How did you name your business?
 

I'm in the process of naming my business. My initial business activities only include the sale of an ebook about saving money grocery shopping, but I plan to expand this business and offer other info-products related to family finances. I may also provide some consulting down the line. As such, I'm thinking I should come up with a business name that is a little more general than my website name, "GroceryBook.com" ... perhaps just using my last name and staying very general with, "Dorazio Enterprises"

I'd appreciate feedback about how you decided on a name for your business? Also, where do I look to determine whether a business name is available?

Thanks!

Vincent Dorazio
www.grocerybook.com

Vincent, in naming a business, I would
 

first come up with a LOT of possible names.... Don't just think of one name, and stick to that. Think also what kind of image you want your name to convey.... Brainstorm.

Next, I would also check to see if the domain names are available.... That would affect which name I picked. (In your case perhaps that doesn't matter as much since you already have a web site - but it still should matter if you want to have a web site one day for your "general" overall business.)

After I had narrowed it down to a few possible names, then I'd start asking feedback from those around me.... Anyhow, that's how I'd go about doing it. Start with a LOT of possibilities, check if the domain names are available, narrow the names down to a few, and get some feedback....

It's not a "science" but I hope that helps....

- Dien Rice

Re: Vincent, in naming a business, I would
 

I can tell you how Rickenbaugh (I hope I spelled it right) Pop corn paid $25,000 to a marketing expert in New york. They can him his own name to use. It works.

One of my email addresss is [email protected]
Other site is you can go to by http://www.Joetrevison.com

I wanted everyone to remember me. And then learn all the things I can do ...like Business Conculting, marketing help, and business taxes

Although I basically know as a tax man who use to work for the monster called IRS


http://www.Joetrevison.com

To name or not to name... Naming a business after yourself....
 

Hi Joe,

I remember watching a video where they were talking about this subject. I think it might have been the Direct Mail Boot Camp (or something like that).... Gary Halbert made the same point you did. He said that he liked to push the brand of his own name, because that way, he's not only promoting whatever he is doing today, but whatever he is doing tomorrow as well.

Another thing to consider, though, is whether you plan to sell the business. If you plan to sell the business in the future, then it might make it more difficult to sell if it is so closely tied to your own name. Or alternatively, it might make you less willing to sell it. I think this is why Bill Myers has often used quite "generic" business names - like "Group M" and "Hamilton New Media". These very non-specific names give him freedom to do what he likes under the name, and also makes it possible to sell the business in the future if he chooses to do so.

So I think you have to take all these things into consideration....

- Dien Rice

> I can tell you how Rickenbaugh (I hope I
> spelled it right) Pop corn paid $25,000 to a
> marketing expert in New york. They can him
> his own name to use. It works.

Have you considered this?
 

Vincent:

Have you considered joining part names together?

In your case... Vindora or Doravin and so on.

Each alternative/variation is non-descript.

As for places to search online...

I only know of a central place for Australian business names. For the US I did a quick search on Google and it appears the names are handled by the individual state.
Click here for the search results. (Add the name of your state to the search, or scroll down to find your state.)

Hope this helps.

Michael Ross

P.S. There is no reason you can't have a different name for each business you want to start. Of course, by having a single name any other projects or pseudo-names can be divisions of the main name. Such as GroceryBook.com a division of Doravin Inc.

P.P.S. Remember to also double check your chosen name with the trademark database at: http://www.uspto.gov/tmdb/index.html




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Re: How did you name your business?
 

Hi Vincent,

I took a look at your sales page. Very nice!

I used SiteBuildIt! to create my website and my business. Before you start your site, SBI takes you through a process of researching profitable "keywords" for your site concept, and pages. The most profitable general keyword (in my case, "budget") is what you use to brainstorm your domain name and business name.

That's where I got www.budget-and-prosper.com (I am JUST starting, so this is nowhere near complete).

You already have your domain name, of course, but if you include profitable keywords in your company name, then whenever it's mentioned online, it'll rank high in the search engines, making you easier to find.

Something similar to SBI's tool is Good Keywords, which I think you can download for free at:

www.goodkeywords.com

I'm not sure if this helps you, as you may be looking for more technical/legal info on forming a corporation, but what the heck.

Best of luck to you.


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