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How to Create a Name for Your Cleaning Business
Jean Hanson

style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Before

you open the doors of your cleaning business you not only need equipment and

supplies, you need a name for your business.style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">style="mso-spacerun: yes">  The name of your company will be the

first thing prospective clients see - whether that is in the phone book, on

your company car, in an ad, or on a website.style="mso-spacerun: yes">  The name symbolizes what your cleaning

business represents.  So it is

important to spend some time on choosing a name that not only fits your cleaning

business, but also presents a positive image to customers, suppliers and

employees.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> 

style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">The

easiest way to name your business it to use your own name or initials, such as

Joe Smith's Cleaning.style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">style="mso-spacerun: yes">  This provides a personal touch, is easy

to remember, and if you have a proven track record in the business, it can

attract customers. However, if your plan is to one day sell your business, you

might want to consider something less personal.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> 

style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Instead

of using your name or initials, you may want to think of descriptive or

suggestive wording for your business name.style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">style="mso-spacerun: yes">  When going this route begin by

brainstorming key words or phrases that have something to do with the business:

clean, cleaning, squeaky clean, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, janitorial

services, etc. Write down as many words as you can think of and use a thesaurus

to create more wording possibilities.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> 

style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">You

can also use words that describe the benefits your clients will get from using

your service:style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">

spotless, spic-n-span, dust free, immaculate, etc.style="mso-spacerun: yes">  Take the words from your two lists and

start combining them into various business names: Sparkling Waters Cleaning

Company, A1 Janitorial Services, APlus Cleaning, Spic-n-Span Cleaning.style="mso-spacerun: yes">  As most businesses also use a tag line

or motto, look through your list to see if any of your potential names suggest

possibilities. For example, "Sparkling Waters Cleaning - Your floors will

look like sparkling waters".

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> 

style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Try

out different names and combinations and then judge the names by the

following:

style="mso-special-character: line-break">

  • style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Is it

    easy to pronounce?

  • style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Is it

    concise?

  • style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Is it

    easy to remember?

  • style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Is it

    distinct?

  • style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Does

    it convey the message you want your customers to see?

  • style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Is it

    pleasant to hear and repeat over and over again?

  • style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Is it

    something you can stand behind?

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> 

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Before

you can begin using your business name, check to see if the name is already

trademarked. Do an Internet search at the USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark

Office) at www.uspto.gov . Then check with

your local secretary of state to see if anyone else in your state has already

registered that name.  Once you have

decided if the name is available and can represent your business, run it by

family and friends to get their reaction. 

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> 

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">The

business name is the flag that can wave down potential customers.style="mso-spacerun: yes">  Once you have decided on a name it will

most likely be with you throughout the life of the business.style="mso-spacerun: yes">  Putting the time into researching a

suitable name for your cleaning business is one way to get your business off and

running in the right direction.

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Jean Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through her online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read

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