How to Name your Business?

[msemmafarr]

I just finished my pp DONA workshop this past weekend, and I do plan on working by myself at the moment -- it's possible I'll work with another doula and I'll definitely refer to ALL of my doula friends if there's a need, but...

How do you know if someone else has the same company name you do? Like for example, Baby Moon Doulas. It's in my area so I know that it exists and I shouldn't use it. How do I know my name is original? Or does it not matter?

I'm not really incredibly close to certification yet, but I would like to start working on advertising, business cards, fliers, and my website.

Does anyone know of a place that will give me free accounting or tax advice? I want to make sure I do my practice by the book monetarily, but I am pretty clueless about money.

[amymaew]

Originally Posted by msemmafarr

I just finished my pp DONA workshop this past weekend, and I do plan on working by myself at the moment -- it's possible I'll work with another doula and I'll definitely refer to ALL of my doula friends if there's a need, but...

How do you know if someone else has the same company name you do? Like for example, Baby Moon Doulas. It's in my area so I know that it exists and I shouldn't use it. How do I know my name is original? Or does it not matter?

I'm not really incredibly close to certification yet, but I would like to start working on advertising, business cards, fliers, and my website.

Does anyone know of a place that will give me free accounting or tax advice? I want to make sure I do my practice by the book monetarily, but I am pretty clueless about money.

You could google the name and see what comes up, or check with your state. You might find alldoulas helpful - it's a message board just about doula stuff and have a lot of helpful info about advertising, choosing names, tax issues, etc. hth

[dewi]

You need to do a search for business names at your cities county clerk
Find your counties web page and it will give you inform on registering or looking up a business name.

[msemmafarr]

Originally Posted by dewi

You need to do a search for business names at your cities county clerk
Find your counties web page and it will give you inform on registering or looking up a business name.

Ah, thank you! That's what I was looking for. I knew I could google a name I think up, but not every webpage has paid to be google available. Thanks!