Name your LLC: Tips and ideas

As a new business owner or entrepreneur, it can be overwhelming with the amount of information you need to know.

14:00 05 September 2020

Processes things such as coming up with a name for your LLC. While it can be easy to come up with a business name for some, for others it can actually be pretty difficult.

 

You can name your LLC under the sector that your business is in, but if there is huge competition out there, there is the likelihood that your ideal LLC name may already be taken or too similar to an existing business. In this article we provide tips and ideas for when you want to name your LLC and what to look out for.

 

Brainstorming ideas

 

There are online name generators available for you to be able to get assistance with brainstorming names for your LLC. These name generators usually match 4-5 words together to see if they fit well and sound good to your ears. They help come up with unique and memorable names, which you can then later search on the U.S. Federal Trademark Search database to see if it comes up as a unique name.

 

You can also use mind maps as a way to come up with names, as well as word associations in order to lay out your ideas on paper and see if you can think of something inspirational. 

 

Standing out

 

It is important that your name is not too similar or the same as an existing business, otherwise it will be rejected when you have submitted your LLC name. In order to give a good impression to clients, investors and employees, your name should be memorable and easy to say. It can relate to your business, or it can be something short and snappy that clients can associate with. You can even create a name and obtain a domain before you have even started your business; so that you are one step ahead and you do not face any obstacles in the future.

 

Coming up with a logo

 

Once you are satisfied with the name you have chosen and you have obtained a domain name for it, it is also best to create a logo using a logo maker tool online. That way you can save yourself time and establish yourself professionally as a business. There are free tools available online and you can play around until you have found the perfect logo design for you.

 

Registering your LLC

 

Once you have chosen your business name, you have to follow the next steps in the process of getting an LLC. You can find a guide for this online, but in general it is a 6 step procedure until you officially have your LLC name. The rules do vary depending on the state that you are registering in, therefore it is important to make the right decisions for every step of the process.

 

Our say

 

While it may be easy to use your personal name as part of your LLC name, you have to consider the cons too. You will no longer have privacy over your personal name and it may not be as catchy or as memorable as a fictitious LLC name. When coming up with a name, it is best to link it with the area that your business is specialised in, or a name that is appealing to the client’s ears and eyes. 

 

Generating a name for your LLC is the first step of the process, so it is best not to rush this step and take your time, since you will not be able to change it after. However, if you do wish to expand your trade in the future within your business, you can always register a DBA which is known as ‘Doing Business As’ and you can come up with a trade name or a nickname that doesn’t relate to your LLC name.