As a business owner, what should you keep in mind when selecting a name for your business? Here are 8 tips that may help you:

1. Your business name should clearly describe what you do. If you are a birth doula and you plan to offer other services in the future, think about whether you want “birth doula services” to be part of your business name. Think long term.
2. Is your business name a reflection of who you are? Consider your birth philosophy and whether you want to reach out to a particular audience. Do you only want to work with teen moms or women with high-risk pregnancies? Make a list of words that describe your philosophy and the types of clients you want to work with.
3. Is your business name easy to remember and spell? Names that are too long or have tricky spellings may make it difficult for people to recall your business name.
4. Does your business name set you apart from your competition? What name helps you stand out among others in your area?
5. Consider using your name as part of your business’ identity. What easier way to brand yourself than by using your own name? If your name is difficult to spell, it may be better if you don’t use your name.
6. One way to brainstorm business names is to make a list of benefits your clients would experience from using your services. What would really strike a chord with your potential clients?
7. Whittle your choices down to two or three business names. Once you have chosen a few names, you will need to see if that name is already taken. A Google search is a good way to check. You will also have to check with your local government to see if the name is available in your state when you apply for your Assumed Name Certificate. You will also want to see if the domain for your business name is available.
8. See how others respond to your business name. Tell your friends the name of your business. Wait a few days, then call them back and see if they can remember what the name was. Could they remember it? Is it a memorable name?

Sometimes, the best way to come up with a business name is to wait for your intuition to give you one when the time is right. In the meantime, you can always just go by your full name.

Unless you are planning to create a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Corporation, there is no tremendous rush to figure out your business name. You can file your federal taxes under your full name as a sole proprietor.

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3. Inexpensive Marketing Tip #2 – Website
4. 5 Questions To Ask When Setting Your Prices
5. The Number One Rule To Remember When Marketing Your Birth Business