Whether you are a newbie entrepreneur or you are looking to register a new business, the following tips will help you in choosing the right name for your business.

1. Keep it simple

Avoid unnecessary long and confusing names. Choose a name that is unique yet simple.

An example of an unnecessarily long name would be Okeyson Global Services International Company Nigeria Limited

Seven (7) words in one name are rather long.

2. Your name should resonate with your brand.

When people hear your name, they should be able to associate it with what you represent. Choose a name that appeals not only to you but also to your ideal clients.

3. Avoid restrictive names.

I know that as community owners and business owners we are advised to pick names that tell people easily what we are about, while that is good, you should not be too restrictive and narrow-minded.

For example, a business like Oak Bridals is restrictive in scope.

 Without thinking too hard you already know that the job of the company is to cater to brides.

4. Be Creative with your name

If it's a partnership business, you could coin a name from the initials or first letters of each partner's name.

You could use new forms of spelling or non-dictionary words in naming your company.

For example, instead of Boutique, you could simply use Butik klasik for Classic, Trayna for Trainer, etc.

5. Use descriptive words Seldomly.

Avoid frequent use if descriptive words unless you offer professional services in which case it is important for people to know exactly what you do from the word go.

When I was choosing a name for my law firm, I didn't want to use the usual ABC & Co as is common with lawyers.

 I wanted something unique and specific so I opted for *Barinaada Legal* because it is simple, it appeals to me and my clients and it adequately describes who I am and what I do, which is *Law Practice* without being unnecessarily restrictive in nature.

Also, the meaning resonates with how we want to be perceived in the marketplace…

Barinaada is an Ogoni name that means “My God never sleeps”.

 This explains why we don’t sleep on our customers.

We go above and beyond to keep providing them with time-relevant and valuable tips, ideas, and strategies that would help them stay ahead in the marketplace.

6. Avoid already existing names.

It doesn't matter that you have been using a particular name for years, if someone else had already gone ahead of you to do a registration with CAC using that name, you have lost it forever.

The best you can do is to tweak it so that it does not conflict with that existing name.

This is why it is important for you to secure your name with the CAC first before flaunting it publicly.

Remember that your name houses the goodwill of your business so protect it as best you can.

Do you need us to help you with your Business name registration?

Reply to this email and we will take it up from there.

Cheers to your #legalsense

Barinaada.