Naming your Business
Mandatory Name Procedures
To avoid possible claims that they were unfairly using another
business - name, a wide range of local businesses could (until quite
recently) feel relatively secure if they checked for possible name
conflicts in state and local business directories and Yellow Pages,
with no need to do a more formal state or federal trademark search.
But today, the rules of the game are dramatically different. The
reason is that in the world of the Internet, mail order and rapidly
growing national chains, the idea of "local" isn't what it used to
be.
Today, even modest-sized businesses must consider taking name
protection steps that used to be the sole concern of larger, more
expansive enterprises. For example, you might think you have no
problem if you're choosing a name for a shoe store in a small town.
Think again. If you happen to pick a name that's similar to a shoe
store that sells on the Internet, you are very likely to be accused
of trademark infringement and probably forced to change your
business name, even though the online store is located 2500 miles
away.
- Partnerships
- Corporations
- Sole Proprietorships
- Incorporation Basics
- Naming your Business
- Writing a Business Plan
- Limited
Liability Companies
- Complying with Zoning Laws
- Getting
Licenses and Permits
- Why Form a Nonprofit Corporation?
-
Choosing Between a Corporation and an LLC
- Leases and Rental Agreements: An Overview
