That’s a question I see asked at VA forums often, or a variation on it, asking for suggestions on business names. However, do you really need one?
If you don’t have a focus, i.e. have no idea what your specific service offerings may be at the start and you’re just feeling your way, then a business name may not be necessary.
It’s probably best to work under your own name till you have some idea. Why? Because when you register a name that’s just the beginning and there are a number of expenses that will be incurred such as:
- Domain name
- Business cards
- Letterhead
- With comp slips
- Logo
- Possibly invoicing paper and other items
If you find your focus a bit later on then you may find the name you’ve chosen isn’t suitable or doesn’t reflect it properly. And once you do have a ‘niche’ or ‘focus’ a name may come naturally to you.
There’s nothing to say you have to have a business name when starting out and if you check with your accountant I’m sure you’ll find you can operate legally under your own name. You can even purchase a domain for your own name and use that for now.
Justine Curtis says
Hi Kathy,
Great point but I would also suggest that when naming your business later on you should consider your exit strategy for your business. If you intend to build your virtual assistant business to a level where you will eventually sell it, you might want to give it a name other than your own, or you will no longer be able to trade under your own name once you have sold it.
Best regards,
Justine