Coming up with a business name that's too long?

Icarus

Registered User
Messages
174
I'm sure many of us have gone through the difficulties of coming up with a business name. While it's an enjoyable pursuit it's not easy. I've been racking my brain for a name for my new project and have finally found one that sounds good and is descripitive of my services to a wide range of potentiol clients. The problem is that it's quiet long. Without the word limited on the end it's coming in at a hefty 10 syllabules. I don't want to give my business name away so here is an example of how it is is structured with different words (don't laugh!): The yellow, purple & orange tables. Is this too long? Or does it matter?
 
Icarus said:
I'm sure many of us have gone through the difficulties of coming up with a business name. While it's an enjoyable pursuit it's not easy. I've been racking my brain for a name for my new project and have finally found one that sounds good and is descripitive of my services to a wide range of potentiol clients. The problem is that it's quiet long. Without the word limited on the end it's coming in at a hefty 10 syllabules. I don't want to give my business name away so here is an example of how it is is structured with different words (don't laugh!): The yellow, purple & orange tables. Is this too long? Or does it matter?

It doesnt matter, as long as you have a good business. In fact something different like this might be more memorable than the usual business names...

check also that the name isn't already registered as a domain name on the internet.
 
My own company has eight syllables and I have difficulties sometimes with it.

Yellow Purple and Orange Tables -

Yel purp o tab

Yelpurpotab Ltd
(Specialists in supplying Yellow Purple and Orange Tables )
 
Icarus said:
The yellow, purple & orange tables. Is this too long? Or does it matter?

Yes - at the risk of being blunt, it is too long. And it will matter - for example it may complicate exercises such as stationery design, advertising etc even things like your phone book entries. Cut it.
 
Icarus, I know how you feel!

I am setting up a book-keeping service and am having difficulty coming up with a name that is simple yet will stand out and be easy for potential clients to remember. I have come up with one that would be easy to remember as a TLA but none of my advisers seem to like it!

Good luck with your search.
 
Can you not register one name and then T/A (trade as) another? Or does that only work for sole traders or non limited companies?
 
Your company can be registered as one specific name and you can trade under a different registered business name... is this helpful at all though?
It's the business name in this case that's too long so I would suggest doing a small case study on your target business area using keyword generator utilities such as wordtracker, overture, the keyword sandbox in google's adwords etc. That way, you will be able to view many similar businesses and their associated keywords which may appeal to you and may also be highly ranked. In that way, it will provide you with a list of alternative business name options which you can choose from.
 
can recall a particular long winded company name that 'does everything as it says on the tin' essentially..... something like the Endowment Mortgage Purchaing Company...long winded but fine....

so I suppose that as long as it is effective, descriptive, memorable & not a tongue twister then you should be fine.

Will you have a enough space on the sign above the door though ;) And how would it translate into a URL?

ninsaga
 
Thanks all for the constructive replies. I'm amazed at how much mind space coming up with a name is taking. I really just want to get it over with, my brain hurts!

I already have a registered trading name that does what it says on the tin, let's pretend it's Cars Painted, and I own the approprate www.carspainted.ie, which is perfect. One of the problems is that my industry is very young and growing in interesting and potentially lucrative directions eg -to stay with the car paint anaolgy- spray paint murals for advertising. But to these advertising clients my original trading name would seem dull and a little puzzling.

What I'm thinking of doing now is retaining the trading name but incorporating under a slightly more ambiguous name that will appeal across the board, eg Spray It With Style ltd (please forgive the dodgy names here!) with the original trading name and website contained within the operations of limited company.
 
ivorystraws said:
I would suggest doing a small case study on your target business area using keyword generator utilities such as wordtracker, overture, the keyword sandbox in google's adwords etc.

I don't know anything about these tools but they sound very interesting. Any pointers on where I can find out more?
 
Yea, actually it is very interesting for any business owner who wants to increase online sales or carve out a nieche for themselves in their respective target business area. Start by reading the free keyword case study, "Vegetarian Dog Food", which is downloadable from http://www.wordtracker.com.
 
I have a company name that is longer than that but it describes the company completly so I do not see anything wrong with it. As soon as you read it you know what the company does and where it is located.
I think that it is a good idea to go with a name that will be part of your identity and will be memorable.
 
Back
Top