If you’re starting your own business, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is your business name. A catchy name that stands out from the crowd can help you attract new customers, while a boring or uninspired name will make it harder to compete with more established businesses in your industry. With the right business name, you can make sure people remember your brand and connect with it easily, so take some time to find an interesting name that’s also relevant to what you do and how you want to present yourself to your customers.
Be sure that you’re gone through our five-step marketing research process before you choose a name. It will help you focus your business’s name so that it speaks to your potential customers.
1. Make sure it’s not already taken
You’re not alone. Naming a business can be challenging. When you search for business names on Google, there are over 2 million results! You want your name to be catchy so that people will remember it, but you also want it to have meaning for you. How do you find something that fulfills both of those requirements? The easiest way is by using a business name generator. There are many different types available, but one of the more popular ones is from LegalZoom . The generator gives you 300 possible combinations so that you can see what feels right before settling on just one. If your first choice isn’t available, keep trying until you find something perfect! Another good idea is using keywords in your business name without listing out any specific names.
2. Go descriptive, but avoid your industry names
Naming your business is a big deal. It can be a critical factor in getting people to remember you, so choosing the right name is important! There are many ways you can go about naming your business, but one of the most popular ways is by taking inspiration from other industries. For example, if you’re opening an organic juice bar, then names like Juice World or Juicy Joes would be fitting. If you’re opening a bakery that specializes in gluten-free donuts, then names like Gluten Free Donuts or Batter Sweet Doughnuts might work well for you.
One of my favorite sources for cool business name ideas are these small business name generators. They offer thousands of different options for businesses of any size or industry!
3. Look at word associations
You need a creative and eye-catching business name that will make people notice your company. There are plenty of small business name ideas, but sometimes it can be hard to find one that stands out from the competition. A good way to start is by thinking about associations with your company or products. What words come up in your head when you think about what you’re looking for? Some popular ones are art, craft, technology, creative.
This may help you find a unique business name idea!
4. Don’t go too long
There are so many creative ways to come up with a business name. Here are some of my favorites:
Caboodle: A place for kids to store their toys and other belongings.
Flutterby: An adorable gift shop for children
Moby’s Lobster Shack: Lobsters, cheddar chowder, clam chowder, potato chips…you get the picture.
You can also use a business name generator. This will help you find unique company names with meanings that work well with your industry.
5. Check out what else is on the market
There are plenty of small business name ideas that are both creative and eye-catching out there, with some unique business names having meanings. It’s worth thinking about what you want your name to stand for before picking one.
6. Limit yourself
When searching for a business name, it’s important to limit yourself. Not because there are too many options, but because you want your business name to be catchy and memorable. There are plenty of creative ideas out there that will stand out from the competition. The trick is finding a name that goes with your company’s personality.
7. Search the USPTO database
Search the USPTO database to check if the business name is available. If it is not, then you can search at brainstorming websites or ask a friend for help with naming ideas. Some of the best unique company names have meaning. If you are looking for cool name ideas or unique business name ideas, these are some of the most popular on brainstorming websites:
- Strawberry Ice Cream Limited
- Zebra Designs LLC
- Pawsitively Purrfect Pets Inc.
In this article from Forbes, John Warwillow looks at the value of a business’s name and reputation even years after the business has changed hands.
If you REALLY want to dig into the number on the value of a name, NYU has a formula that looks like this:
That’s the formula for calculating the value of a brand name.
