What Is A Trade Name?

How do I choose a trade name and what should I take into account?

You have started your business. Now come up with a name. You can read about trade names and the associated rules in this article.

A trade name is different from a brand name

The code states: ” By trade name this law means the name under which a company is run.”  Many companies also use their trade name as a brand name. It is therefore wise to register your trade name as a brand name as well . The protection of your trade name is limited to the name itself. Your logo is therefore not protected. You can arrange this through a trademark registration.

Choosing a trade name

You can’t just give your company any name. The name may therefore not yet be used by another company. You are not allowed to say things in the name that you are not. Examples: a company Overbosch & amp; You should not mention Van de Tol if you are the only one who works there. Putting the abbreviation BV after your company name because it looks nice, while you are not a BV, is of course also not allowed.

Research

You can have an investigation carried out at the Chamber of Commerce to see if you can use the name. This not only looks at exactly the same names, but also trade names that sound the same. When you register in the trade register, it is automatically checked whether a company with exactly the same name exists. If you use your name as a trademark, make sure you also register it as a trademark.

Another takes my name!

You notice that a newer company suddenly comes onto the market with the same name as your company . What now? First consider whether confusion can occur. If you have a store in Tilburg and another store with different goods but open with the same name in Groningen, there will hardly be any confusion about the name. If you were to go to court with this, you have a smaller chance that he will be in the right. That chance will increase if a store is opened in the same shopping area in Tilburg, with exactly the same name. In summary, it comes down to the following: anyone who feels disadvantaged by the use of a trade name can go to court. The location and the activities of the company often play an important role.

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How Do I Come Up With a Good Company Name?

In seven steps to the perfect name for your company

Coming up with a good company name is part of starting a company. And preferably one that immediately impresses and lingers with customers. But how do you choose a good name for your company and what should you take into account?

  1. Be clear

Whether you build websites or run a bakery; make sure your name clearly reflects which product or service you offer. You can do this simply by literally adding your ‘species name’ to your company name. So ‘Internet agency Way2Web’ or ‘Bakery van Zwieten’. It then immediately becomes clear to customers what you are offering or selling. Serial entrepreneur Floris Venneman recommends: “Make sure you have a name that says exactly what you do or doesn’t do at all, so that you have to explain the connection. It is often not something in between. ”

  1. Provide creativity

A striking name sticks with customers and makes you easier to find on the internet . How original your name can be, however, does depend on the activities of your company. A broker will be less playful with his company name than a layout and design agency. Being creative on command, many entrepreneurs have difficulty with that. Spruce up with other entrepreneurs, award a competition via social media or hire a professional.

  1. Avoid duplication

Are you not a star in coming up with a name and do you think you can make it easy for yourself by being inspired by other names? Beware, your company name should not resemble an existing one too much. If you call your neighborhood supermarket ‘C2000’, for example, you can expect objections. Also remember that your name should not be misleading. Are you self-employed, but do you call your company Samson & amp; Partners then this can cause problems. You can check whether your name resembles a trademark in the trademark register of the BOIP (Benelux Office for Intellectual Property).

  1. Don’t make your name too funny

Don’t confuse creativity with humor. Don’t make your name too funny, because a ‘too’ funny company name can give the impression that you do not handle your profession professionally and do not take assignments too seriously.

  1. Give your name space

Make sure you don’t frame your business activities too much with your name, otherwise you will never be asked for other services. With a broader name, you also reach a larger target group.

  1. Test your name

Satisfied with the name you came up with? Test whether others think he is as genius as you do. Ask family members and friends, but also the entrepreneurs from your network, what association they make when they hear the name. Take their feedback seriously, because if they have any doubts, your future customers will too.

  1. Check your name

Check your name in the Trade Register . You cannot choose a name that someone else already has. Taco Carlier experienced this with his company name MOOF. “That name was already forgiven. We decided to make it VANMOOF. In the beginning we were not satisfied with the name change, but after hearing it many times, I started to like it more and more. ”

Also check the availability of your intended domain name . It is a shame if you have found a good name, but cannot link it to a suitable URL.…

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