| There are many things to consider when choosing | | | | Is my name easy to remember or is it easily |
| a name for your home business. Such as: | | | | confused with someone else? |
| Is the name that I want available for me to use? | | | | You may think that the name is different enough |
| Many States require businesses to register any | | | | from another name, but that doesn't mean you |
| name other than your own or any doing business | | | | won't have to defend your choice in court. A |
| as "dba" to be registered. Often times you can | | | | small winery in Oklahoma that is owned by three |
| check on the availability of a name over the | | | | women is called "Girls Gone Wine." Cute and |
| phone. However, just because a name is available | | | | catchy, but the owner of the "Girls Gone Wild" |
| in your state doesn't necessarily mean that it is | | | | video series disagrees, and the women are in the |
| available if you choose to do business nationally or | | | | midst of a copyright infringement lawsuit. While |
| internationally. If you plan on working with a | | | | the court hasn't reached a decision in this matter, |
| nationwide market or if you plan on being | | | | any lawsuit is a very expensive endeavor, and if |
| successful (and I hope you are!), you may want | | | | at all possible, it will likely be in your best interest |
| to check and see if your name is already | | | | to avoid one! |
| copyrighted. If it isn't already copyrighted, then | | | | What kind of an impression do I want to leave? |
| you can copyright your name to protect it. Most | | | | Clever, Professional, Friendly, Casual? |
| of the information you need can be obtained at | | | | Keep in mind that your name, like the title of a |
| the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Web site. | | | | book, will make an impression in people's minds, |
| The site answers your questions and enables you | | | | and you want that impression to be in your favor. |
| to do an online trademark search. You also can | | | | Do I want to use part of my name in my |
| access forms and submit the application online. | | | | business or something that relates to what I do? |
| What would the initials of my business spell? | | | | I was behind a pick-up truck the other day, that |
| Here in Oklahoma I had a friend who was working | | | | was obviously used for some sort of business. It |
| with a local hospital. When the Children's Hospital | | | | had their telephone number on the side, but for |
| became part of the University System, they | | | | the life of me, I couldn't figure out what the |
| were debating on the name. The logical choice | | | | business did. If you choose the name Alpha for |
| was Oklahoma University Children's Hospital. | | | | your business, you may want to include additional |
| However, when someone realized that the initials | | | | words to help people know what you do, such as |
| were OUCH - well, that really isn't the impression | | | | Alpha Home Repair, or Alpha Graphic Designs. |
| that they wanted to leave. (I believe now they | | | | The more memorable you can make your name, |
| call it University Children's Hospital or some other | | | | the more likely people are to think of you when |
| "OUCH-less" variation.) Some things might be | | | | they need your services, and that will lead to |
| clever, but you have to think about your target | | | | more success for your home business! Happy |
| audience. | | | | Name Hunting! |