All work and no play? Here’s a fun game + 3 tips to coming up with a good business name.

By Becky, Public Relations at Direct Incorporation

We’re not all work and no play here at Direct Incorporation. That’s why I’m sharing a little game we found called “The Brand Game.” How many brands can you decipher from literal symbols? Share your score with us.

Okay, back to work. Here are 3 tips to coming up with a good business name.

  • Think like a customer. Choose a name that will appeal to the kind of customers you are trying to attract.
  • Think positive. Choose a name that conjures up good memories in consumers’ minds.
  • Think short. Delete names from your list that are long or hard to say.

For more helpful tips on naming your business, check out Entrepreneur’s article.

Need a logo for your new name? Contact Direct Incorporation for cost-effective logo creation services. Thanks!  – Becky

 

Direct Incorporation Press Release: Deep discount offered on Comprehensive Trademark Search & Report

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 20, 2011 — Direct Incorporation is offering a 30% discount on their Comprehensive Trademark Search & Report from now until the end of the year.

Clients who sign up before the end of the year will receive their Comprehensive Trademark Search & Report for the reduced price of $173, down from $243.

CEO Shannon Stahlin says he is reducing prices to make this service more accessible to new entrepreneurs. “Knowing whether your name is already being used by someone else is the first step to launching your product or service. We want to make sure our clients are starting off on the right foot”.

Every year, thousands of entrepreneurs find out that they unable to expand to a new area with their business or brand name because someone already has Common Law Rights to that business name. A Trademark Search will reveal this issue up front, before time, money and effort is put into building a trade name or brand.

Even if the name is available in the company’s home state, a Trademark Search will reveal if someone is using the name in any part of the country. This is an important step for entrepreneurs looking towards the future and expanding their business.

This special offer is available at this link: http://www.directincorporation.com/trademarks

Incorporating in New York.

How to incorporate in New YorkBy Maryann Lawrence, Startup Rep, Direct Incorporation

Today for our state incorporation series we’re visiting the Big Apple to learn about what you need to know to incorporate a business in New York.

Discover the benefits of incorporating in New York.
According to the Small Business Administration small businesses in New York account for 99 percent of the state’s employers and 52 percent of its private-sector employment. It also ranks #3 in the highest average wages and #4 in the best education climate, according to a report by Business Facilities.

How much time and what is the cost to incorporate in New York?
The ease and speed with which a business is incorporated in New York can vary based on the company name and category of business activity. When incorporating an ordinary corporation or LLC, the average processing time is around 3-4 weeks. The state fee to incorporate an ordinary New York corporation is $145, whereas, the state fee for an ordinary New York LLC is $210. For an additional $65 expedite fee, the state will cut the processing time to 3 business days.

About Direct Incorporation’s New York incorporation services.
Direct Incorporation offers three packages to assist you with incorporating in New York, with prices ranging from $149 to $773. For more information on our New York incorporation services, click on a link below.

Do you have questions about incorporating your business in New York? Please leave a comment below and I will try to answer them. Thanks!  – Maryann

Texas Name Search. Finding The Perfect Texas Business Name Can Be Difficult.

By Shannon Stahlin, CEO, Direct Incorporation

Finding a good corporate name that’s also available can be a difficult matter.  In Texas, the issue is more problematic than anywhere in the country.  Texas is one of the Nation’s most entrepreneurial and populous states.  In fact, Texans form over 6,000 new corporations and LLC per month- reserving that many corporate names!

To make matters worse, the Texas Secretary of State instituted the “The First-Two-Word –Rule” a few years ago.  This means that if the first to words of a corporate name are taken, it doesn’t matter what you add to it, the Secretary of State will not approve it.   The Rule even includes root words.  So, for example, “Champion Consulting of Austin, Inc.” would be too similar to “Champ Consultants, LLC”. Along the same lines, “Longhorn Truck Service, Inc.” and “Longhorn Trucking & Transport Corp” would conflict. I should point out that you can swap the first two words and it would still be a problem. So, using the former example, “Consulting Champs, Inc.” would conflict with “Champ Consultants, LLC”.

What is the solution to the Texas business name search problem? I can think of three options:

1. Obtain consent. The Texas Secretary of State will allow a name with the first two words, as long as it’s not the exact same corporate name or LLC name, if the applicant obtains a letter of consent from the prior entity to use the name.

2. Add a Location. If you add a location to the beginning of the company moniker, the name will likely be approved, if there isn’t a company in existence with the first three words. Using the first example above, you could move “Austin” to the front of the business name. “Austin Champion Consulting, Inc” would likely be approved if another company name doesn’t start with those three words.

3. Search further. Keep searching and find a unique business name without any first-two-word issues.  Considering trademark concerns and complications in having a similar name to an existing business, this may be the best route.

    Need help searching a business name in Texas? Please call us and we’ll help you search your business name free at 877 281 6496.

    Or, you can submit a free company name search request online here: http://www.directincorporation.com/name_search/name_search_state=TX

    Thanks! – Shannon