Naming Your Business
If you are thinking about starting a business one of the first things you will consider is what you will call your business. While this may seem like and easy task, it is a very important step to becoming a business owner. Many times entrepreneurs will underestimate the importance of the name of their company.
A company name is important to portray the image that you want for your business. You want to be careful to select a name that is easy for people to understand, spell, pronounce and even more important, easy to remember. Your business name can be an important part of your marketing strategy. Try not to use confusing acronyms or make you difficult to find in the yellow pages. Be careful that you are not choosing a name that is similar to another business name. Also, you may wish to avoid using unusual spellings for your business name so that your customers can easily find you by search engines, or telephone books.
Remember that once you choose a name, there will be state laws that you will have to follow in order to protect your business name. In the state of Texas you are required to obtain and Assumed Name certificate, unless you are operating your business under your actual name. The “Assumed Business Name” is also sometimes referred to the “D.B.A.” or “doing business as”. You will have to file the name of your business with the County Clerks office. Make sure you file in the county that you will be conducting business. Check with your state as the requirements for D.B.A. vary from state to state.
Depending on the legal form that your business takes, you may be required to file the name of your business with the Secretary of State. If you register your name with the Corporations Section of the Secretary of State, you will not need to file an assumed name unless you will use a different name than the one registered for your corporation.
If you need assistance with selecting a business name, you may consult a public relations specialist, an advertising firm, or even a marketing consultant. Be sure to take time to think about the name that you are going to choose and remember that the name will be the first impression your customers get of your company.