Blank brass nameplate on a dark desk surrounded by letterpress type blocks

Have you ever had a great business idea with all the intricate details worked out in your mind, except for one pesky thing that eludes you? Additionally, this one thing you're stuck on just so happens to be among the most important aspects of your business, and it is how people will get their first impression of you. So, what's in a name? Quite a lot, actually. While it's true that some businesses can get away and be quite successful with subpar, uninspired, or even bad business names, it certainly doesn't hurt to have a good one.

Your business name is your business's first impression to the world. It can tell people who you are and what you do. Or it can represent your business's essence and core values or your unique connection to the community or industry you're in. But how do you create a great business name? Picking a name that will stick, capture people's attention, and roll off the tongue well can be a difficult task. So, in this article, we will examine what makes a good business name and 14 things you should consider when creating yours.

  • Simplicity and Uniqueness

    There are several things to take into consideration when choosing your business name. Two of these things can often be at odds with each other, which is part of what can make picking a name so difficult. These two things are simplicity and uniqueness. Striking the right balance between these two qualities is how you can hit business name gold. Too simplistic of a name, and you can run the risk of sounding generic, boring, and not much different from all the other companies out there with similar names. On the other hand, "too unique" of a name can be hard to remember or pronounce and can seem unrelated to what your company does. By finding a way to merge the simple and the unique together in one name, your name can be easy to remember and relatable but also intriguing and stick out amongst the competition.

  • Relate to Your Target Audience

    Your company's name should relate to your target audience in some way. By understanding your target audience, you can better create a name that appeals to them. What is your company's image or message, and how can you portray this to your customers through your business name? What kind of products or services is your target audience looking for? What do they value, affordability or high-end quality? What are their core values? If your business name can provide an answer to some of these questions, then it will appeal to your target audience.

  • Make It Easy to Remember

    A good business name is easy to remember. This will allow people to look you up even if they don't have your business card or know where to find you online. They can also easily refer you to others, and those people will also be able to look you up by memorizing your business name. You could consider using a clever play on words or pun in your company's name to help promote memorability.

  • Pick Something That Rolls Off the Tongue

    Choosing a name that sounds good and rolls off the tongue when you say it is also an excellent way to create a memorable name. A name that sounds good also can create a certain attraction to your company, as it can be associated with positive emotions. For example, using illustrative, artistic, or poetic language in your name or creating a name that evokes a sense of trustworthiness and reliability can help foster a positive brand image for your company. This positive mental association with your customers can help to increase customer loyalty, enthusiasm, and repeat business.

  • Alliteration

    Using alliteration is another great way to come up with a good-sounding name that rolls off the tongue. By using words that begin with the same letters or sounds within a sequence of words, you can create a sense of rhythm, emphasis, and musical quality in the language. Coca-Cola, Best Buy, and Peter Piper Pizza are some famous examples of using alliteration in business names. Alliteration is also used as a memorization device in learning, which can help people remember your business name more easily.

  • Rhyming

    Using words that rhyme in your company's name is another way to create a catchy name that is easy to remember. Famous examples of companies and brands who have used rhyming in their names include Hobby Lobby, Reese's Pieces, and 7-Eleven.

  • Meaningfulness in Your Business Name

    Creating a business name that has a lot of meaning in it and encapsulates your company's mission is a great way to relate to your target audience. If you can express what you do or your company's core values in a creative and meaningful way in your name, this can help build a positive brand image and let people know what your company is all about.

  • Choose a Flexible Name That Allows Your Business to Expand

    In the future, you may want to change or expand upon your products or services. Therefore, you should consider choosing a name that is flexible enough to adapt to these changes. For example, if you start a company that sells bass guitars but might also want to sell six-string guitars in the future, you may want to omit the word "bass" in your company name. Picking a name that is too specific to apply to certain potential changes or expansions of your company can limit you in the future.

  • Content Name Generators

    You can use free online business name generators to help you get ideas for your company name. To do this, you simply find a business name generator online and feed it a prompt describing your company, and it will create several business name ideas. Even if you don't pick one of these names, it could be a good way to get some more ideas that you can build upon and make your own.

  • Ask Your Friends and Family

    Asking your friends and family if they have any good ideas for your business name can also be a good route to take. They know you well and may be able to think of something you hadn't thought of yet that represents your business and business mission. You can also make a list of ideas you have come up with and send out a poll to your friends and family, asking them to vote for their favorite. This can show you how a larger audience responds to your business name ideas. If you already have a social media following or email list, you could also poll through these avenues.

  • Make Sure No One Else Has Your Name

    Once you come up with a name that you are satisfied with and would like to use, you must check that no one else has chosen your business name. You can search on the internet and social media to see if any other companies have chosen the name you came up with. You can also search the USPTO's trademark database to see if another business has registered the name as a trademark. Next, you can check with your secretary of state or the agency in your state that handles business entity filings. Most states have an online database where you can search to see if another business has registered the name. You can also check with your city or county clerk's office. Additionally, you could hire a trademark attorney to see if any other companies may be using the name, although this would be an expensive option.

  • Check for Domain Name Availability

    Make sure that the name you have chosen is also available as a domain name that you can use for your company website. If your business name is long, you could also use an abbreviated or shortened version for your domain name. A domain name that aligns with your business name will help customers recognize and remember your company's name. This is an excellent way to help develop brand recognition which can increase customer loyalty and repeat business.

  • Your Name Should Be Easy to Spell

    Your business name should be easy to spell. This will allow customers to remember your company, easily find your business online, and share your business name with others. It can also help avoid any errors that customers or other businesses you work with may make when spelling out your business name, which can look unprofessional, cause confusion, and result in the loss of business.

  • Consider Adding Your Location to Your Name

    If your business is focused on local customers or your branding draws upon the uniqueness of a region, consider adding the name of the city or state you are located to your business name. Alternatively, you could add key geographic features of your area to your name, such as the names of famous mountain ranges, rivers, or lakes. This can help establish brand loyalty among local customers and identify your company with the region. You could also consider using the names of animals, trees, or plants that are highly associated with your location in your business name.

Conclusion

While you aren't going to come up with a business name that has everything on this list, if your name does address a few of these areas, you probably have a great name for your company on your hands.

Are You Starting a Business?

Are you planning on starting your own business? InCorp can assist you in forming your business entity, such as an LLC or corporation, with our business entity formation services. Additionally, we also provide registered agent services in all 50 states, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Businesses can also use our entity management system and iOS app to help them stay on top of their critical deadlines while also having easy access to their important documents.

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