(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-99108651-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); Choose your business name Skip to main content

5 Truths To Outlast The Coronavirus Outbreak | Joseph Prince

<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0_a-ffZoDsg?clip=

Choose your business name

https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/choose-your-business-name

Choose your business name

You can find the right business name with creativity and market research. Once you’ve picked your name, you should protect it by registering it with the right agencies.


Register your business name to protect it

You’ll want to choose a business name that reflects your brand identity and doesn’t clash with the types of goods and services you offer.
Once you settle on a name you like, you need to protect it. There are four different ways to register your business name. Each way of registering your name serves a different purpose, and some may be legally required depending on your business structure and location.
  • Entity name protects you at state level
  • Trademark protects you at a federal level
  • Doing Business As (DBA) doesn’t give legal protection, but might be legally required
  • Domain name protects your business website address
Each of these name registrations are legally independent. Most small businesses try to use the same name for each kind of registration, but you’re not normally required to.
Legal document
Entity name
Branded products
Trademark
Name placard
DBA
Computer screen
Domain name

What’s in a name? A lot.

John and Kelly brainstormed to come up with the perfect name for their auto repair shop, and then built the business’ online presence.

4 different ways to register your business name

Entity name

An entity name can protect the name of your business at a state level. Depending on your business structure and location, the state may require you to register a legal entity name.
Your entity name is how the state identifies your business. Each state may have different rules about what your entity name can be and usage of company suffixes. Most states don’t allow you to register a name that’s already been registered by someone else, and some states require your entity name to reflect the kind of business it represents.
In most cases, your entity name registration protects your business and prevents anyone else in the state from operating under the same entity name. However, there are exceptions pertaining to state and business structure.
Check with your state for rules about how to register your business name.

Trademark

A trademark can protect the name of your business, goods, and services at a national level. Trademarks prevent others in the same (or similar) industry in the U.S. from using your trademarked names.
For example, if you were an electronics company and wanted to call your business Springfield Electronic Accessories and one of your products Screen Cover 5000, trademarking those names would prevent other electronics businesses or similar products from using those same names.
Businesses in every state are subject to trademark infringement lawsuits, which can prove costly. That’s why you should check your prospective business, product, and service names against the official trademark database, maintained by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Doing Business As (DBA) name

You might need to register your DBA — also known as a trade name, fictitious name, or assumed name — with the state, county, or city your business is located in. Registering your DBA name doesn’t provide legal protection by itself, but most states require you to register your DBA if you use one. Some business structures require you to use a DBA.
Even if you’re not required to register a DBA, you might want to anyway. A DBA lets you conduct business under a different identity from your own personal name or your formal business entity name. As an added bonus, getting a DBA and federal tax ID number (EIN) allows you to open a business bank account.
Multiple businesses can go by the same DBA in one state, so you’re less restricted in what you can choose. There’s also more leeway in the clarity of business function. For example, a small business owner could use Springfield Electronic Accessories for their entity name but use TechBuddy for their DBA. Just remember that trademark infringement laws will still apply.
Determine your DBA requirements based on your specific location. Requirements vary by business structure as well as by state, county, and municipality, so check with local government offices and websites.

Domain name

If you want an online presence for your business, start by registering a domain name — also known as your website address, or URL.
Once you register your domain name, no one else can use it for as long as you continue to own it. It’s a good way to protect your brand presence online.
If someone else has already registered the domain you wanted to use, that’s okay. Your domain name doesn’t actually need to be the same as your legal business name, trademark, or DBA. For example, Springfield Electronic Accessories could register the domain name techbuddyspringfield.com.
You’ll register your domain name through a registrar service. Consult a directory of accredited registrars to determine which ones are safe to use, and then pick one that offers you the best combination of price and customer service. You’ll need to renew your domain registration on a regular basis.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Register your business Register your business to make it a distinct legal entity. How and where you need to register depends on your business structure and business location. Content Find out if you need to register your business Register with federal agencies Register with state agencies Register with local agencies Stay up to date with registration requirements Find out if you need to register your business Your location and business structure determine how you’ll need to register your business. Determine those factors first, and registration becomes very straightforward. For most small businesses, registering your business is as simple as registering your  business name  with state and local governments. In some cases, you don’t need to register at all. If you conduct business as yourself using your legal name, you won’t need to register anywhere. But remember, if you don’t register your business, you could miss out on personal l...
Fiber Optic Baby Mobile in Google Patents shows 0 results when searched as Fiber Optic Baby Mobile, https://patents.google.com/?q=Fiber+Opitic&q=Baby&q=Mobile   .  Fiber-Optic also shows a zero result.  Which it would be a good idea to proceed with the invention.  "Frisbee Disc Golf Billards" and its search in Google Patents has shown a zero result, https://patents.google.com/?q=Frisbee&q=Disc&q=Golf&assignee=Billards   .  Other things to think about are the materials necessary, weight, height, width, size.  Obviously, environmentally friendly, or recycled materials would be one of the ways that the "Fiber Optic Baby Mobile" & "Frisbee Disc Golf Disc Billards" could be made.  However, there is not a rule, nore is there law that says its necessary. Our corporation would then have to worry about purchasing environmental credits to offset the pollution and carbon footprint, so we have to be certain to capture and...

Grow your business, get more funding.

https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/grow-your-business/get-more-fundingGet more funding If your business is up and running but needs more capital, you can rely on familiar options. However, funding an existing business still requires slightly different preparation. Content Prepare to request more funding Choose your funding source Prepare to request more funding Anyone who gives you funds wants to feel confident that their investment will pay off. Prepare a business case and financial statements to convince lenders, crowdfunders, or investors to fund your small business. Make your business case You’ll need to make a solid business case for more funding. Produce a short statement with the total requested amount and specific reasons for it. Maybe your business is cyclical — like construction or education — and could use funding to get through expected slow periods. Or maybe it needs capital to invest in new machinery or launch a product ...