Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Building Your Business One Piece At A Time: The Name Game

Picking a name for your business can often times be a lot more complicated than one may think. There are many aspects that you should consider before choosing a name for your business. Ask yourself:

What industry am I in?

*Is this name unique?

*Is this name memorable?

*Is it easy to spell?

*Is someone else already using this name?

*What do I want my name to communicate?

*Is the domain name already taken?

You want to be able to brand yourself and a great name will help you achieve that goal. Once you've come up with a couple options its a good idea to consult a professional on whether your name will be able to obtain trademark registration.

Although you may be dealing with a startup budget, registering for a trademark is a great investment. A trademark attorney will be able to provide an extensive trademark search to determine whether the name is already registered or being used through out interstate commerce. You don't want to run the risk of infringing on another's trademark. This could potentially lead to you having to change your name. The stress and the loss of money put into that name is worth a lot more than the cost of performing the proper searches.

Federal Trademark registration gives you national trademark protection, puts competitors on notice, allows you to recover statutory damages, may entitle you to attorney's fees, and becomes incontestable after 5 years.

In this entrepreneurial world, branding has become one of the most valuable assets for individuals and companies. Your name will inspire customer loyalty and promote the goodwill of your business. Build your empire today, starting with your name.