4. Choosing a name

What is the best name for your business?

Choosing the name of your business is crucial because it will influence how you are perceived and remembered by target customers. In the Startups website article “4 golden rules for naming for our new start-up business”, Richard Edwards writes: “Think about the names of businesses typically you will be competing with and think about how your customers would feel about using your potential name to decide which type of brand you want and from there you can build your shortlist of names.”

We chose the name Silver Startups because the name is easy to remember, says what it’s about and who it’s aimed at (older people who are interested in starting a business) and, equally as important, the .co.uk domain was available. We could have called the site Senior Startups, but the word silver is more elegant and Viv is not sure she like to think of herself as a senior. (This is why it took her a year before she bought a senior railcard.) It’s also important to register your name as a trade mark, if possible, so no one else can use your brand without your permission. For more more information on this visit Apply to Register a Trade Mark at the Gov.uk website.

Further reading on this topic: How to create a business name