Company name protection

[AndyD]

Just some advice needed about company name protection. I’ve not started out yet but I’m in the process of setting up a web page, designing flyers etc before I get going. I’ve come up with a company name that I like but I’m concerned that if I don’t register it as ltd company that someone else could and use the name and then I can no longer use it. I understand that I could register as a ltd company to protect my name but leave the company dormant and then trade as a sole trader. Anyone else took this route?

 

[AW Services]

Just some advice needed about company name protection. I’ve not started out yet but I’m in the process of setting up a web page, designing flyers etc before I get going. I’ve come up with a company name that I like but I’m concerned that if I don’t register it as ltd company that someone else could and use the name and then I can no longer use it. I understand that I could register as a ltd company to protect my name but leave the company dormant and then trade as a sole trader. Anyone else took this route?

You'll need to find a very rare name to stand out amongst the crowd.

Trademarking intellectual property and copyright is a ball ache unless you call your business Michael Hunt cleaning services for example but using your own name like Andy's, Gary's, Steve's window cleaning has been replicated a million times over and when selling on a business can prove awkward.

If you are working on your own as a sole trader spending excess money to protect a name doesn't really make sense to me. 

A strong business stance, standards, quality & customer service makes a good name in my opinion 

 

[dazmond]

Just some advice needed about company name protection. I’ve not started out yet but I’m in the process of setting up a web page, designing flyers etc before I get going. I’ve come up with a company name that I like but I’m concerned that if I don’t register it as ltd company that someone else could and use the name and then I can no longer use it. I understand that I could register as a ltd company to protect my name but leave the company dormant and then trade as a sole trader. Anyone else took this route?

It's not "all bright","vision','squeaky clean','high shine','panes and frames',is it??

Personally I think it's better to use your full name...

 

[Tuffers]

You'll need to find a very rare name to stand out amongst the crowd.

Trademarking intellectual property and copyright is a ball ache unless you call your business Michael Hunt cleaning services for example but using your own name like Andy's, Gary's, Steve's window cleaning has been replicated a million times over and when selling on a business can prove awkward.

If you are working on your own as a sole trader spending excess money to protect a name doesn't really make sense to me. 

A strong business stance, standards, quality & customer service makes a good name in my opinion 

One of my old school friend's name was Michael Hunt. We used to call him Mike ?

 

[AndyD]

It's not "all bright","vision','squeaky clean','high shine','panes and frames',is it??

Personally I think it's better to use your full name...

You missed off ‘Crystal Clear’ ?. No it’s nothing like that. 

 

[Pjj]

You missed off ‘Crystal Clear’ ?. No it’s nothing like that. 

I don’t think it’s worth the time /money , why would you want to do it anyway. My company name is a popular one I know of several with the same name but don’t feel it’s a problem, if people are looking for you specifically it’s still easy to identify you from others with the same name , 

 

[Iron Giant]

One of my old school friend's name was Michael Hunt. We used to call him Mike ?

Mike Hunt ? my wife gets some of the old folks she looks after to call me Mike Hunt as said quickly it sounds like something else ?

 

[RyeCleanLiam]

Mike Hunt ? my wife gets some of the old folks she looks after to call me Mike Hunt as said quickly it sounds like something else ?

I think that's the joke ??

 

[AW Services]

It's not "all bright","vision','squeaky clean','high shine','panes and frames',is it??

Personally I think it's better to use your full name...

Haha 

 

[Martyn]

It's highly unlikely that you have thought of something completely original and it's probably not worth it unless you are planning on becoming a national.

 

[AndyD]

It's highly unlikely that you have thought of something completely original and it's probably not worth it unless you are planning on becoming a national.

Yeah I know it would be a rare situation for it to happen, I was just wondering if anyone else had any similar issues. And TBH knowing my **** luck there’s a good chance  it would actually happen ?

 

[Spit & polish]

Had it once in construction had a customer phone to moan then i realised wasnt me ( i had worked in the road that week).

Also known people to take action in alarm fitting when one copied the van colours and name of another firm.

 

[kevinc250]

You'll need to find a very rare name to stand out amongst the crowd.

Trademarking intellectual property and copyright is a ball ache unless you call your business Michael Hunt cleaning services for example but using your own name like Andy's, Gary's, Steve's window cleaning has been replicated a million times over and when selling on a business can prove awkward.

If you are working on your own as a sole trader spending excess money to protect a name doesn't really make sense to me. 

