Q. on change of business name...

[Rockies5]

What do you think of a name change after 1-2yrs in business? I'm in the process of taking myself from hobby to profession and have added several certification over the last year so I wanted a name that fits better and allows for expanding in the future.

So I know it may cause a *tiny* bit of confusion for a handful of people that met or saw my ads under the previous name. I'm keeping the same phone, addy, materials, look on website, business cards, brochures etc. I'd have to contact literally only 2 businesses I advertise with to update.

I want to do this NOW before I get any more noticed, because I won't be able to change it later.

The current name was never registered (duh) and another local (same state, same type of work) business is now using it! This time I will register right away!!

I feel it's early enough for me to change, but I wanted to get opinons of more seasoned professionals...

[DoomaYula]

When you say it wasn't registered, you mean like the site name wasn't registered?

I think it's fine if it's still early in the game, just contact whoever you have to contact.

Some lady I saw on Oprah who created Spanx said that the most well-known business names end in a hard K sound: Kodak and Coke. I thought about it but I couldn't find any good labor/birth/doula related words that end in a hard K except...

Contrax R Us

[Rockies5]

No, the site name was regitered. The business name, which is different, wasn't registed in my state.

Yeah I saw that stuff about the hard K sound too! I also have no clue how to work that into the birth business .

Thank for your opinion. it helps!

[Midwife Kris]

I say go for it and make the change. Register it with the Secretary of State and it's yours. Have you joined the Colorado Doulas Association or at least the yahoo group? When I was on it there were periodic queries of business names to verify who was who and if they were registered.

It happens to midwives too!