So you want to start your own business? You are probably feeling a little overwhelmed and don’t know where to start! Take a deep breath! You can do this! You made it through nursing school, and let’s face it, if you can do that – you can pretty much conquer the world! Let’s start simple. Here is the first step in starting up your very own practice.
STEP ONE: BUSINESS NAME
Choose a Business Name
Simple, right? It can be as simple or as complicated as you make it. There are a few things to consider.
Length of the name – remember it needs to fit on business cards and you will be telling people all about your new venture and you want it to be easily remembered. You generally don’t want it to be a mouthful, or something so obscure and difficult to pronounce that people get confused. You will likely want a website – what is that website name going to look like – too long? Is there a domain name to fit it? (we will talk about websites later). It will be written on documents, checks and credit cards – will it fit? Just a few things to think about.
Make the name meaningful and something you like. Remember, this is YOUR brand. This business defines YOU and what YOU do! You will know you find the right name when it comes out of your mouth and you say, “THAT’S IT!”
Have a back up name. Just in case the first name you choose is taken by someone else in your state.
Google It! That’s right – look up your potential name on the Internet and see what comes up! If you can’t find it anywhere, then chances are better that it will become yours when you apply to your state.
Once you think you have found your name, and you have scoured the Internet to see if someone else had the same brilliant idea – look to see what domains are available. Go to domains.com and look around. Doesn't cost anything to look. There is nothing more heart crushing than applying for your business name and getting it approved by the state, then to find out that there isn’t an available domain for your website because someone in another state uses it, or its available but is going to cost you a ba-zillion dollars.
Still stumped? You can always put two geographical, landscapes, or things found in nature together and VOILA! You have a name. Examples would be Mountain Valley, Aspen Leaf, Purple Mountain, Blue River…you get the idea. Look at your name – it is a peculiar name in the US, but a common name in another country? What is its translation in English? A friend of mine had the last name of Dahlberg – which is from a Swedish origin. The meaning is literally Dahl “Valley” and Berg = “Mountain". He reversed the order and his business name became Mountain Valley Mental Health!
What are some creative names you have come up with? Any struggles with your name - before or after you created it?