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How to See if a Business Name is Taken

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Starting your own business can be tough, and you might have spent months or even years coming up with the perfect name. What you don’t want to do is find out after the fact that someone else has already taken it—not only does this waste time and energy, but it also means you’ll have to come up with another name at the last minute. Thankfully, you can use this quick search tool to see if your business name has been registered with the government, or if there are any trademarks associated with it. Types of Trademarks A trademark is a name, symbol or phrase that distinguishes a particular company from others in its field. There are several kinds of trademarks, including registered and unregistered marks. You can submit an application to register your mark with your state’s Secretary of State. Federal registration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is also available; it offers protection nationwide. You may choose to register either as a stylized or descriptive mark. Be sure...

How to Choose the Perfect Business Name

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Choosing the perfect business name can be one of the most challenging aspects of starting your new company, but it doesn’t have to be too hard if you follow these basic rules for naming your startup. Think About What You Want Before you start throwing around name ideas, make sure you have a firm grasp on what your company is all about. You want your name to reflect everything that your business stands for, so it’s crucial that you are able to define what that is. Are you going after one particular market or are you more of a generalist? Do you specialize in health care or finance? Take some time to work through these issues before hitting up Google for ideas. Otherwise, you may be unable to choose from among all of your possible options! Think About What You Don't Want First things first—what don’t you want your business name to be? There are a few aspects of your business you’ll want to keep in mind before jumping headfirst into brainstorming . Think about what kind of brand messa...