Choosing a name can be an exciting part of your business journey. It can also be frustrating – especially when you learn your “perfect” name has already been claimed.
A good name is something every business needs. Not only will it help your business to resonate with customers and make marketing efforts easier, but it could also save you from a lot of legal trouble.
In this guide, we offer five steps to help you come up with a winning name for your business.
Plus, as a business owner, you’ll be giving your business details to people over the phone and in-person all the time. Consider if people will easily understand what you’re saying. Will you be asked to repeat and spell out your business name? If so, this could get annoying.
On the Need opinion on business name thread, member @MattRumbelow said: “I often use two tests with names: will people know how to spell it; and will people be happy saying it as they pick up the phone.”
Member @Alina97 added: “It's not necessary to use your name or something that projects what you're doing… What matters is that it should be simple and easy to remember.”
On the Need opinion on business name thread, member @TBLZ said: “If you are a small business targeting corporate clients, it's useful to have a memorable name, even if it is not related to what you do. There are lots of strange and funky company names in the IT industry for that reason.”
Giving feedback on two proposed names for a new IT repair business, member @Dave Boatman said: “Who is your target market? Joe public won’t know what you do. I would assume you worked on fancy corporate networks and wouldn’t be interested in replacing my cracked laptop screen.”
However, it’s important not to limit yourself. Using a geographic location in your business name might work well but could hold you back if you want to expand elsewhere in the future.
Similarly, if you want to diversify your business further down the road, it could be an issue if your name encompasses a certain product or service.
Start by typing the name into a search engine like Google or Bing. This will quickly reveal whether the name is a possibility. You may find that your proposed name is being used by somebody else. But this might not be an issue, so long as the name is not a trademark or a registered company.
It's also helpful to check how many people are searching for your business name, suggests UKBF member SEO Developer:
"Why? Because a business name many people are searching for like 'London Accountant' combined with an exactly matching domain name 'londonaccountant.com' is far more likely to appear high up on a Google search results page and consequently it will save you much time and money marketing your new business."
You can check this using tools like Google Ad Words or Keywords Everywhere.
If you’re setting up a limited company, it’s a legal requirement that your business name is unique. Use the Gov.uk Company name availability checker to see if your name has already been registered. Gov.uk also has a handy trademark search.
Once these boxes have been ticked, you can use sites like GoDaddy and Domain.com to see if the website domain is available.
Finally, make sure your name is available on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter that you will be using to promote your business.
According to HMRC, sole trader names must not:
Some questions you might want to ask include:
Be honest with yourself. Will you feel proud saying the name to peers, friends, family and colleagues? Is there a possibility the name will grate on you in time? Does the name truly encapsulate what you’re about?
On the Need opinion on business name thread, member @phantompainters.london said: “It is your business, so it should be a name that you can relate to and like. Because, at the end of the day, it is you that has to sell the services.”
Do you need help picking a business name or want to get feedback on your ideas? You can sign up for a free UKBF membership here and ask the community what they think.
A good name is something every business needs. Not only will it help your business to resonate with customers and make marketing efforts easier, but it could also save you from a lot of legal trouble.
In this guide, we offer five steps to help you come up with a winning name for your business.
1. Keep it simple
Choosing a business name that’s easy to spell and pronounce is essential. Complicated words and difficult acronyms can confuse customers and make it harder for them to find you.Plus, as a business owner, you’ll be giving your business details to people over the phone and in-person all the time. Consider if people will easily understand what you’re saying. Will you be asked to repeat and spell out your business name? If so, this could get annoying.
On the Need opinion on business name thread, member @MattRumbelow said: “I often use two tests with names: will people know how to spell it; and will people be happy saying it as they pick up the phone.”
Member @Alina97 added: “It's not necessary to use your name or something that projects what you're doing… What matters is that it should be simple and easy to remember.”
2. Choose a name that fits your target market
For some businesses, it might be appropriate to include your product or service in the name. Other businesses might benefit from choosing a unique word or words to help them stand out from the crowd.On the Need opinion on business name thread, member @TBLZ said: “If you are a small business targeting corporate clients, it's useful to have a memorable name, even if it is not related to what you do. There are lots of strange and funky company names in the IT industry for that reason.”
Giving feedback on two proposed names for a new IT repair business, member @Dave Boatman said: “Who is your target market? Joe public won’t know what you do. I would assume you worked on fancy corporate networks and wouldn’t be interested in replacing my cracked laptop screen.”
However, it’s important not to limit yourself. Using a geographic location in your business name might work well but could hold you back if you want to expand elsewhere in the future.
Similarly, if you want to diversify your business further down the road, it could be an issue if your name encompasses a certain product or service.
3. Research your name online
Once you have a name for your business, or a couple of ideas, the next step is to conduct in-depth research online.Start by typing the name into a search engine like Google or Bing. This will quickly reveal whether the name is a possibility. You may find that your proposed name is being used by somebody else. But this might not be an issue, so long as the name is not a trademark or a registered company.
It's also helpful to check how many people are searching for your business name, suggests UKBF member SEO Developer:
"Why? Because a business name many people are searching for like 'London Accountant' combined with an exactly matching domain name 'londonaccountant.com' is far more likely to appear high up on a Google search results page and consequently it will save you much time and money marketing your new business."
You can check this using tools like Google Ad Words or Keywords Everywhere.
If you’re setting up a limited company, it’s a legal requirement that your business name is unique. Use the Gov.uk Company name availability checker to see if your name has already been registered. Gov.uk also has a handy trademark search.
Once these boxes have been ticked, you can use sites like GoDaddy and Domain.com to see if the website domain is available.
Finally, make sure your name is available on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter that you will be using to promote your business.
Sole traders
If you’re setting up as a sole trader, you have a lot more legal flexibility when it comes to naming your business.According to HMRC, sole trader names must not:
- Include “limited”, “Ltd”, “limited liability partnership”, “LLP”, “public limited company” or “plc”
- Be offensive
- Be the same as an existing trademark
- Contain a “sensitive” word or expression, or suggest a connection with government or local authorities, unless you get permission
4. Get feedback
The penultimate step is getting feedback on your name. It’s essential to ask your target customers what they think. It’s also worth getting feedback from family, friends, colleagues and industry contacts.Some questions you might want to ask include:
- Is it catchy?
- Is it memorable?
- Does it stand out?
- Does it fit with the product or service?
- Are there any negative or potentially offensive associations?
5. Ask yourself: “Am I happy?”
After jumping these hurdles, there’s one final question to ask: “Am I 100% happy with the name?” You’ll likely be living and breathing this business for years to come and must be confident that the name is right for you.Be honest with yourself. Will you feel proud saying the name to peers, friends, family and colleagues? Is there a possibility the name will grate on you in time? Does the name truly encapsulate what you’re about?
On the Need opinion on business name thread, member @phantompainters.london said: “It is your business, so it should be a name that you can relate to and like. Because, at the end of the day, it is you that has to sell the services.”
Do you need help picking a business name or want to get feedback on your ideas? You can sign up for a free UKBF membership here and ask the community what they think.