A strong business stance, standards, quality & customer service makes a good name in my opinion 

mike hunt cleaning services?, please don't for that one- unless you specialise,?

 

[Davy G]

I'd consider putting a nice local place name in the name. If done right it can add to the professional image. It can also make it harder for someone to copy.

As an example, when I was living in London in the 70s my fishing tackle shop of choice for my beachcasting gear was 'Benwoods of Marylebone' (I'd defy anyone to copy that name) in Church Street Market. Now ; it could easily have been called 'Church Street Fishing Tackle'. Would it have sounded as classy? Not to me.

Should be no need to spend big money on protecting the name if enough thought is put in to doing it right. ?

 

[AndyD]

mike hunt cleaning services?, please don't for that one- unless you specialise,?

What about Mike Ropenus Cleaning Services?? ?

 

[kevinc250]

What about Mike Ropenus Cleaning Services?? ?

that, may work? there was once a guy with his website mikerowesoft.com guess who came after him?,

to be totally honest and i,m giving advice based on many years of being self employed, look at your area, ie is it very posh or is it full of council estates, theres nothing wrong with either of them but, decide where you want to be either banging out the smaller homes hoping for something compact or going for the larger homes that can take a lot longer.

the money is all the same though, there is no gold in the larger homes just you are there for longer so saves traveling etc.

try and look locally, do the locals like to keep things local ie the local plumber or local shops they support- some people like to support local businesses if they do then i would suggest a name like say chelmsford window cleaning or maybe your village name if you live in a village, ps i don't have a scooby where you live so only offering suggestions, if you are in a town then maybe call yourself after that town if no one else has that name i wouldn't worry about protecting a name at this point as you have yet to start trading.

when i first started out i called the business after my town and the windowcare-i had this idea that i could offer repairs aswell as cleaning them, the local glass and window company threatened to sue me as he said he had bought all the ltd companies pertaing to the town and windows

so i bought the same town name and glass just to peeve him and made him aware of that, he has left me alone ever since, 

i knew a guy that called his business bang tidy window cleaning-he didn't do very well, but maybe in the right area he would do well

you see theres more to a name and it should be linked to the customers you desire and the area you want to be working

cleaning windows is well, cleaning windows but the key is to understand the customers first and how to adapt your business plan to suit the customers you want.

sorry for the long post and good luck

 

[K in Kent]

Have you checked if the domain name is available? If it is and you buy it that would help demonstrate that you're the original.

And for anyone searching online for the company name, owning the domain should help you outrank any competition with a similar/same name (it's no guarantee but is a definite advantage).

But if you're really serious about it you'd need to buy up all the alternative domain extensions, i.e. -

www.company name.:

• .co.uk
  
• .com
  
• ,uk
  
• .biz
  
• .ltd
  

and that's only some of them. Once you own them you don't have to do anything with them it just stops anyone else using them. I'd suggest using .co.uk as your business domain and it might be worth buying.com as well.

For SEO purposes .co.uk is thought to have a slght advantage over .com for local SEO. (and .com usually costs more)

Extensions can be pricey so shop around and some company has always got a deal on for the first year or something  e.g. 99p down from £9. 99 (or even more than that)  123reg are good value for buying domain names.

 

[AndyD]

Have you checked if the domain name is available? If it is and you buy it that would help demonstrate that you're the original.

And for anyone searching online for the company name, owning the domain should help you outrank any competition with a similar/same name (it's no guarantee but is a definite advantage).

But if you're really serious about it you'd need to buy up all the alternative domain extensions, i.e. -

www.company name.:

• .co.uk
  
• .com
  
• ,uk
  
• .biz
  
• .ltd
  

and that's only some of them. Once you own them you don't have to do anything with them it just stops anyone else using them. I'd suggest using .co.uk as your business domain and it might be worth buying.com as well.

For SEO purposes .co.uk is thought to have a slght advantage over .com for local SEO. (and .com usually costs more)

Extensions can be pricey so shop around and some company has always got a deal on for the first year or something  e.g. 99p down from £9. 99 (or even more than that)  123reg are good value for buying domain names.

Yeah I’ve already bought the .co.uk version. Might have a look at how much the .com version is though. ??

 

[Iron Giant]

I think @Damo did this years ago 

 

[Damo]

I think @Damo did this years ago 

Did what exactly? Register my company name? 

 

[Iron Giant]

Did what exactly? Register my company name? 

I thought you took steps to protect your company name and copy writing or something when you had someone lift all the content and copy and paste straight on to theirs