Dec '25 • Modules
#4 - Choosing a Business Name
Now that I have a loose idea of what I would like my business to be, it's time to figure out what to call it. I want a name that is somewhat descriptive, a little fun, and very importantly, is available across all platforms I will be a part of.
A website. Gmail. Facebook. Instagram. YouTube. Pinterest. X.
The first step is to sit down and brainstorm a bunch of names. This is stream of thought mode. I'll go through a hundred ideas before finding those that I really like. Then many of those will be abandoned because I just can't get the social media handles or website URL. I even have to check the names against other businesses to make sure I don't violate any sorts of copyright laws or even just risk getting our two brands confused with one another.
After jotting down as many names as I could think of, I fed the results into Chat GPT and had it continue the name generation for me. I ended up with quite a long list. So I set out checking social media and web domains for availability, and, as I suspected, most of my first choices were unuseable, so I moved on down the list.
Here are a couple of resources to help you evaluate your own business names:
- copyright.gov - check with the Library of Congress for any name or identity conflicts, learn about copyright law.
- brandsnag.com - enter your name and see if it is available across all platforms and domains.
After filtering through a bunch of names, I settled on one that wasn't my first choice (obviously), but I think fits nicely.
Arcade Everywhere
(I would have preferred Arcade Anywhere, but it is being used.) I went ahead and locked in all the socials and domain by starting new accounts on all platforms. NOTE: I did have to slightly modify the name in a couple places, but it's not a huge deal.
Here's where I ran into one of my first problems.
I know, already?
In an effort to save literally $8, I registered the domain name on GoDaddy.com rather than the hosting platform I will be using (Squarespace). I did not know this at the time, but you have to wait 60 days before you can transfer a newly purchased domain from the original registrar to your hosting platform. So I saved $8, but I now have to wait 60 days before I can actually launch a website. Not worth it. (I can still start building it once I get to that point, however.)
The good news? I now have the start of my brand. I hear the name, Arcade Everywhere, and I get excited about the idea of bringing fun and physical play to people EVERYWHERE. I think it fits what I want to build perfectly.
Just knowing the name of my new business, and imagining what it could become down the road provides me with more energy and drive than I've had in some time.
Takeaway: As you sit down to come up with the name that will represent your business, your goals, your vision of the future, be sure to test it against the world to be sure that you don't end up spending money marketing your business only to have all your customers accidentally wind up at a competitor's doorstep. Use all the tools available to help narrow down your list, and then manually go check them for accuracy yourself. Once you have decided on your new name, secure them immediately on every platform you intend to work with. Even some you don't think you'll use, but it's nice to "own" the name there too. You may even consider buying alternate versions of your domain (.net, .co, .biz, etc.)
Comment below how the process has gone for you, and don't be afraid to reach out for help if you get stuck.
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#4 - Choosing a Business Name
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