Free Small Business Name Generator

With so many small business name ideas for your new business, settling on the perfect one can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are a few easy steps you can follow to make sure you’re selecting the perfect name and following all the appropriate regulations governing your business and industry.

Consider your industry

Your industry and other companies in your field will play a crucial role in selecting the perfect name for your small business. While you’ll want to choose a name that differentiates you from your customers’ other options, you still need to make it clear what you do and what your company’s strengths are.

If you run a small tech repair company, for instance, you might want to choose a name that reflects your business’ cutting-edge grasp of technology. If your business specializes in organic farming products and services, though, this type of name might not reflect your strengths in the same way. In the latter case, a name that reflects your company’s commitment to natural, sustainable practices might perform better.

Be unique, but leave room to grow 

In many cases, consumers have a staggering number of options to choose from when deciding where to take their business. A name that’s too generic is more likely to get lost in the noise, so it’s critical you choose a name that stands out from the crowd.

Being too specific can also hurt you in the long run, though, as a name too closely associated with one product or market can make growth difficult down the road. A flower shop named “Casey’s Crazy Flowers” will have no trouble changing or expanding the types of flowers they sell, whereas “Tina’s Tantalizing Tulips” might not find the switch to selling other types of flowers as easy.

Finding the right balance between specificity and breadth is key when selecting a name for your small business.

Follow state and federal laws

Business names are subject to a number of state and federal regulations, covering things from protected language to required licensures and accreditations specific to your business’ industry.

One of the most important legal requirements for your business name is that it be unique. In order to properly register your business in the state in which you plan to do business, your business name must be distinct from any existing registered businesses in that same jurisdiction.

Your business name must also conform to whatever the prevailing decency laws are in the states in which your business is registered. Including profanity or vulgarity in your business name is probably not a great idea to begin with, and in some places, may even land you in legal trouble.

Depending on your state, there may also be restrictions on certain industry-specific language in your business name. Commonly regulated terms include “bank” or “pharmacy,” which in many states can only be used by companies possessing the necessary licenses and permits to operate those types of businesses.

Finally, you may need to include the structure of your business in its name, depending on where you plan to operate your business. Certain states require limited liability companies to include “LLC” in their name, for instance, and many other types of business structures are subject to similar requirements in certain jurisdictions.

Check your business name’s availability

In addition to meeting all the requirements set out by your state’s regulatory authorities, you’ll need to double check that your chosen name hasn’t already been claimed by another business in your state.

This process varies from state to state, but there are several ways to check your name’s availability. If it is, you can go ahead and reserve it for your business right away to ensure it’s still available when you’re ready to take the plunge.