How to Register a Business Name: 5 Simple Steps
Key Takeaways:
- The first thing is to determine what type of business you have: sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation.
- Research and check the availability of the brand name.
- Partner with reputed legal agencies to file the trademark and domain name.
- Fill in the paperwork and renew the name to protect the brand value.
It takes lots and lots of planning, strategies, detailed work, and preparation to start a business. But with all the focus on the launch, business owners generally forget about the legalities, i.e., registering their business name.
More than 82% of business owners find it hard to figure out the process of registering a business name. If you are one among them, read this blog to learn how to register a business name.
Steps to Register a Business Name
Registering a business name is an important step towards establishing your business legally. But before that, you need to select the business structure, will it be a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation? After that, you can follow the 5 simple steps to register a business name:
- Step 1: Research and Choose a Name: Start by researching if the name you have in mind is already in use or trademarked. Make sure the name you choose is unique and not too similar to existing businesses. Think about the key characteristics and values of your business. Consider your products or services, target market, and unique selling proposition. Understanding your brand identity will help guide you to find the perfect name.
You can also brainstorm on the keywords relevant to your niche, target, audience, and demographics. Just keep in mind that a good business name must be easy to remember, pronounce, and spell.
- Step 2: Check Availability of the Name: Once you have decided a unique name, check its availability with the government agency. You can check with the state’s Secretary of State office in the United States. In other countries, it may be the Business Registration Agency or a similar government body where you can get your startup name verified.
You must also use online search engines and business directories to check if any existing businesses have similar names. Make sure to search for variations of your desired name. After doing so, check if the name is not trademarked or is being used by another business in your industry.
In case the name is already taken, go back to the first step and choose another name for your startup. - Step 3: Register with a Reputed Agency: Working with an experienced person or agency can ease the task. We would recommend you partner up an agencies and platforms like GovDocFiling as they will help you with all the legalities while you focus on the launch and growth of the company. You can search for the agency online or ask your friends and family for the leads.
After deciding on the agency, fill out the necessary registration forms provided. You will be required to provide personal information, such as your name, address, and contact details. Please note that the agencies charge a fee for their service, so you can either negotiate or find the one that fits well with your budget.
- Step 4: Protect Your Business Name: With loads of businesses popping up every day in each industry, it is quite essential to guard your business name. You must consider trademarking your business name to protect it from being used by other entities. Even though this step is optional, it gives you an upper hand and provides additional legal protection for your brand.
The name becomes the online identity and what helps in good branding. Therefore, having a consistent domain name is important for online branding. Also, check if the name is available for trademark registration if you have a long-term vision and plan on expanding your business nationally or internationally.
- Step 5: Renew and Sustain: Once, you have made the trademark registration, you have successfully protected your brand name. But the point to be noted is that this registration requires get renewal after a certain period.
So it is crucial to not forget to renew your business name registration periodically, as required by the governing agency. The legalities and procedures may change based on new policies. Therefore, the owners must stay updated with any regulatory or legal changes that may affect the business name.
So these are the steps you need to follow to register your company name legally.
Remember, from selecting a business name to getting the trademark is a critical journey for every business. So invest your time and do efforts to make sure everything works smoothly. You can also get in touch with business consultants, and legal professionals to follow the correct procedure.
Note: The process of registering a business name may vary depending on the location and type of business. To learn about the laws and regulations carefully.
Why is It Important to Register a Business Name?
A registered name can give credibility and give your customers reasons to trust the authenticity. Not just that, there are more reasons why one must register their company name. Let’s discuss it here.
- Online Presence: Registering your business name may be necessary to secure a domain name and establish a consistent online presence for your business. It helps customers easily find and recognize your brand on the internet. Moreover, it helps you create your unique voice that resonates with your customers.
- Legal Protection: Registering your business name with the government provides legal protection and establishes your ownership rights. It helps prevent other businesses in your industry from using the same or a similar name, avoiding confusion among customers. If another business infringes on your registered name, you have legal grounds to take action.
- Professionalism: There’s an added level of professionalism and credibility to your brand. It shows that you are serious about your business and have taken the necessary steps to establish it legitimately. You will be able to secure funding and investments. Simply put, it gives credibility and makes you look more professional which in turn attracts more customers.
- Financial and Contractual Requirements: Banks and financial institutions only allow registered business entities to open a business account. Not only that, if you are entering into business contracts and partnerships, it is required to submit the registered name.
So these are the few benefits you can get after registering your business name. We hope this blog has cleared your doubts and will help you in performing all the steps easily.
Also Read: Why Your Business Domain is More Than Just an Address
