Choosing a new company name is an important step in building your brand. A unique business name is not only a legal requirement, but it’s also the best way to stand out from your competitors. How to Conduct a New Company Name Search.
Check with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
When you choose a business name, it’s always possible someone else will already have trademarked the same or a similar one. If you want to avoid any potential issues, it’s best to hire an attorney with trademark experience to conduct a comprehensive search before you decide on a new company name.
The search should look for both registered marks and unregistered ones, as well as variant spellings and word endings. You should also check for businesses that use a DBA (doing business as) name, as these names will not show up in searches conducted through the Patent and Trademark Office’s trademark application system (TEAS).
It’s important to perform a federal trademark search because it can prevent you from committing willful infringement if you start using your name before searching the database. This is the most serious and costly form of trademark infringement, and it can result in stiff penalties. In addition, it’s a good idea to register your business name as a domain, so that you can prevent others from securing it first.
Check with your county clerk’s office
Your county clerk’s office can provide you with information on who has filed fictitious business name statements and/or co-partnership agreements for your area. This is especially important if you intend to do business in more than one location. It’s also a good idea to get outside feedback on your new company name, to ensure that it’s easy to spell and doesn’t have any negative connotations. Then, you’ll know your new name will be successful in attracting customers. Ultimately, a great name can make or break a business.
Check with the Better Business Bureau
If you have a list of potential business names, the BBB is a good place to check them. The organization maintains a database of businesses and charities with their ratings, which gives you an idea of how well the company performs.
You can also use the BBB’s search engine to find out whether a company with a similar name already exists. If it does, you may run into problems with trademark infringement or unfair competition lawsuits.
It’s common for businesses to operate under DBAs, or doing business as, names, rather than their official corporate entity names. It’s important to find out if any companies have DBAs before you choose a business name. You can do this by searching on the BBB’s website, using a search engine or checking the fictitious name database in your state. These searches are generally free. If the DBA search turns up any results, consider a different business name. Performing a few quick, inexpensive screening searches before investing in a formal business name or trademark search can save you time and money in the long run.
Check with the Internet
The Internet is an essential tool in the new company name search process. While formal trademark and business names searches can be expensive, a quick screening search can help ensure that you won’t infringe on another business’s legal rights to the name. A quick screening search involves entering a proposed name and its variations into online search engines to see what pops up. For example, if you are considering an auto repair business named Tread Ahead, a quick search will show if anyone is using the name on Amazon to market similar services.
However, you should avoid relying solely on this method to check availability as the other businesses may have changed their names or registered them with the state after your initial search. A domain name search is also a good place to start here needs read more hear.
