Selling a business name

[AnnaO]

If one came up with a catchy business name for business x and made a relevant logo, would it be possible to sell it to someone considering going into business x?

 

[fisicx]

Possible but very unlikely.

 

[Clinton]

Almost zero chance.

Coming up with the name and logo is the easy part. Any idiot can do it (or ask for ChatGPT's help).

In any given month, how many people do you think are opening businesses in that particular sector? How would you reach them before they've decided a name for their business?

 

[Gecko001]

I think this is totally old-school.

1. In the early days of the internet, people used to buy up domain names and trademark names in the hope making a fortune. Some probably did make a little money, but now domain names are pretty irrelevant due to smartphones and brand names which relate to the product are probably not as unique as you think.

2. Logs with symbols have gone out of fashion totally. Up until about 10 or 20 rears ago, coming up with a good logo symbol such as the Nike swoosh was all the rage, but now must logos are just wordmarks, ie. the trading name in a unique font which might be in a square, rectangle or circle. No more than that.

 

[John Martin]

If one came up with a catchy business name for business x and made a relevant logo, would it be possible to sell it to someone considering going into business x?

The only way I could see that sort of idea working today is if the niche were something completely new. In which case, if you got in REALLY early, you might be able to buy domain names that people would be willing to pay for.

However, unless you were already in this new niche before it started to get traction, the chances are that someone else will have already beaten you to the best domain names. Given that most new ideas fail and never go anywhere, you could be paying for names that you will never be able to sell.

In short, it could be done, but the chances of success are practically zero.

 

[AnnaO]

Thanks everyone who replied

 

[ThatDevAaron]

closest thing to what you're trying to do is domain selling. buy .com domains, and sell them.

They actually do pretty well, its called Domain Brokering.

Otherwise, its a tedious process copyrighting your artwork getting the relevant trademarks to ensure someone doesnt just use the name after you tell them it etc.

 

[NickZ]

A similar idea to domain name selling. You need to find a buyer.

 

[ThatDevAaron]

A similar idea to domain name selling. You need to find a buyer.

Domains are easier - post freely on forums - no one can take ur domain away unless u let it expire.

with names, you gotta do a few things, and even then, not all trademarks are global etc, so a name by itself, is a bit pointless and much harder to sell.

 

[fantheflames]

Domains are easier - post freely on forums - no one can take ur domain away unless u let it expire.

with names, you gotta do a few things, and even then, not all trademarks are global etc, so a name by itself, is a bit pointless and much harder to sell.

Very true. Even with a great name and logo, without the right buyer or timing, it would be hard to turn that into a sale. If you’re really keen, your best bet might be to package it with a bit more. Maybe a domain, IG handle, or a mini brand concept to make it feel more like a ready made business idea than just a name.

 

[NickZ]

Domains are easier - post freely on forums - no one can take ur domain away unless u let it expire.

with names, you gotta do a few things, and even then, not all trademarks are global etc, so a name by itself, is a bit pointless and much harder to sell.

It does not matter how easy it is,or how difficult.
Its also pretty easy to modify a name as it is to use a slightly different domain name.

You have someone interested in the name you get what he is willing to dish out.

 

[Ozzy]

1. In the early days of the internet, people used to buy up domain names and trademark names in the hope making a fortune. Some probably did make a little mone

^^ this is how I actually started and made my money in the 90's (or as kids these days call it - the late nineteen hundreds). I created a website selling domain names, and it was like printing rediculous amounts of money in my sleep, the good ol' days

As for the OP's question, I have nothing more to add than has already been said. There is a market for names and logo's, on sites like Fivver where they are sold for fifty quid or so. I doubt it would make enough to cover a mortgage or rent though.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

In the early days of the internet, people used to buy up domain names and trademark names in the hope making a fortune.

