How to Name Your Business in the United States: Find and Protect the Name of Your Company in the USA and Abroad
About this ebook
If you are a U.S. or foreign entrepreneur, this practical guide is for you!
This second guide in the YES TO ENTREPRENEURS® series will help you understand the essential characteristics of your business name. It will also provide you with the tools you need to choose and protect your company name in the United States and around the world.
Together, we will explore several aspects related to a business name:
✅ The 7 important characteristics
✅ The 8 essential tools
✅ The 5 steps of the process
✅ The 5 levels of protection
✅ The 3 urban legends
✅ The 5 mistakes not to make
✅ The 20 types of names to avoid
✅ The 4 steps of a name change
💥 Exclusive Bonus: Useful Resources
Throughout the process of writing this guide, the author accumulated many hyperlinks that greatly enrich its content. An up-to-date list of these hyperlinks can be found at the web address listed in the Useful Resources section, at the end of this guide.
🇺🇸 Take action! Choose the best name for your business.
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WHAT THEY SAY
"Books such as those in the Yes to Entrepreneurs series provide businesses with useful information and practical tools to expand into the United States market, the largest consumer market and recipient of foreign direct investment in the world."
Gina Bento, Commercial Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
"Never before have guides been so deserving of the term practical!"
Bernard Geenen, Economic and Commercial Counselor, Wallonia Export & Investment Agency, Consulate of Belgium, New York
"Simple. Clear. Precise. Complete.... A must."
Richard Johnson, Retired Journalist, Journal of Montreal
"... these guides are great... I highly recommend their use."
Tom Creary, Founder and Past Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada - Quebec Chapter
"The Yes to Entrepreneurs book series is extremely structured, complete and easy to use..."
Serge Bouganim, Lawyer of the Paris and Brussels Bars
"Congratulations to my colleague Vincent Allard for the publication of three exceptional popularization books for entrepreneurs who want to start a business in the United States."
Pierre Chagnon, Retired Emeritus Attorney, Bâtonnier of Quebec
"This series of practical guides allows entrepreneurs and professionals who advise them to benefit from the experience of thousands of other entrepreneurs who have started their business in the United States."
Robert CHAYER, U.S. Tax Expert, Canada
"Reading is highly recommended. Three essential and very comprehensive guides for all immigrant candidates who wish to familiarize themselves with the important concepts to start their professional installation in the United States."
Estelle Berenbaum, Immigration Lawyer, Florida
"Vincent Allard's Yes to Entrepreneurs collection provides ready-to-use pragmatic knowledge to successfully navigate American waters."
Arnaud Labossière, CEO, The Free Minds Press Ltd
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CONTENTS
1 - Introduction
1.1 Presentation
1.2 Important Definitions
2 - Characteristics of the Business Name
2.1 Length of the Name
2.2 Spelling of the Name
2.3 Pronunciation of the Name
2.4 Sound of the Name
2.5 Visual Aspect of the Name
2.6 Meaning of the Name
2.7 Originality of the Name
3 - Elements of the Business Name
3.1 Beginning and End
3.2 Singular and Plural
3.3 Numbers
3.4 Lowercase and Uppercase
3.5 Punctuation and Typographic Signs
3.6 Accented Characters
3.7 Special Characters and Mathematical Signs
3.8 Repeated Characters
3.9 Repeated Words
3.10 Words Stuck Together
3.11 Initialisms and Acronyms
3.12 Legal Identifier
3.13 Logo
3.14 Slogan
4 - Types of Business Names
4.1 Name of an Individual
4.2 Geographical Name
4.3 Temporal Name
4.4 Historical Name
4.5 Metaphorical Name
4.6 Numeric Name
4.7 Name in Foreign Language
4.8 Domain Name
4.9 Assumed Name
4.10 Descriptive Name
4.11 Distinctive Name
4.12 Military Name
4.13 Religious or Charitable Name
4.14 Superlative Name
4.15 Name with Initials
4.16 Name with Greeting
4.17 Humorous Name
4.18 Action Name
4.19 Positive Name
4.20 Animal Name
5 - How to Choose your Business Name
5.1 The 8 Essential Tools
5.2 The 5 Steps of the Process
5.3 The 3 Urban Legends
5.4 The 5 Mistakes Not to Make
5.5 The 20 Types of Names to Avoid
5.6 25 Famous Names: Where Do They Come From?
6 - How to Protect your Business Name
6.1 Protection no. 1: Business Name
6.2 Protection no. 2: Domain Name
6.3 Protection no. 3: Trademark
6.4 Protection no. 4: Social Network
6.5 Protection no. 5: Search Engines
6.6 Act Alone or Hire an Expert
7 - How to Change your Business Name
7.1 Why Change Your Business Name?
7.2 Pros and Cons of Name Change
7.3 The 4 Steps of the Name Change
7.4 Change Your Domain Name
7.5 Change Your Trademark
8 - Conclusion
8.1 The 3 Golden Rules of Your Business Name
* Exclusive Bonus: Useful Resources
About the author
A lawyer by training, Vincent Allard is above all an entrepreneur. In 1999, although he was well established in Montreal, Canada, he decided to immigrate to the United States with his family and their dog Rusty. In 2001, he launched CorpoMax Inc., specializing in the creation of U.S. companies.
For nearly 20 years, Vincent Allard has helped thousands of entrepreneurs from over 50 countries start their businesses in the United States. He is a regular speaker on the organization and launch of U.S. companies.
Vincent Allard is the author of three practical guides for entrepreneurs, available in English and French:
✅ How to Start Your Business in the United States
✅ How to Name Your Business in the United States
✅ How to Open Your Bank Account in the United States
The author is member of the Quebec Bar, Canadian Bar and American Bar associations.
