Choosing a Name for Your Business

Many people will think of a name for their business even before they have a complete concept of what their niche in the business world really is. Determining your marketability and business niche are subjects for a guide to business planning, but these are also things you need to keep firmly in your mind when you begin to think of your business's new name.

Picking a name can be a lot of fun, and a very creative endeavor, but it's far more complicated than simply coming up with something that you like, or something that you think is "catchy." Creating a business name is nothing less than creating an entire business identity.

It is your image, your public face, and the way that people will file your name in their memory - or the reason they'll forget it. Any business-savvy entrepreneur will tell you that you business name – those one or two simple words - is just as important as your business plan or your marketing strategy. In fact, your business name is one thing that transcends all of the elements of a business startup. It permeates the culture of the business and sets up from the very beginning a dynamic of potential success, mediocrity, or failure. Creating your business name is very serious business – and it’s also a chance to put your creativity and fun to work.

So how do you go about brainstorming on a name? What should influence your decision?