The name you select for your business is a very important part of your marketing or brand strategy. Please consider the following:
- A good name will communicate what prospects can expect from your business.
- Creating a good name is the first step in developing a corporate identity.
- Just as a logo is there to visually communicate your brand strategy, your corporate name should do the same.
- As opposed to what most people think, a clever name which is easily remembered is not always the most important aspect of a name: clarity is. The business name should clearly convey what your business does. This is a key factor in what makes a name compelling.
- In this age of the internet you should also consider how the name will be distinctive as a domain name.
The ideal business name should:
- Be relevant to what you do
- Give a positive impression
- Be easy to pronounce
- Be reasonably short
- Be easy to remember
- Not be overly generic when compared to other like businesses
The odds are against a great name just popping into your head. Fortunately there is a logical process to developing a good business name just like the pros. Here are three resources that offer excellent tips on how to proceed and what to avoid:
- The Name Inspector: 10 Tips for Naming Your Company, Product, or Service http://www.thenameinspector.com/10-tips-for-naming-your-company-product-or-service/
- The Name Inspector: 10 Company Name Types, Pros and Cons http://www.thenameinspector.com/10-name-types/
- Entrepreneur: 8 Mistakes To Avoid When Naming Your Business http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/startupbasics/namingyourbusiness/article76958.html
Naming Your Delaware Corporation or LLC
It is generally a good idea to start the naming process with several choices for your business before researching to determine whether the corporate name you have selected is available. Delaware has over a million business entities; your first choice may or may not be available.
The Delaware Secretary of State will not permit the filing of the Certificate of Incorporation, or Certificate of Formation (for an LLC) if the name is the same as, or closely resembles, any name on the Delaware Division of Corporations official list of corporate names, which includes names of corporations in good standing, entities not in good standing but not void or lapsed, foreign corporations qualified to transact business in the state, and corporate names reserved for 120 days.
Delaware also has regulations on what words a Corporation name or a Limited Liability Company name must officially include. The name is required to designate the type of entity your business is operating as, for example: Incorporated, Corporation, Limited Liability Company, or their abbreviations such as: Inc., Corp., Co., L.L.C., LLC, etc.
Reserving a Name with the State of Delaware
Before you pay the Delaware Division of Corporations $75 to reserve the business name, please contact our office. We may be able to save you time and money.
Choose the name of your business entity carefully. For some business ventures, a name can portray the lasting image you want for your corporation. If you have any questions regarding the Delaware Division of Corporations naming requirements, or if you’re interested in forming a business in the state, please feel free to contact Advantage Delaware LLC.
