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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Question on 'business name' used on a card
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 04/13/2007 07:16:19 AM · #1
If you are not ever planning on being a 'professional'....but would like to make business cards for some use. (Walmart printing, and word of mouth opportunities)

How do you find out if you can use the name??

I'm looking to use 'Strait Shooter'

I googled it and found references to George Strait and another band...

04/13/2007 07:18:16 AM · #2
If you're not conducting business you could call yourself Santa Claus on your card.
 04/13/2007 07:27:42 AM · #3
well, I wasn't thinking of Santa Claus...

The only Business would be an occassional portrait, but then it really is just friends and family....I also belong to a local Camera Club and enter Art Shows....I would use this card at these entries...

Also, places like Walmart won't develop a photo that they 'think' may be a portrait thus a letterhead/business card needs to be on file. I wanted something 'catchy'.
04/13/2007 07:32:08 AM · #4
umm, copyright office? trademark office? they have places to do searches for stuff like that... I think even most local business licenses places on line have a search feature.
 04/13/2007 07:35:13 AM · #5
in Michigan you can go to michigan.gov and do searches on business names and other info ... you can register your business name that way also ... cost is about $50 here, and in my opinon worth it just to be 'legal' ...
 04/13/2007 07:41:11 AM · #6
Just a thought, wouldn't you rather be a straight shooter than a strait shooter? Straight would probably be better if you're focusing on portraits and not bodies of water.
 04/13/2007 07:43:35 AM · #7
Originally posted by TechnoShroom:
Just a thought, wouldn't you rather be a straight shooter than a strait shooter? Straight would probably be better if you're focusing on portraits and not bodies of water.


My last name is Strait

04/13/2007 07:43:57 AM · #8
Most states have an online business search through their Secretary of State's Office. The databases usually cover both incorporated businesses and trade names (though trade names are registered through the Department of Revenue). Do a search and if no one comes up with the name already registered, grab it. Registering a trade name is dirt cheap, by the way, and it helps you later if someone else decides to use it. Once they incorporate it, you could be in trouble.
04/13/2007 07:47:15 AM · #9
New York business search:
//appsext8.dos.state.ny.us/corp_public/corpsearch.entity_search_entry

And no one has "Strait Shooter" registered yet.

Message edited by author 2007-04-13 11:47:20.
 04/13/2007 07:57:04 AM · #10
Thank you....

04/13/2007 02:40:15 PM · #11
I love the business name, and it's very appropriate since it's your last name. Good luck with it.
 04/13/2007 02:49:33 PM · #12
Nolo Press has books on incorporation and other aspects of setting up and running a business -- see if your library has any before you buy.
 04/14/2007 11:58:52 AM · #13
Originally posted by Rebecca:
Most states have an online business search through their Secretary of State's Office. The databases usually cover both incorporated businesses and trade names (though trade names are registered through the Department of Revenue). Do a search and if no one comes up with the name already registered, grab it. Registering a trade name is dirt cheap, by the way, and it helps you later if someone else decides to use it. Once they incorporate it, you could be in trouble.

You should also check similar sounding names, like Straight Shooter.
 04/14/2007 12:16:16 PM · #14
Originally posted by hankk:
Originally posted by Rebecca:
Most states have an online business search through their Secretary of State's Office. The databases usually cover both incorporated businesses and trade names (though trade names are registered through the Department of Revenue). Do a search and if no one comes up with the name already registered, grab it. Registering a trade name is dirt cheap, by the way, and it helps you later if someone else decides to use it. Once they incorporate it, you could be in trouble.

You should also check similar sounding names, like Straight Shooter.


You can, but legally, just because one business name sounds or looks similar to another doesn't mean it's off limits. I think the only claim they can make against you for a similar name is if you're intentionally trying to deceive your customers into thinking you're with that other business. The example I'm specifically thinking of from my work experience (getting the name right is extremely important for loans) was where one business was "Company Q, Inc." and the other was "Company Q Inc." (actual names changed). The only difference between the two was a comma. I made my boss run it by the lawyers and sure enough, it was different enough with just the comma to be legal. Another customer left the "e" off of the end of a word that can be spelled with or without it. With the "e", it's a multi-national mega corporation. Without it, it's a small local business.

Message edited by author 2007-04-14 16:17:44.
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