How to Choose a Name for Your Business

How to Choose a Name for Your Business

Choose a name for your business – easier said than done, right?
In this video, you’ll learn how to choose a name for your business if you can’t decide between using your own name or using a product name.

When you choose a name for your business, it really comes down to your industry, your vision, and your long-term plan.

If you want to build a business around being an expert, like a coach or speaker, choose a name for your business that reflects you, like your actual name.

On the other hand, if your business is more focused on a product or service that could potentially be sold one day, you may want to choose a name that is more fitting to the business (examples include Whole Foods, Organic Avenue, Instagram).

Keep in mind there are countless companies that decided to choose a name based on their founders, but now exist without them, like Donna Karan and Calvin Klein.

When you choose a name for your business, what is most important is that you’re clear about what you want and where your company is going.

C’mon over to http://www.marieforleo.com/2013/02/choose-business-name/ where the main discussion happens after the episode!

If you enjoyed this video, subscribe to our channel and sign up for your free weekly business and life advice at http://www.marieforleo.com

And if you’re interested in more videos on next level business growth like this one, check out our YouTube playlist on that exact topic here: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD87A632CFD5449B5
Thanks for watching!
My YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/marieforleo
Choose a Name on my website: http://www.marieforleo.com/2013/02/choose-business-name/
Choose a Name on YouTube: http://youtu.be/zf_LwmFi-9A

50 Comments

  1. hardik bhanushali on April 7, 2021 at 5:53 am

    have started manufautring of boys shirt kids age group 4 to 18 but not able to name the brand pls cam u help me



  2. Heather Shoopman on April 7, 2021 at 5:53 am

    thank you



  3. Suzanna Kiraly on April 7, 2021 at 5:54 am

    On the flip side, the disadvantage of naming your company after yourself is that if something goes wrong that hurts your reputation, then your company can take a major hit because your name and reputation are strongly tied to your company. An example is what happened with Martha Stewart. Also, it can be harder to sell a company that is your name because buyers may not want to buy something that has your name all over it.



  4. Nino Fisher Inc on April 7, 2021 at 5:55 am

    I changed my last name after I got married and the next day I said one day I will be a CEO of Nino Fisher Inc.
    Was thinking two have different businesses under the name. (I am THE biggest dreamer there is).
    Years later – I kept the name and own Nino Fisher Inc. Still working on my first business and a second one is about to be planned. ❤️



  5. GamerKitti on April 7, 2021 at 5:56 am

    Fantatic advice Marie! Thanks for sharing. Looking gorgeous as always



  6. james on April 7, 2021 at 5:56 am

    I just started with amway what should my website be



  7. Sandra on April 7, 2021 at 5:58 am

    hi there, see when you crating a business for graphic designer. Is it best to put your unique name followed by design or your personal name followed by design or leave design blank. I don’t know if I put designs customers will know I do design work, plus i see some designers that put there name folowed by designs. So for example Katie designs. I have a business name just don’t know if I should put design at the end or not. Great video by the way!

    thanks



  8. elisabeth babel on April 7, 2021 at 6:01 am

    i’m still thinking about it .



  9. Raymond Chandler on April 7, 2021 at 6:01 am

    The background is my shower curtain



  10. TheSvartdemon on April 7, 2021 at 6:01 am

    Helped alot , thx lady



  11. Freedom Lovin' on April 7, 2021 at 6:02 am

    Helpful but doesn’t quite answer it for me. For example, who are you going to sell marieforleo.com to? No one would want because they are not YOU, and you also wouldn’t likely want to sell your name domain as who knows what they might do to your reputation. Could you sell a part of your business? Do you have different urls for different programs so they could potentially be sold later? Otherwise, I’m sure you are wildly successful, but you biz is you, and can’t be sold or passed on if you have kids or others you want to run the business later.



  12. archana on April 7, 2021 at 6:04 am

    Having trouble naming your Company Names and website? Can’t find a really good Domain name? Want to create a flood of viral traffic for your site, but not sure how to do it? here is the solution -Start a naming contest and receive hundreds of catchy name ideas for naming experts across the globe ,domain name ,business name,app name ,company name ,cotests etc., Launch your naming contest here !
    http://www.squadhelp.com/r/2236914



  13. Nicholas Papadimitriou on April 7, 2021 at 6:04 am

    My problem is: 1) My name is f@cking long 2) How do I make it clear what my business does just from my name?



  14. Thomas Rasinen on April 7, 2021 at 6:06 am

    Timeless and #relevant.



  15. Julie Doran on April 7, 2021 at 6:06 am

    Decision made! Phew. Thank you 🙂



  16. Karan Sarin on April 7, 2021 at 6:07 am

    If you’re building a web-based business , try namewink.com
    It generates simple and unique brand names like Facebook, PayPal, TechCrunch, Zendesk, Dropbox etc
    Instantly gives you some cool name ideas to choose from.
    All the best!



  17. Alex Erwin on April 7, 2021 at 6:09 am

    I thought you said "todays question comes from tomorrow" in the beginning lol



  18. Timothy Littlefield on April 7, 2021 at 6:10 am

    What if I created a business name and had a small company find me a domain name that may be a little off, for example, I am a newly real estate investment company called "First Stream Real Estate Associates, LLC" and my registered domain name is "dads_house.com". Is it me or does it sound off?? With that being said, should my company name be different from my domain name? I ask the company why did they choose "dads_house" for the domain. They responded saying both words generate a lot of traffic on the web. What are your thoughts?? 

