Hi All,

I'm trying to come up with a name for my practice, and I'm totally stumped. Maybe I'm being too picky, too. My target market is non-profits and artists, focusing on grant/proposal writing and social marketing (there will be some a la carte stuff, too, like desktop publishing). I don't really want to limit myself to only doing grant writing, as I know that a lot of NP's are on a shoe string budget, so I want to be able to pick up some work from for-profit companies, too.

My criteria are probably too strict, what do you think? I don't want to use the word "assistant" anywhere, it shouldn't be more than one or two words, and I don't want the name to lock me into any given market.

The couple that I've come up with are all pretty much taken:

Get Found (ironically by the author of Inbound Marketing for Non-Profits)
Found It
Find Me (dating site, yay!)
Fund Me

I thought about Get Found, Get Funded, but it seems too long, though it's probably the most accurate. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks for your help!

How about
Non-profit Pro VA (or Non-profit Pro Virtual Services)
with tag line, Get Found, Get Funded

!

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Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

Hi Mary,

Thanks for the suggestion, it's a good one. ^_^ I think I'll put it on my list. I also found a site that does "Web 2.0" name generating and came up with one that is available and I like a lot:

My Fund Vine

Still playing around.

Deciding on a name will partly depend on a few factors.

1) If you are going to be a C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC, or partnership, you will need to check with your state's Corporation Commission to make sure any names you like are available. (Most state's Corp Commissions let you reserve a name online.)

2) If you are going to be a Sole Proprietor, then you need to check with your Secretary of State to make sure the name you want is available. (You cannot use a name is a similar name is already in existence in your State.)

ALWAYS check these sites before picking a business name. You do NOT want to be sued by another company for name infringement.

3) Check to see if there is an available domain name that matches (or is similar to) your company name. The last thing you want is to set-up everything with your new company name, then realize that there is not domain name available even close to your company name. You want your domain name to be similar to your company name to make it easier for your clients to remember. (Note: avoid domain names that contain a dash or underscore. I did this once and people always messed up when sending me an email or going to my webpage.)

You can check the availability of a domain name for free at GoDaddy. http://www.godaddy.com/

Lastly I would have something in the name that refers to your type of business. Use some form of the word Virtual in the name, or tailor the name to your specialty. (Note: if you tailor the name to your specialty, remember that you may change your specialty in the future and then your name no longer makes sense.)

Hope this helps,
Julie

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Julie | Virtual Resource Services, Inc (VRSI)
http://www.vrsioffice.com

Hi Julie,

Yes, indeed, that did help quite a bit. I've been looking at domain name availability before seriously considering any name. Like, there was one that had the .com available, but the .net was taken by some Nigerian investment company. I'm sure it's legit, but you know... I just don't want potential clients to think they went to the right spot and saw that.

I don't work very well with things that can't be understood visually (I have an arts background), so I've been trying to come up with something that I can see as well, thus Fund Vine. Actually, while sitting here and typing my response, I think I may have come up with my name! Sound View Pro Services. It's sort of a double entundra (sp?), because I'm out Seattle, and if I squint through the trees outside my office window, I can see the Puget Sound. It also suggests sound advice/services. :p It's available both as a domain name and a business name in Washington State.

Thanks again to Mary, also. I was seriously considering Non Profit Pro Services, a variation of your suggestion.

I like the name Sound View Pro Services. Very creative.

Note that setting up a Non Profit is a great deal more tricky/complicated then setting up a simple S-Corp or C-Corp. The goverment puts you through all sorts of "red tape" to apply for Non Profit status.

Good Luck,
Julie

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Julie | Virtual Resource Services, Inc (VRSI)
http://www.vrsioffice.com

Ah, no. I'll be a sole proprietor, I just want to help out non-profits to get funded as I used to be in the non-profit world. I was at one point a few months ago looking into starting a non-profit, but you're totally right, there is a lot of red tape, and it turned me off on the idea.

Just a quick note - you want to use words that will be searchable. Virtual Assistant is a huge search term. Just FYI....