One of the first things you'll have to think about is how to name your home business. Yes. A work-from-home business needs a name too! You will be using it on your calling cards, your website, your letters and emails. Some home businesses even require you to say it daily as you pick up the phone to greet clients and business associates.
In some ways, your business name is your storefront. And as a home based business it may be your only storefront, so make sure you pick the right name. Start by getting ideas, talking to people, looking around. Then jot down a list of potential business names that you like. Now start weeding through to find that one business name you want.
Here are a few tips to get you on you business name search mission –
Keep Your Business Name Descriptive Some people may only get a glimpse of your name on your logo – they need to know what it's about right away. Consider everything your business covers, now and in the future. Don't make it too long. Two or three words may be fine, but any longer and you could lose potential clients. If your potential clients may speak other languages, check to see what your business name means in those languages.
Make Sure Your Business Name is Easy to Pronounce Say the name out loud and ask others to read it out loud to, to make sure it's easy to pronounce. If people find it hard to say it the right way, you might want to consider moving on to another name.
Think Branding How does the name sound? Is it catchy? Does it convey the right message? How will it look on a logo? You may not be investing in a custom designed logo at this point – but you could be in the future and it's not too early to consider that.
Avoid Regional Limitations Why name your business "Amarillo Web Design" when your clients can be from all over the country, or even the world. What's more, who's to say that you will keep running your business from the same place in the future?
Check for Availability You have to stay away from trademarked and registered names. Better still, stay away from any similar names in your trade, whether registered or not. Check your state's official website to check which names are registered and run an internet search for your name to find unregistered versions.
Check domain availability While you're online, check that the dot com version of your business name is available. Any domain registrar will have a domain search form right on the main page. Simply put in your desired name and see if someone else has taken it already.
Think about the Domain Length If your business name has more than one word in it, check both hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions of the dot com domain name. It's best to register both versions and then use the non-hyphenated one, as it's easier to tell people over the phone to type in "my business name dot com" than "my dash business dash name dot com". If your domain ends up too long, try a shortened version. Instead of "WilsonsWebDesignServices.com" Try "WilsonsWebDesign.com".
Take your time with your business name search. Hopefully, you will have to live with it for along time to come.
