How to Name a Business - 7 Checks Before You Choose

💡Free Business Name Generator
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Brainstorm widely

Mix descriptive words (what you do), benefit words (fast, clear), and invented or combined words. The Business Name Generator gives modern, classic and fun ideas from one keyword.

The 7 checks

1) Say it out loud – can people spell it after hearing it once? 2) Is the .com available? 3) Are social handles free? 4) Search your state's business registry. 5) Search the USPTO trademark database (TESS) or your country's equivalent. 6) Google it for existing companies in your field. 7) Check it doesn't mean something embarrassing in other languages your customers speak.

Descriptive vs brandable

'Austin Emergency Plumbing' tells people what you do and helps local search; a brandable name is more memorable and flexible if you expand. Many small businesses pair a brand name with a descriptive tagline.

Lock it in

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a name if the .com is taken?

Possibly, but it causes confusion – consider a variation.

Do I need a trademark?

Not required, but it protects your brand as you grow.

Is a DBA the same as a trademark?

No – a DBA registers a trading name; a trademark protects it.