Choosing a company name is just as important as the entire business concept.
Choosing a company name is something you should invest with some thought, something memorable that represents your company image. As you become established, your name becomes your word and you will want customers to remember you from a list of other businesses. As you brainstorm for names for your company, consider if you want a straightforward name or something more clever and zany.
Classic
Deciding on a name built on a classic concept is one that is safe and typical. It literally spells out your business name. You can still turn a traditional name into something catchy without all the bells and whistles. Let's use a coffee shop as an example. A sampling of great names for the traditionalist in you would be:
A Cup of Joe coffee shop -- clean and simple
5th Street Coffee -- based on your location, this is great for businesses that need help reminding customers their location against a variety of the same type of business
Sugar and Cream Coffee -- using common accessories or in this case, condiments that are common to the product
Witty
If you want something that is a little witty and demands a smirk, add a witty spin to a traditional name using play-on words and phrases.
Grinderz Coffee -- focusing on the action taken to grind the coffee beans, use examples of processes or routine to help develop the name. Other examples would be Hangers and Clothes for a boutique, S-T-O-P Brake Shop or Tease T-shirt company
Joe's Joe, a coffee café -- still very simple, decently clever, as a cup of coffee is often referred to as a "cup of joe". Use clichés or common sayings as spin-offs to your company name.
Caffeine Café -- referring to the most active ingredient, use the contents of the main product to help devise an effective name. As an additional example, a print shop could be named the Inkery.
Quirky
The off-the-wall company names are the ones that usually have nothing to do with the product or service or at least not obviously. Continuing with the coffee example here are a few quirky examples.
Snappy's Coffee -- creating characters or mascots and naming the company after it
Elecktra café -- focus on the image or atmosphere that will aid in the branding of the business
3 Red Heads and a Cook --describing the make-up of your staff, building structure, neighborhood or a random concept is an original idea and is also memorable.
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