Is Your Business Name Still Available?

Research

• Thorough Internet Search

Same Industry?

1) If you found the name you want already exist, are the 2 businesses in the same industry?

2) Is it operating locally or nationally?3) Would your customers be confused your

business with the other business?

Federal Trade Law

1) Under Federal Law, a business can claim rights to a name if it is the FIRST to use a name in a particular category of business in the geographic area it serves.

2) A business still has rights to the name if it is using the name publicly—even if it has not officially registered it for trademark protections.

Next Step – U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

• Go to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s website, www.uspto.gov, to see whether another business has officially registered the name for federal trademark protection.

Trademarks Only In One State

1) Some businesses register trademarks only in their state, so check with your state’s trademark authority also.

2) Many states have online database.3) You can also hire a naming consultant or a

trademark attorney to conduct a more thorough name search.

Your Domain Name

• Make sure your Domain Name available that closely matches the name for your company, since that will be important if you want your business to have a Web Presence.

• You can check to see if a domain name is available on sites such as…

• www.register.com• www.godaddy.com