    Thanks,



  19. Andrea Gonzalez on April 7, 2021 at 6:13 am

    What if you name is taken? Even across of all social media outlets. 🙁



  20. Zia Khan on April 7, 2021 at 6:17 am

    https://www.squadhelp.com/r/ use this website to get great names for your business



  21. dilys benibo on April 7, 2021 at 6:18 am

    Hi marie,can i use my name for my business . I make shoes.. handmade leather shoes,belts and bags.



  22. jalabi99 on April 7, 2021 at 6:19 am

    Whether you name your company after yourself or not, buy your domain name with your name in it before someone else does! So if you’re John Jacob Jingelheimer and you want to start a travel company, buy both JohnsTravel dot com and JohnJacobJingelheimer dot com.



  23. Mischa Rowe on April 7, 2021 at 6:19 am

    I don’t feel like the question was actually answered.



  24. Muhammad Usama on April 7, 2021 at 6:20 am

    thank you



  25. shabana farid on April 7, 2021 at 6:25 am

    I want domain of my company suggest I am confuse .starting a business I want my website help



  26. Vision for Growth on April 7, 2021 at 6:26 am

    To further assist current and potential entrepreneurs: Read the complete entrepreneurial workbook “So What`s your Plan?” available on
    Amazone.com (books)



  27. Abraham Garay on April 7, 2021 at 6:27 am

    Thank you!



  28. akbar alam on April 7, 2021 at 6:30 am

    i am still struggling 🙁



  29. Fahad Al Othman on April 7, 2021 at 6:31 am

    Hi, soo glad that I found your channel .. and I need a straight advice. My name is "Fahad" (Leopard in Arabic).. how do you feel about "Fahadography", for Photography? it’s available in all platform

    Thank you!



  30. Amanda Mac on April 7, 2021 at 6:31 am

    THANK YOU! Amanda Mac it is 💃🏻



  31. dorotheaeli1 on April 7, 2021 at 6:33 am

    My name is always very difficult for other people, so I have to come up with a better name for my blogs website. I want to be a writer. Any ideas where to look? Hav not been able to solve this problem really.



  32. Ambesh Tiwari on April 7, 2021 at 6:34 am

    Love you



  33. Monique Simpson on April 7, 2021 at 6:34 am

    I don’t like my name, so I created another name for my business. (I’m a writer and my full name doesn’t have a flow.)



  34. Erica McCoy on April 7, 2021 at 6:35 am

    Okay, your laugh is life!! Lol fyi



  35. Libby’s Life on April 7, 2021 at 6:35 am

    I’m struggling to come up with a name now.. Ice cream business.



  36. Brand Therapy Sessions on April 7, 2021 at 6:38 am

    Great video, so inspiring! Thanks for creating 😊✨



  37. ashly.e kadyamatimba on April 7, 2021 at 6:39 am

    well explained!



  38. Bloggin Brandi on April 7, 2021 at 6:40 am

    I went through several names before deciding on one to use. I changed it three times after launching my first site. Wish I would have know how to choose a business name to grow into when I started. I chose to use my name and my brand over a company name.



  39. MD. SHAHZAD on April 7, 2021 at 6:42 am

    Is it better to name our own to from my family members name?



  40. Brian Mercaldi on April 7, 2021 at 6:42 am

    Very helpful



  41. hope igbinedion on April 7, 2021 at 6:44 am

    thanks



  42. Maritza Martinez on April 7, 2021 at 6:46 am

    I want to start my own business I been praying for God guide me then I saw your video.



  43. IncomeBeast on April 7, 2021 at 6:46 am

    I also struggled with deciding on using my own name or business a name🤔 Great tips



  44. Ali Ahmad on April 7, 2021 at 6:46 am

    Hey Marie! After watching tuns of your videos, I finally landed to the most concerned video "Choose a name" and got puzzled. Well! I am soon instigating a Medical devices (Surgical and dental instruments) export business internationally (It’s a small scale business), and I am terribly stuck up at deciding the name. I need your help in this regard so as to choose the perfect name expressing my long term vision as well as my products.



  45. Mindaugas Arlauskas on April 7, 2021 at 6:47 am

    scruoppp



  46. Ashwini Patil on April 7, 2021 at 6:48 am

    i want to start an architectural firm…what should i name it….i have thought of "MIRRor architects-we reflect what you think "
    Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee helpppppppppppp helpppppppppppp pleaseeee replyyyyyyyyyyyyyy



  47. choooseaname on April 7, 2021 at 6:48 am

    Hi



  48. Emma Boutet - Art on April 7, 2021 at 6:49 am

    Love this video! Have been having real issues in terms of using my own name / a different name / mixing the two / changing names on online accounts (currently: work in progress…) Thanks for this – great advice! 😍



  49. Yak Motley on April 7, 2021 at 6:51 am

    Awesome video! You nailed it! Thanks for answering my questions! I am currently trying to figure out the paperwork around this youtube channel!