Business name for sole trader

[bulan]

I'm setting up as self employed and have a few questions regarding choosing a business name.

I will start as a sole trader and realise that I do not need to register a business name. I also understand that I can use any name that I like (avoiding "company" in the name) that does not infringe on trademarks, etc. I have considered using my real name for the business but as my surname is difficult for some people to spell that may not be a good choice.

I am tempted to use my initials plus the word "trading". For example, ABC Trading. Is that regarded as OK, or does the use of "trading" imply a limited company? Also, how do I check that it is not already a registered trademark in the UK? Should I extend that search worldwide?

I'm sure I'll have a few more questions later, but that should be enough to get started with.

Many thanks.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Welcome to UKBF, you'll find it's full of great people ready to give you advice.

What to name a business is quite a common question and there's lots of different opinions. But you know what? I don't think it really matters. You should only follow two rules:

• The name must be legal. For example, you cannot use the word "Bank" - unless you are using your own name and the surname happens to be Bank, as in "A J Bank Plumbing"

• The name should not confuse others as to what you do. It either should say exactly what you do - or not at all. You don't want to lose a lot of business because those who did need your product/service think you do something else.

Why not have a look at my blog entry from last March, strangely enough called: Choosing Your Business Name.

 

[bulan]

I will be importing goods for resale in the UK, hence "my initials" + "trading" seems a reasonable choice. I don't think my business name will make much difference to my buyers, but I wish to avoid conflicts with other businesses that may use the same or similar name. That important point doesn't seem to be covered in the two rules mentioned in your blog.

 

[ThePublisher]

A couple of places to check would be Companies House where you can check online for free, names of current and recently dissolved companies.

The other thing you could do is Google the name ABC Trading Limited and Ltd to see what comes up.

This may answer the question of whether somebody else is currently using something too similar.

 

[bulan]

Thanks, ThePublisher, I will look into doing an online check with Companies House.

I did Google ABC Trading (not my real initials) and found a company that used ABC Trading Company, based abroad. Any idea if that will be a problem?

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

I have always considered business names that include either initials (relating to your name) or surnames as lazy, unmemorable and without foresight, unless of course you have no desire to grow or sell your business in the future however smaller businesses that are unlikely to be anything else it does to a certain extent work ie Bank & Sons Removals/funeral directors (examples), although unimaginative does give an air of family values.

 

[bulan]

I've done a search on Companies House and found similar (but not identical) business names to the one I'm interested in. For example, there is ABC Limited, ABC Imports Limited, etc. Hmm...

 

[bulan]

Yabba, I can see your point but on the other hand I do not wish to pretend my business is something that it is not. Using my name or initials + "trading" seems to be more honest and in keeping with the business of a sole trader. I have no plans to expand, this is merely for a second income on a product that I know I can make a very good profit.

 

[Clarkewoods]

Clarkewoods is my "company name" and Baby-bug is my trading name.

I am sure I read in an article years ago the companies with surnames and that sound old fashioned are more trusted by the general consumer..

On that basis I sat with a list of the top 100 oldest and most common brithish surnames and went through them to find some combinations that I liked. We had a few really good ones but the domains werent available so eventually settled for Clarkewoods.

I quite like it

 

[bulan]

My surname doesn't sound British and everyone gets the spelling wrong, but I could borrow one like you.