Starting my own business....any advice?

[MarkF]

yeah that's what I was thinking, I relate altitude to, well, altitude, not 2.5 meters haha. I think he was thinking of the A making the company name being top of alphabetical listings

This is a bad idea, I don't deal with Aardvark companies, they pee me off.

 

[ASC1951]

I'm not a fan of whimsical names for businesses. OK, it's traditional for hairdressers and secondhand clothes shops, but for most other trades they often just look naff. What's wrong with Kris [Smith] Ceilings?

Either way, I wouldn't agonise about it. People think that having a whizzo trading name is vitally important. For what you will be doing, it isn't.

 

[Risex4]

i'm doing my business plan this week, need to think of a name for the business and it's driving me mad!

Any suggestions or advice on how to choose?

Unless I've missed something, if you're going it alone or just with you and a partner, why not self name?

Raging Squirrel Shop Fitting
Squirrel Shop Fitting
Squirrel and Partner Fitting
Raging Squirrel
Squirrel

It's simple, and surprisingly powerful in that line of work. As what you are selling is essentially yourself and the quality of your own work (rather than a product), the instant and real name association is your biggest currency to getting you yourself recognised.

If you want to go down the line of a "proper" business name, do your research. Google, Companies House. As daft as it sounds, you want to know silly stuff like is your name already in use by someone somewhere close by, is the domain name available to easily allow me to establish an online presence for marketing, has the name existed previously - especially locally - and did it garner a bad reputation? It'd be harsh to pick a name, throw yourself into the venture, and then find that you have to change your name because someone two towns over is doing the same work under a similar trading name, or worse, you are being associated with a previous entity which failed and has a bad reputation.

 

[Raging Squirrel]

Yeah, I suppose I could always change it at a later date if the business takes off. I was thinking about just using my name, I was just looking at other options too.

 

[Raging Squirrel]

Unless I've missed something, if you're going it alone or just with you and a partner, why not self name?

Raging Squirrel Shop Fitting
Squirrel Shop Fitting
Squirrel and Partner Fitting
Raging Squirrel
Squirrel

It's simple, and surprisingly powerful in that line of work. As what you are selling is essentially yourself and the quality of your own work (rather than a product), the instant and real name association is your biggest currency to getting you yourself recognised.

If you want to go down the line of a "proper" business name, do your research. Google, Companies House. As daft as it sounds, you want to know silly stuff like is your name already in use by someone somewhere close by, is the domain name available to easily allow me to establish an online presence for marketing, has the name existed previously - especially locally - and did it garner a bad reputation? It'd be harsh to pick a name, throw yourself into the venture, and then find that you have to change your name because someone two towns over is doing the same work under a similar trading name, or worse, you are being associated with a previous entity which failed and has a bad reputation.

good advice, I hadn't thought about it from that aspect! I have quite a unique name, there isn't many of us Cadman's about so I doubt anything would come up, good thinking!

 

[Spinney]

Cadman Ceilings.
CC for short.

Seem to have seen those initials somewhere before?

 

[Raging Squirrel]

Cadman Ceilings.
CC for short.

Seem to have seen those initials somewhere before?

Hmmm me too! haha

 

[Risex4]

Sainsburys.
Woolworths
WH Smiths
Dyson
Cadbury
Calvin Klein
Ferrari
Ford
Clarks (the shoe guys)
Hilton

You could go on for ever. Sometimes your own name is the best, as it becomes a very personal extension of you.

 

[hopless500]

good advice, I hadn't thought about it from that aspect! I have quite a unique name, there isn't many of us Cadman's about so I doubt anything would come up, good thinking!

One of my very good friends is a Cadman. Known to me and mine as 'Steve the Irish B'Stard'
Which reminds me, I must fb him or summat.

 

[swee'pea99]

Lightwork

(lightwork.co.uk appears to be available, FWIW. Worth checking any name you think of - put a .co.uk on the end and try to 'go there' - if it exists, you know not to choose that name.)

 

[Raging Squirrel]

I've also only just thought, I'd need a business bank account. I've had a look at Santander (my personal banker) and Natwest, and to be honest Natwest seem to put more effort into explaining about their business banking accounts, Santander's effort isn't very impressive.

Anyone got any experience with either?

 

[Archie_tect]

Go with NatWest... been with them for 30 years... great support and you get a local [lives locally] business manager and support staff to ring during office hours and phone + online banking which works efficiently.

On the name best not pick something with your name as your brand is forever linked to you rather than the company in case you want to sell it on later- pick a single word, something unique that isn't already listed on Yell.com already... that people will remember...

 

[Risex4]

RS, don't know if you've come across it yet, but if not, spend an hour or two on http://www.startups.co.uk/

I was seriously looking into setting up a business a few years ago (got a good way down the line but eventually aborted; long story, not interesting) and I found it was a great place to go from as it gives good basics and pointers towards other useful resources.

 

[Raging Squirrel]

great stuff, thanks for the link Risex4

 

[ayceejay]

In my ever so 'umble opinion having a clever name is the least important part of any small business. It will not be "Nuts to you I am a Squirrel" or "Squirrels get their teeth into the job" that will get you sustainable (repeat) business it will be that old stand by 'word of mouth'. I also notice that you are focusing on a trend (down lighting) so you will want to keep your eye on what is next.
If you keep your accounting tight, never screw anyone or let them screw you and do the job you have agreed with the client on - you will succeed.