The Difference Between Business and Company Names
A business name is simply a name under which you conduct a business. A company has its own name which is required to include the legal terms or abbreviations ‘pty’ and/or ‘ltd’ at the end of the name. You cannot call your business a corporation, INC, LLC, etc. unless you actually create that formal structure.
Naming Your Startup
When choosing a business name, keep it short and ensure it is well thought out, easy to say, and easy to spell. Examples include Apple, Nike, Coca-Cola, Advil, and Tylenol.
Please note that the name choice will not provide you with the protection of your personal assets. This is why most businesses, even sole proprietors, choose to file Articles of Organization as a Limited Liability Company.
Considerations for Small Businesses
Before marketing your services further afield than your immediate local area, make sure that no words or phrases you use are inappropriate in another language or dialect. America loves small businesses.
What is a Minimalist Business?
A minimalist business means staying small where it makes sense, and only growing in areas where growth provides value to you and your customers. For a small business owner or sole trader, using ‘Chief’ titles might give off a strange impression. You’re in charge of everything, so while it’s not technically wrong, it might seem excessive for a modest operation.
Remember, a small business person with a single server can call themselves a sysadmin, or even a "Technology Argonaut," as it was once playfully referred to in the Unix world.