!
How long it takes for the business filling process
Most states take about 3 weeks to file a new business with standard processing time. Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia take the longest to process business filings, 6 weeks. However, if you need to file for your new business faster the expedited filing services are available in all states and vary from 2 to 5 business days.
