Secure your company name Register your company and protect your brand

When it comes to naming your company or organisation you may like to consider the following list to avoid a naming disaster. A great name will:

• Suggest the content or subject of your business/organisation.
• Be interesting.
• Make a positive impression on your target market.
• Can be easily pronounced and spelt.
• Is legally available for use.
• Has an available domain name.

If you are wanting to use a new company name the surest way to avoid getting a cease-and-desist letter is to hire an attorney to do a trademark search. Refer also to these free online resources for business name availability in various English-speaking countries:

New Zealand: www.companies.govt.nz/pls/web/dbssiten.main
Australia: www.abr.business.gov.au
United States: tess2.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=tess&state=6da0uq.1.1
Canada: hstrategis.ic.gc.ca/cipo/trademarks/search/tmSearch.do
United Kingdom: www.companieshouse.gov.uk

You can use this site to find out if your preferred domain is available: whois.domaintools.com
Cloake Creative can also help recommend the most suitable option and arrange your domain.