So you’ve decided to set up your own business and you’ve chosen a name, but what do you do next? I’ve listed below four things you should do before setting your business name in stone.
- Check the name isn’t registered on Companies House. Even if you aren’t setting up a limited company, if the name is registered on Companies House than you cannot use it.
- Check to make sure the domain name is free by using a site like 123-reg.
- Search online to make sure there aren’t any other businesses in your area doing the same thing, with the same name.
- Check to make sure the name hasn’t been trademarked by visiting the Intelectual Property Office website.
Make sure your business name is definitely available to be used before spending money on marketing material. You don’t want to spend money producing business cards for example, and then find out that you can’t use that name.