Company Name Suggestions

Hi,
Many years ago I was taught "Smith and Co." would imply that "Smith" is the principal and "Co" would imply that other/s were working with/for Smith. Whether it is strictly still so I'm not sure. Whether it's appropriate to name your practice "& Co" at the outset on the grounds that you're setting off with that idea and will  have other/s working with you , and have no intention of misleading for gain, may be, but I can't say I'm sure. Someone may say why don't you call yourself "Smith Accountants" and add the "Co" when you do have other/s working with/for you? If you have a reasonable, ethical and legitimate answer to that then I can't see why not "and Co.". Hope it helps.

My thoughts on this are that it may be better to have a name not even related to your own - maybe crystal clear solutions t something. This then separates the business from you and will be helpful for you if you want to grow it and sell it.

I don't quite understand the sole trader accountant approach to business in this day and age. Many accountants would never advise their clients to run a business like they do - or at least the ones that do business consultancy/advice wouldn't.

Choose something that represents what you stand for/believe in.

Hope that helps

Hi

I recently attended a business link workshop and the subject of naming your business was part of the agenda.

We were told that you could not use words such as Associates or & Co if you were a sole trader as it suggested there was more than one person involved.

It may be with speaking with someone from Business Link to ask them for advice and confirmation, they do provide information sheets which covers this topic.

Hi

I always find it a bit baffling when people choose company names without saying what they do, ie Smith & Co.  One of our greatest "free" advertising space is google, when someone is searching for an accountants in your area.  For instance, if you call yourselves Chelmsford Accountancy Services, it will get more hits in a search engine as people will search for "Chelmsford accountants".  The other thing to consider is your domain name, as you will probably have a web page, so when you choose a name, google it, check no one else has it and then find a domain name site to see if the name is still available.

Good luck!

"We were told that you could not use words such as Associates or & Co if you were a sole trader as it suggested
there was more than one person involved"

I would agree that when you are starting up using & Co or associates in your name suggests you are bigger than a one man band. Is that not what many startups aspire to be?