Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of posts outlining nine steps that will help you create the perfect name for your company, product, service, e-book, or app. This article is Part 8 of the series, focusing on checking for legal barriers. Read Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 here.

You’re nearing the end of your naming journey – only two more steps to go! Arguably, these last two steps are the most important ones that you can do. While they may not be as exciting and glamorous as brainstorming a name or creating personas, they are essential for ensuring your company’s continued success in the future.

In this article, we’re going to dive into making sure that your name is legally valid. No matter how perfect your name idea might be for your company, if it’s already trademarked by someone else, you can’t use it – period. Checking for any legal conflicts will save you from cease and desist letters or court cases in the future.

Looking at legality

The primary thing you should be concerned about is trademarks. Just about every word in the dictionary is trademarked to a certain degree, which is why many companies chose names with unique spellings or that combine two words. For trademarks, it’s best not to complete this review yourself. Consult a legal professional or use a trademark analysis service for a full review of existing trademarks. If it’s high-risk, change it.

Checking URL availability

After completing your trademark analysis, it’s time to check URL availability. While this aspect of name validation has fewer potential complications in the future, it’s essential to have a clear URL for your new company.

Now that you’ve checked to make sure your name is clear legally and there’s a related URL available, it’s time to move onto the final step of your naming journey – audience validation, this next step can greatly inform your approach in how to name a business. Stay tuned for the final part of the series, where we’ll dive into how to ensure your name resonates with your audience.