Choosing a Business Name
Choose a name that is easy to recall and spell, and conveys key aspects of your business. Do you want your business to fit in or stand out? A naming firm helps choose a trademark and search-friendly name. Use a name generator to discover ideas. Check domain availability. Make it memorable so customers recall it through marketing. An available domain secures it for your online business.
Creating a Google My Business listing verifies and strengthens your presence. This helps increase visibility when prospects search for you. Our generator provides unique name ideas for your brand. Brand consultants often charge thousands for names. Our AI naming is 100% free.
Protecting Your Business Name
How do I protect my business name from being stolen? To be sure no one improperly uses your business’s name or branding, you need to obtain a trademark. Filing an application does not automatically mean your trademark will be approved. You can not register a trademark for free. However, you can establish something known as a “common law trademark” for free, simply by opening for business.
Federal, state and local laws may provide tools you can use to preserve your rights as the business owner. Copyright protects original work, whereas a trademark protects items that distinguish or identify a particular business from another.
Registering your business name with the government will ensure that your business name is legally protected. You can acquire a trademark for a business name by simply using it, but you can obtain much stronger protection by registering your name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
You may still have to register a trademark in the future but in the meantime, you can take steps to protect your business name:
- Register Your Domain Name and Website
- Conduct a trademark search
- Keep records of the name being used in commercial activity
Getting your business name trademarked serves as an additional layer of protection. In case anyone conducts a trademark search, they will know of your registration and move on to another name.
Sometimes, the best way to keep information secure is to keep it a secret or control how it spreads. Training your staff and increasing awareness about cybersecurity is a priority for businesses.
To protect your business name, obtain a trademark by filing an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Registering your name provides exclusive rights in your state. However, stronger nationwide protection comes from registering with the USPTO. This deters others from using similar names.
Alternatives like registering your domain name, searching trademarks to avoid conflicts, and keeping records of commercial use can establish protective rights.
If others use your business name, you can file a lawsuit or show your trademark registration. The registration creates an official record that proves you registered the name first.
Additionally, register slogans, logos, and other branding elements as separate trademarks. Planning expansion? Check name availability in new states and federally. Protecting intellectual property rights requires proactive measures, but pays dividends by avoiding confusion from trademark infringement.