LLC Name Ideas

Picking a company name for your Limited Liability Company (LLC) is an essential but challenging task for a small business owner.

You want it to be easy to pronounce and memorable. The name should be unique and communicate what your business does. It also needs to be available as a website domain name. Of course, your LLC name also must comply with your state’s naming laws.

Combining all these qualities into one brand name is no small task. The following tips will help you pick a legal business name that you can be happy with for the life of your business.

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Brainstorm Your LLC Name Ideas

For many startup businesses, coming up with a memorable and catchy business name seems like one of the most challenging steps. When you are ready to pick a brand name, get creative. Make a long list of names that you narrow down as you go.

As you try to develop the perfect business name for your LLC or corporation (corp.), remember to be:

• Descriptive
• Easy to understand
• Memorable
• Potential to integrate Search Engine Optimization (SEO) key terms
• Unique

These ideas may help you create a good business name:

• Try a Business Name Generator: If you need help brainstorming name ideas, try an online business name generator to get started. An online company name generator usually takes a keyword you provide and adds something to it. Some of them will even check the social media and domain name availability. Do not rely on the generator alone; double-check the name with an internet search and trademark search to be sure.
• Make It Personal: Many successful business owners use some form of their name or the name of a loved one as their business name. Unfortunately, many of these names are already trademarked by other businesses. The other challenge with this strategy will be finding a domain name that is not already taken. But with a bit of creativity, you can still make your LLC name personal. Creating an acronym, a new word, or a compound word is a great way to do just that. Consider combining your initials and your children’s initials. Or think about whether you could use your pets’ names to create your business name.
• Create a Compound Word: By combining two words that describe your business, you can sometimes come up with a clear and unique LLC name. An excellent example of this is Groupon, which combines group and coupon. Not only is this name memorable, but it is also clear to the consumer what the business does. Remember that catchy business names are memorable, clear, and concise.
• Create a New Word or Make an Acronym: When you create a brand-new word, you can be confident that it will be unique to you. Swedish entrepreneur and business magnate Ingvar Kamprad did that when he created the name for IKEA. The name IKEA is both a new word and an acronym or abbreviation. The farm and village in which Ingvar Kamprad grew up were called Elmtaryd, Agunnaryd. By making an acronym out of his initials and the first letters of his farm and village, Kamprad created the name of the most famous furniture chain in the world. If you create a new word, make sure that it is pronounceable so that potential customers can tell their friends and family about it.
• Consider your business structure: If you are not formed as an LLC, you cannot use the abbreviation LLC in your name. You also can utilize a Doing Business As (DBA Name) if you decide you want to use another name that isn’t your legal name.

Coming up with a creative business name is not the end of your brainstorming journey.

Legal Considerations For Company Name Ideas

Now that you have done the creative work, you must narrow your list.

To help you narrow your list further, check whether other businesses already use your potential names. You should also consider the legal requirements for LLC names in your state.

Is Your Name Already Taken?

Once you have a few LLC name ideas on your shortlist, a little due diligence can help you find out if those names are still available. This can take some time to research, but it is worth the effort. You would not want to build up a business only to have to change your name because a competitor accuses you of trademark infringement.

To check whether the names you are considering are in use, you should conduct searches on the national and local levels:

• Do a quick internet search of your name to see if any identical or similar names pop up immediately. With many businesses going the ecommerce route, this is essential.
• Search the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO’s) trademark database. This database also shows whether trademarks are “live”(still in use or “dead”(abandoned).
• Check with your state’s filing office to see if your name is taken. Many states have searchable online databases.

Trademark laws exist to prevent confusion in the marketplace. If two businesses provide similar products under similar names, the customer might think the same company makes them.

Choosing an original name for your LLC helps your business stand out from the crowd. It also prevents trademark infringement and consumer confusion.

What Are Your State’s Naming Requirements?

The requirements for LLC names vary by state. In most states, the name must include a reference to the business being an LLC. Many companies accomplish this by adding”LLC”to the end of their name.

Many states also have a list of words not allowed in LLC names. Those words are usually things like “bank,”“university,”or “insurance.”If you have a good reason for using a word on your state’s restricted word list, you may be able to get an exception with additional paperwork.

Most states also do not allow names that could confuse the business with a governmental agency. You can usually find more information about restricted names from your local Department of State or Secretary of State.

Check Social Media Availability

If you plan to use social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for advertising, it is a good idea to check to see if some version of your preferred name is available before you commit to it.

If the name’s social media handle is already claimed, you should check the availability of the other names on your list.

Check Domain Name Availability

Even if you plan to do business mainly from a brick-and-mortar storefront, you should still have a good website. A good online presence helps your customers locate you, get in touch with you, and learn your hours of operation. Keep in mind that your domain name could affect how highly you rank on search engine results.

To check for domain availability, you should find a domain registrar online. Their services can help you check your name’s availability before registering it. If your name is not available in any format as a domain, you might have to go back to the drawing board and try another name.

Once you have a business name idea that fills all the legal and business requirements, you can register it and get to work. With your new business name, you can start printing and distributing your business cards. It would be best if you also began populating your website and growing your social media presence so any potential customer can find you.

An Attorney Can Help You Choose a Unique Business Name

Starting and naming a new business is an exciting and busy time. If you are considering LLC names, you might have concerns about the name’s availability, your state’s requirements, or trademark issues. A business attorney can help answer your LLC name questions and other new business concerns.