Your business name sets the tone for what customers can expect from you. It also determines how easily existing and potential customers can recognize your brand.

1. It is the first thing customers (and investors or partners) see in your advertisements or as part of your domain name.
2. It sums up everything about your business products or services.
3. It is your unique position in your industry that helps differentiate you from the competition.

Choosing a business name starts with a sound understand of your business including its purpose, vision, mission and target audience. Other good advice includes:

• Be unique versus competition.
• Avoid hard-to-spell names.
• Use descriptive words.
• Be literal with the description of your product or service.
• Tell a story and be memorable.
• Don’t be too narrow.
• Choose a name that won’t be too limiting as your business grows.

When you register your business name with ZenBusiness, our support team will run the necessary checks to ensure the name is available before filing your official business documents with the state. Those checks can include but are not limited to:

1. United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
2. Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)
3. ICANN Domain Name Registration Data Lookup.
4. Office of the Secretary of State (check the state where your business is located)

It varies by state, but the standard time frame is two to three weeks from when the state receives your documents, whether online or by mail, but can be expedited for an additional fee.

If your business is a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, or partnership you’ll probably need to register in every state where you conduct business activities.

Typically, you’re considered to be conducting business activities in a state when:

• Your business has a physical presence in the state
• You often have in-person meetings with clients in the state
• A significant portion of your company’s revenue comes from the state
• Any of your employees work in the state

No. You can register or form an LLC or any business entity you choose by yourself or with the help of an affordable online formation service. There is no requirement to use a lawyer.

Sign up with ZenBusiness today for expert help navigating the process.