Would you name your own business after yourself?

[yoda313]

If you owned your own business would you use your own name for it?

I don't think I would. Even though it would be cool to see your name on stuff I think I'd want a litte annonymity. Even if your are totally seperate from it not being directly associated with the company would feel better.

[Number Six]

I'd probably name a business after stiltman :P






You owe me one yoda

[gadgetguy]

My business is named after me. I didn't have to file a DBA that way.

[dphirschler]

Makes you accountable to deliver quality when your name is attached to it. I think it is a good idea.


Darryl

[edDV]

I name my consulting business after me. Better to do a named corp for contract work.

It was a mistake to incorporate in CA. Makes it difficult to hire employees. You get a weekly list of mandates. Better to incorporate in Nevada.

[minidv2dvd]

my name wouldn't make a very good website url, so no i didn't go that way.

[stiltman]

Yes after my name, Stiltman Inc.

BTW, my name has nothing to do with Marvel or any other comic books

[Verify]

Used my last name followed by "Enterprises" for consulting.

[Nitemare]

I haven't done it but I would. There's a fee/tax for naming your business with a ficticious name where I'm at. Real name = no fee.

[jimmalenko]

Yes, already have - my consulting business has my surname in the title.

[gadgetguy]

I haven't done it but I would. There's a fee/tax for naming your business with a ficticious name where I'm at. Real name = no fee.

In my area that's called a DBA (Doing Business As).

[lordsmurf]

That new USA bill about credit bill of rights -- note that small businesses as corps can get screwed whereas individuals using sole credit on own business are protected by it.

It's things like this that should really determine your structure -- not some false idea of privacy.

DBA is a good thing.

[gadgetguy]

DBA is a good thing.

Not in my experience. I paid my money, filed the form, and all I got out of it was to have my business put on a mailing list for a boatload of "free" magazines and unsolicited advertising. Your mileage may vary...

[deadrats]

If you owned your own business would you use your own name for it?

I don't think I would. Even though it would be cool to see your name on stuff I think I'd want a litte annonymity. Even if your are totally seperate from it not being directly associated with the company would feel better.

it depends on the nature of the business and how exactly you implement your name in the business name.

i owned my own pest control business for 5 years and didn't use my name because i felt like "joe schmoe's pest control" didn't have a professional sound to it and a name like "joe schmoe, inc." wouldn't adequately convey the nature of the business to potential customers.

now if i was opening up a pub or a hot dog joint then i could see naming it "joe schmoe's pub" or "schmoe's hot dogs".

[lordsmurf]

DBA is a good thing.

Not in my experience. I paid my money, filed the form, and all I got out of it was to have my business put on a mailing list for a boatload of "free" magazines and unsolicited advertising. Your mileage may vary...

It must range from state to state, in how it works, what happens, etc.. I wouldn't really know.

[gadgetguy]

I'm not saying the township/county specifically gave/sold it to a "marketing firm", but, you know, it's one of those things where if you register, it's a public record, and therefore available for anyone with the will to get it. Which is usually someone who wants to sell you stuff. In most cases it's not noticeable because the new business is advertising and trying to get people to learn where they are. In my case, though, I already had my clients and only registered the DBA to be able to cash checks made out to the business (the bank required it). I wasn't advertising and I wasn't looking for more clients. I didn't have any stationary printed, didn't use the business name on correspondence, and didn't make any other public statement/press release. I got catalogs disguised as magazines for everything from cleaning supplies to storage racks. If I'd had a fireplace and a log roller, I could have heated my house for 10 years on all the junk mail I received.

[Po|arbeaR]

I'm with gadgetguy, after I started my business I got sooo much junk mail it was crazy. My business name I took in a different direction, I use my computer screen name "polarbear" in my business name. Most people ask me 'oh how cute do you work with polarbears?", Then I tell them I own an IT consulting company, It's a great conversation starter.

-PB