Don’t make the namesake mistake

Congratulations! So you’ve decided to do it at last. You are finally going to start your own design studio. You’ve been quietly getting freelance clients while still working full time at the agency or printer, whatever the case may be. You’ve upgraded all of you hardware and software and have set a date to quit your job and become your own boss. You are ready to design your logo and company identity, if only you could decide on a name. Please don’t name the company Bob Smith’s Design. Don’t name your design studio after yourself. Here are a four good reasons as to why you shouldn’t: 1. It makes you sound small. It sound’s like one designer sitting at their computer wearing the same PJs for the third day in a row. 2. It’s got no personality. Go for “Top Dog Group,” “Big Stick Studio” or “Pork Chop Design” — anything with a little personality. You want a name that has some legs. Think of all the fun things you could do with a good name. Pork Chop Design — the other white meat; or Big Stick Studio — Yes, we do speak softly. 3. Use a name that lets you expand your offering without changing the name. You may just be offering graphic design right now, but leave the door open to add writing, photography, video editing or whatever. For example: Walking Brain Marketing, instead of Walking Brain Art. 4. Lastly, say in five or 10 years your business is so wildly successful that you would like to sell it, retire and cruise the Caribbean. Can you sell Bob Smith’s Design without including Bob Smith? It’s a question worth thinking about from the beginning. By the way, good luck with your new venture! You are about to work harder then you’ve ever worked and love it more then you could have ever imagined.