Guilty as charged!
I've got 41 of them, but can argue that most are easily aligned to my business should I choose to use them

One of those domains I've held since 2014. A US based company has since registered the same name and pluralised it, adding an 'S' on the end. When I start using it in few weeks time on a new site with 100% more relevance to the domain title I expect a bun fight

 

[John Martin]

One of those domains I've held since 2014. A US based company has since registered the same name and pluralised it, adding an 'S' on the end. When I start using it in few weeks time on a new site with 100% more relevance to the domain title I expect a bun fight

There's an interesting law suit that rumbled on for many years over the domain nissan.com

In the very early days of the internet it was purchased by a man called Mr Uzi Nissan who used the site to promote his computer business. He had run a number of companies under the name Nissan since 1980, so he bought the domain nissan.com for his computer company in 1994.

Five years later, Nissan car company wanted to buy the domain and offered him a large amount of money. However, Mr Nissan didn't want to sell, and refused their offer.

Nissan car company then began a string of law suits and bullying tactics against him to try and get the domain name, but he still refused to sell and fought them in the courts.

They argued that he should hand the domain over because the name Nissan was synonymous with them.

He argued that when he bought the domain, Nissan cars were more commonly known under the brand name Datsun (remember them). He also argued that he bought the domain name Nissan, not because of them, but because it was his own name that he'd used it as a business name for many years before the internet was even a thing.

After a decade of litigation, and at a cost of $3,000,000, he finally won his case and Nissan cars had to back down. During all of this, he repurposed his site somewhat to explain his battle with Nissan cars and expose their bully boy tactics... Not a great look for Nissan cars when someone typed in Nissan.com

I've known about this story for many years, so I checked to see if he still had the site and if he was still exposing Nissan cars. However, I see that he died in 2020 and the site is now a memorial to his memory. You can still see the old site on wayback machine though.

 

[fisicx]

I had a huge US corporation try to buy my domain name. I wasn't interested in selling but when the offer breached £10,000 I must admit to being tempted.

However, only idiots pay big money for domain names these days. There are far too many alternatives you can use for a lot less money.

 

[Ozzy]

I've been known as 'Ozzy' since I was at school, long before the Internet and hence why I use the same alias here for more than 20 years, and right in the very early internet days I registered ozzy.co.uk

The team for a well-known rock band with a wife called Sharon approached me many years ago to buy my domain name. I didn't want to sell it, explaining that it's the name I've been known by for many years. They acknowledged it, and I never heard from them again; they use the .com version instead.
No agro, no issue, which is nice.

 

[DontAsk]

Did you add a link for people looking for the other Ozzy?

 

[Annoying Donkey]

I've been known as 'Ozzy' since I was at school, long before the Internet and hence why I use the same alias here for more than 20 years, and right in the very early internet days I registered ozzy.co.uk

The team for a well-known rock band with a wife called Sharon approached me many years ago to buy my domain name. I didn't want to sell it, explaining that it's the name I've been known by for many years. They acknowledged it, and I never heard from them again; they use the .com version instead.
No agro, no issue, which is nice.

Ha. Ozzy's a good lad, even if he's from Birmingham...

 

[Gecko001]

I've been known as 'Ozzy' since I was at school, long before the Internet and hence why I use the same alias here for more than 20 years, and right in the very early internet days I registered ozzy.co.uk

The team for a well-known rock band with a wife called Sharon approached me many years ago to buy my domain name. I didn't want to sell it, explaining that it's the name I've been known by for many years. They acknowledged it, and I never heard from them again; they use the .com version instead.
No agro, no issue, which is nice.

We all have stories we dine out on for years.

 

[fisicx]

Ha. Ozzy's a good lad, even if he's from Birmingham...

Saw Black Sabbath many years ago. Ozzy was under the influence of something which does surprise me as he always seems such a sensible chap. From Brum.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Nissan cars were more commonly known under the brand name Datsun (remember them).

My first company car was an awful mustard yellow Datsun 120Y. Met a girl, arranged a date, went to pick her up and could see the curtains twitching but she didn't answer the door. Think she thought I had a 280Z