Change of business name!?

[hamdogg]

Hi all, for a while now I've been contemplating changing my business name to a company name rather than my name in the title, just wondering just how hard it will be, I know the usuall stuff e.g signwriting, website etc

[ReubenHayes]

Change of business name is always harder the longer you are in business for. I'm guessing you have a good network of customers large and small, and are known in the local area.

 

Suddenly driving around in a different named truck and having a new patter on the phone will be hard, and you may loose existing customers. They may also forget your name and company if they don't see your truck driving about.

 

The main issue to over come is that people will naturally ask why? is it a tax dodge or has your company done something wrong?? You hear of cowboy builders changing manes on a weekly basis to stay out of court.

 

However, against all the negatives there are some positives as it can show your company development, expansion etc. What name were you thinking? And will it be a limited company?

 

The best option is to use both old and new names on your truck, website, letters etc. Tell people that the name change is coming and due to expansion and that your website, mobile, land line numbers will still be the same. Write letters to your loyal customers and local companies (can be used as a marketing tool as well), say that you are getting bigger, this now reflects what your services and you can offer a discount or loyalty scheme for all new customers.

 

Hope that helps

[hamdogg]

Change of business name is always harder the longer you are in business for. I'm guessing you have a good network of customers large and small, and are known in the local area.

 

Suddenly driving around in a different named truck and having a new patter on the phone will be hard, and you may loose existing customers. They may also forget your name and company if they don't see your truck driving about.

 

The main issue to over come is that people will naturally ask why? is it a tax dodge or has your company done something wrong?? You hear of cowboy builders changing manes on a weekly basis to stay out of court.

 

However, against all the negatives there are some positives as it can show your company development, expansion etc. What name were you thinking? And will it be a limited company?

 

The best option is to use both old and new names on your truck, website, letters etc. Tell people that the name change is coming and due to expansion and that your website, mobile, land line numbers will still be the same. Write letters to your loyal customers and local companies (can be used as a marketing tool as well), say that you are getting bigger, this now reflects what your services and you can offer a discount or loyalty scheme for all new customers.

 

Hope that helps

 

 

Yeah all good points there , I'm not so worried about losing my loyal customers, as they know me quite well, I've only been in business a couple of years! So it's prob best doing it now rather than later!

[Burgess]

If you have a website it would be a good idea to keep the one now with your old name but just redirect it to your new website with your new name (and something to explain the name change)

[hamdogg]

If you have a website it would be a good idea to keep the one now with your old name but just redirect it to your new website with your new name (and something to explain the name change)

 

 

Well I think it would obviously change the website but if you typed the old one it will just go straight to new one

[Burgess]

I meant keep as in still hold the name.