Things To Consider When Choosing A Business Name

Choosing a business name can be an exciting but overwhelming process with so many things to consider both for legal and marketing purposes. So… Where do you start?

Brainstorm Names

There are a few categories of company name; the ‘surname’ or ‘place’ name approach, secondly made up names and then more random names such as ‘Apple’. The type of name will reflect the type of business that you are. Write them all down and then rule some out.

Companies House check

Visit Companies House website where you can check whether the name has already been taken.

Domain Name check

Once you have a list of names together, it’s worth thinking about what domain name you want to purchase too. Ideally you want .co.uk and .com variations to stop anyone else purchasing the other and competing with you.

There are many websites where you can purchase a domain, including 123-reg, GoDaddy, 1 and 1 and Fast Hosts. If the domain name you’re looking for is taken, it’s worth looking at the website to check that they are not competition to your business.

You don’t want your business name to be too similar to a competitor, as there’s a risk they’ll land on their website and not yours.

Lastly, do your own check online by typing in your proposed name and related search terms making sure that no competition, dodgy brands or links appear. You’ll be very surprised at what can appear in some searches!

Covered all these points? You’re ready to go ahead and choose your final name.