Dos and Don’ts for Naming Your Craft Business

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Lately, I’ve seen a lot of business-owners-to-be asking for advice online about naming their new businesses. Sadly, I’ve also seen a lot of poor name suggestions be given out. Let’s go over a quick list of Dos and Don’ts for naming your upcoming business.

Dos and Don’ts for Naming Your Craft Business

• Do choose a name that no one else has. In fact, choose a name that isn’t similar to any small businesses out there.
• Do search all social media networks and search engines for existing businesses with the same name. If you can’t find the name you want on those, search the TESS trademark database for trademark conflicts, and then your state’s business registration database. If you can’t find your name in any of these places – use it.
• Do keep your business name short and sweet. The shorter it is, the easier it is for customers to remember. For example, Cutting for Business is easier to remember than Learn How to Make Money with Your Electronic Cutting Machine blog.
• Do choose a name that can grow with your business. For example, the name ‘Tara’s Tees’ might be great for Tara’s small business right now, but if Tara wants to start selling something different in the future – the name doesn’t work so well. While you can change your name down the road, it can be a long process.
• Do secure a domain name for your upcoming business. I recommend getting the .com version of your domain name if possible. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Head to this post.
• Do consider logos, branding, a tagline, and colors that could possibly go with your name choice.
• Do get feedback on your potential name from people close to you.
• Do make your name memorable. If it’s too run of the mill – it’ll also be hard for customers to remember. For example, the name ‘Custom Tumblers’ is a little too generic to easily be memorable.
• Do think of acronyms you may use in the future. For example, I abbrieviate Cutting for Business as CfB online often. If you think you may use an acronym down the road – ‘Amazing Sewing Services’ might not be a great name!
• Don’t talk about your potential business name online before you secure it. I feel like the internet is opportunistic. I’ve seen several business names registered immediately after sharing a potential name online for feedback. Don’t let this happen to you.
• Don’t use overused words like ‘Sew’, ‘Designs’, and ‘Boutique’ in your craft business name.
• Don’t use creative spellings in your business name. While ‘Kreations’, ‘Kustom’, or ‘Designz’ seem like a good idea, they aren’t. Search engines don’t like misspellings of common words and they are harder for customers to remember.
• Don’t name your business after your kids if you use uncommon spellings. For example, a good friend of mine spells her daughter’s name Ashleigh. While in the South this spelling is pretty common – Northern folks are more likely to spell it Ashley.

Before you go, one more don’t: Don’t rush. If you can’t think of the perfect name today, don’t stress. Keep it in the back of your mind for a few days or weeks. Something you love will eventually pop up.

Want inspiration from how other craft business chose their names? Read how 50 owners named their craft businesses. Got through the list and considering changing your business name? Get some tips to help you change your current business name.