subject: Having A Business Name [print this page] Should certainly you decide to tie the knot to your business name, you have to be certain the bride is not currently married to another suitor. There can be four important issues to consider.
Initially, you must figure out whether the name is already used in your state. The Secretary of State controls the names of all corporations, LLCs and partnerships. Several also hold a website where you can carry out name searches. Even though you are a sole owner, you need to check the name against those currently registered in the state database. If the name is being used, you may need to look into an alternate choice.
Supposing the name was accepted by the Secretary of State, you should check it with existing trademarks file with the Patent and Trademark Office. The "PTO" maintains an online database. As with the Secretary of State, you can conduct an online research to make sure that no other business is making use of it.
In this day and age, several businesses embody a website as part of their business model. If you're in this boat, you will have to check to observe if the business name is available as a domain. If it is, you must register it immediately. If not, you can either alter your business name again or focus on a domain name incorporating your service or product instead of the business name.
Avoiding complications
Your business could possibly be offended if you do not take these kinds of precautionary steps. Imagine the negative impact on an individual's business if the name has to be changed three years down the line. Take a breath before you decide on a business name. Like a husband or wife, it can be either a good or bad choice.
