Hi everyone

I am in the beginning process of setting up my VA business and am currently trying to come up with my business name. At my current full time job I am considered a "real estate paralegal", but I also do duties that a secretary/administrative assistant would do being the only employee for the firm. I also have job experience in many types of office roles, a legal assistant diploma, and most of my job experience has been working for lawyers in a variety of different office roles. I intend to offer my services to lawyers (as a paralegal) as well as assisting other business owners in different industries.

Any advice on whether I should use the word "paralegal" in my business name or leave it out? I was originally going to use "Paralegal & Secretarial Services" but am wondering if that might be too long?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

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Denyse Giguere
Cimarron Business Solutions

Hi Denyse:

Congrats on starting your new business. And you already have a clear idea of where your niche and experience are - that's great! Are you offering "local" services or "virtual" or both? I spent a long time trying to find just the right name for my business. I chose "keywords" like virtual, secretary, administrative assistant, office assistant, etc. and juggled them around every which way. I wanted a name that described what I wanted to do and what I was offering and something that flowed well. A lot of people want their name in some form or other as a part of the Company name but it wasn't a priority for me. I ended up with ALTERNATIVE OFFICE ASSISTANCE which I felt was a good fit. Then I wanted to make sure that no-one else had used that name so I went to a domain seller and on their sites you can request your chosen name and variations to check and see what is taken and what is not. No point deciding on one name and then finding someone else is using it. If you are offering paralegal support, then by all means add that but if you want to offer other legal services/support to lawyers, then maybe you should just stay with "legal" which encompasses both. As well, I also "googled" the name I had chosen to make sure, once again, that it was the only one out there. Just my thoughts...


Diane L. Coville
ALTERNATIVE OFFICE ASSISTANCE

Hi Diane,

Thanks for your advice. I actually visited one of those domain sites and inserted a couple of the words including "paralegal" over "administrative services". I think you had a great idea to use "legal" instead of paralegal. I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to use my initials or go another avenue. Your input really helped push me in the right direction!

I like your business name. When I first started this process, I had no idea picking my business name would be so complicated.

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Denyse Giguere
Cimarron Business Solutions

Hi Denyse:

It is rather a long process but since there is little likelihood of your wanting to change it somewhere down the road, it is worth that little extra effort to get just what you want the first time. And when you have decided, it's like naming your new baby - well almost! I'd love to hear what you actually decide on!

Diane L. Coville
ALTERNATIVE OFFICE ASSISTANCE

That's why I really love this site - I knew nothing about the process of starting up my own business. I wasn't even sure I was ready. It helps having supportive people on the forum that make you feel you are not alone

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Denyse Giguere
Cimarron Business Solutions

Still stuck on whether I want to use the word "legal" or use "Business Solutions". While I am trained and have experience working for lawyers, I also want to be able to assist other business owners, since I have experience as an administrative assistant for other types of businesses. Any advice on whether I should leave legal out? I'm thinking Business & Legal Solutions may not fit.

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Denyse Giguere
Cimarron Business Solutions

Denyse - If you like working with the legal field, and are skillful there, I think it helps to emphasize that from the start. How about Business and Paralegal Solutions?

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

Hi Mary:

Thanks for the suggestion, I definately agree with you. "Business and Paralegal Solutions" just about sums up what services I will be offering.

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Denyse Giguere
Cimarron Business Solutions