Corporate Names
So you’ve decided to start a business. Now comes the fun part: choosing the best corporate name that will become the next globally recognized label of success.
Choosing the best corporate names can definitely be harder than it sounds. There are many ways you can go wrong, such as coming up with something hard to pronounce, difficult to spell, or perhaps insulting in another language. The best corporate names often become iconic not because they are perfect– after all, Coca-Cola is hard to say in Chinese, but still beloved in China– but because they have strong associations.
Names Should Endure the Test of Time
The name you choose for your company can also indicate how much imagination you have, what your ambitions are, and what the culture is that you’re trying to create. For example, the name “Yahoo!” indicates a certain amount of playfulness for a big corporation. Also, the best corporate names don’t limit you from future expansion or changing times. No one calls it 20th Century Fox anymore.
It’s also worth noting that while made-up names may sound cool, they aren’t necessarily the best corporate names for creating instant identification. Ask yourself, what on earth does Aventis do?
Originality Pays
Whatever you do, make sure the name isn’t already taken by something flying under the radar. The best corporate names may have occurred to someone else many years ago. Budweiser is a classic example; they have a long-running dispute with brewers in the Czech Republic over the name of their beer. Yet another example: the band Nirvana — band names are business names, too — didn’t know there was another, more obscure psychedelic band operating under the same name. They allegedly settled out-of-court for a six-figure sum. Don’t let that happen to you.
Also, avoid the temptation to name your company as though it’s the dominant player in the market before you’ve actually established that. Calling your company No. 1 Chinese Food, Best Insurance or A+ Plumbers doesn’t fool anyone. You’ll be lumped you into the dreaded faceless category of generic businesses names.
It may seem like a good idea to brand your business with the name of the place where you live and work — but this strategy may be limiting down the road. What happens when you want to go national or international? This is the reason why the Minnesota Manufacturing and Mining Co. became 3M.
Find the Best Corporate Name with A Hundred Monkeys
If you’re still stumped for a name, there is help available. The best corporate names may be something that you’ve never considered. That’s where A Hundred Monkeys comes in. We can do the brainstorming, research, and clearances to develop the perfect name for your business for the present and future. Contact us today to find out how much of a difference the best corporate name can make in your new business.
