Self employment - naming business

peppapig14

I am looking to go self employed and start a cleaning business.
My chosen name is not listed on companies house, but Google searches show there are many  orgs with the same name - does that mean I can use the name or not 

MikeJXE

I'm no expert but if there are many with the same name then why not ?

Don't you want it to be unique ?

Why not think about [name] of [say your town] org or dot uk whatever you want 

pramsay13

If you are self-employed as a sole trader your official business name will just be your own name. You can then trade as whatever business name you want. If it's a common name just add something else like your own name or town name so people can find you and not a similar business.

Ditzy_Mitzy

You probably can use the name, but the more important question is whether you should use the name.  If it's too common, it will fail to stand out and people won't remember it.  You don't want something too outlandish either, so keep it simple and to the point.  Humour can be nice.  Alternative spellings may be tricky in the internet age; calling a firm 'Gleemkleen' would have been fine years ago, but these days word of mouth recommendations tend to lead to internet searches - the average punter will query 'Gleam Clean' on a search engine and may not find you.  

MalMonroe

Hi, I agree with MikeJXE above, I'd want to be unique. In fact, I am as I started my own online business recently. I did a google of the name I wanted to use and there wasn't another business with that name.

It'd be good if you could think of something with a double meaning - or something similar to a phrase or saying - for example, the hairdresser near me called her business 'Hairs and Grace's' because her name is Grace. Another hairdresser is called Hair Mail. (I think hairdressers have some great names but that's not my business or yours, unfortunately!)

There's some info here from the government -

https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation/choose-company-name

Good luck with your business.

Marcon

peppapig14 said:

I am looking to go self employed and start a cleaning business.
My chosen name is not listed on companies house, but Google searches show there are many  orgs with the same name - does that mean I can use the name or not 

If you are truly self employed, then companies house isn't relevant. You can use the name if you particularly like it - just check there are no other cleaning businesses in your vicinity, to avoid possible confusion. I wouldn't get too hung up on a 'unique' name - it's a cleaning business, and you are most likely to be known by your own name rather than a trading name, so possibly just trading as [your name] Cleaning Services might fit the bill?

MalMonroe said:

It'd be good if you could think of something with a double meaning - or something similar to a phrase or saying - for example, the hairdresser near me called her business 'Hairs and Grace's' because her name is Grace. 

Not necessarily - not everyone will understand the double meaning (and certainly won't be able to cope with an apostrophe!). A simple, memorable name which describes what you do is useful to potential customers, unpretentious and straightforward to find on google.

DullGreyGuy

peppapig14 said:

I am looking to go self employed and start a cleaning business.
My chosen name is not listed on companies house, but Google searches show there are many  orgs with the same name - does that mean I can use the name or not 

It depends on two things... your intentions and the likely response of the average punter.  This naturally goes beyond the name but the services offered, geographies served etc. If you offer oven cleaning in Manchester UK and the other company offered Hard Disk cleaning in Sidney Australia the chances that a customer mistakes the two business for each other or thinks they are associated is going to be damned unlikely. 

If instead the other company offered a range of domestic cleaning services across the whole UK then they'd have a stronger claim that you're trying to trade on their name and customers will confuse the two/assume they're related etc.

Marcon

DullGreyGuy said:

peppapig14 said:

I am looking to go self employed and start a cleaning business.
My chosen name is not listed on companies house, but Google searches show there are many  orgs with the same name - does that mean I can use the name or not 

It depends on two things... your intentions and the likely response of the average punter.  This naturally goes beyond the name but the services offered, geographies served etc. If you offer oven cleaning in Manchester UK and the other company offered Hard Disk cleaning in Sidney Australia the chances that a customer mistakes the two business for each other or thinks they are associated is going to be damned unlikely. 

If instead the other company offered a range of domestic cleaning services across the whole UK then they'd have a stronger claim that you're trying to trade on their name and customers will confuse the two/assume they're related etc.

...and sometimes things reach the ridiculous: https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/10/24/northrop-wants-stealth-condoms-grounded/

TELLIT01

You really want a name which is unique and memorable.  If you use a name already in use by many other people there is an obvious risk that they will be contacted instead of you.  I can only remember the names of a couple of small firms I've dealt with over the years, and that's because their names are catchy.  "Ed the Spread" was a plaster, "Bourne to Plumb" is pretty self evident.  I think the best I've seen, although it was in Canada so no use to me, was "Bean Counters Incorporated" a firm of accountants.  I think it was the shock at discovering that some accountants do have a sense of humour which made that one stick.

superbigal

My mate an ex cop became a gardener.
Law'n'Order  was his handle

The Planter was suggested as a laugh if he was Bent.

DullGreyGuy

Marcon said:

DullGreyGuy said:

peppapig14 said:

I am looking to go self employed and start a cleaning business.
My chosen name is not listed on companies house, but Google searches show there are many  orgs with the same name - does that mean I can use the name or not 

It depends on two things... your intentions and the likely response of the average punter.  This naturally goes beyond the name but the services offered, geographies served etc. If you offer oven cleaning in Manchester UK and the other company offered Hard Disk cleaning in Sidney Australia the chances that a customer mistakes the two business for each other or thinks they are associated is going to be damned unlikely. 

If instead the other company offered a range of domestic cleaning services across the whole UK then they'd have a stronger claim that you're trying to trade on their name and customers will confuse the two/assume they're related etc.

...and sometimes things reach the ridiculous: https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/10/24/northrop-wants-stealth-condoms-grounded/

Didn't read the full article but mentioned they were packaging their product in a stealth bomber shaped packaging so was it trademark/passing off lawsuit or a copyright one? Feels more likely to say they've ripped off their design than that a consumer would think the product was made by Northrop