Company names etc

[wrighty]

Alright people,

I'm in the process of trying to set up a small business to work alongside my current job in the hope that in the not so distant future ill be able to get out there full time.

I'm interested to know how you all picked a company name, or do you just use your name, initials etc.? I'm trying to avoid doing this if possible but I'm struggling to come up with any ideas. And do you have a logo? I want to start off on the right foot and make my business look as professional as possible from the word go so would like to get a logo sorted for work wear, stationary, van etc. but I haven't a clue where to start with this so just wondered if any of you have a logo if so how did you go about sorting it?


cheers

 

[Octopus]

If your name is Zac Thomas I wouldn't use your initials on the other hand if you are Adrian Andrews I would!

I used a web designer to do my site plus he came up with my logo, its very eye catching and sums up the business well.

You are thinking along the right lines and image does count as most people will make their opinion of you in about 2 minutes.

Get some ideas down on paper, and if you are planning on shirts etc don't have anything too complicated!

 

[Richard Burns]

I used my name and it is a nuisance.
I would suggest something including what you do as "Works Wright" for instance may be memorable but for what "Wrighty's wiring" might be more informative.

For the logo I just drew a socket and light and used those, kept it black and white for ease of reproduction (but that is very old school).

 

[amlu]

company name is from a tune that I really liked couple of years ago
getting little bit happier than usual (drunk etc) helps designing logos

 

[trev]

Pick something starting with A.
Aardvark would come in the ads list in the paper before anteater, bison etc.

 

[Richard Burns]

Thinking about it I did a beautiful (!) logo for you ages ago.
Did the business not take off?

 

[wrighty]

no I never followed it through, but I've decided now's the time to start planting some seeds in the hope they'll grow.

 

[atm84]

Check out 99 designs.com. It works by you putting up a lump of money say £100 and graphic designers from all over the world compete to come up with a winning design based on a brief that you give at the start. You are able to comment and give ratings to each design so everyone gets an idea of what you like/don't like. I think off the top of my head they have about 14 days to come up with something. Obviously the more money you make available the more designers get involved. There is another company similar that comes up with company names and logos for you too but I can't remember the name of it. Think carefully about your name and logo, it can make all the difference. If you look like a big outfit and really professional you will prob struggle to pick up small jobs which everyone needs at the start. It all depends where you are, does word of mouth play an important part where you live, how do you want to take things in the future?

 

[wrighty]

Having spent most of my time as a sparky working on commercial contracts, this would be the type of work I am hoping to attract, however I appreciate that this may be difficult at start and I am looking to start with domestic work and carrying out EICR's etc to get my name out there.

I have tried to write a home page for a website, and some other marketing materials but Im really struggling with this, having never done anything like this before, so if anybody has any tips it would be greatly appreciated

cheers

 

[Richard Burns]

The approaches for commercial and domestic work tend to be different.
For commercial work they will be looking for qualifications and paperwork and competence.
For domestic they are looking for someone trustworthy and who looks like they know what they are doing.

However they are both looking for cheap!
The EICRs will mainly attract commercial and domestic thatched properties, possibly people moving.
I would say that as your primary interest is commercial that you should empasise the commercial competence and capabilities that you have. Contract experience being important.
For a website I would suggest that your first page identifies the skills area in which you work, the locations you will cover and your clear contact details.
Generic electrical graphics would be relevant here and affiliation logs, put in too much tray work and db's and domestic are put off, put in CUs and domestic sockets and commercial are put off.
Then have two subsidiary pages one for commercial and one for domestic. Each one can be tailored to your skills set and the popular jobs people want. If you want you can put a about us section to reassure people that you are real. Could have references if you have any.
Links to other sites such as the competent person register, ESC, local planning can help ratings and customer confidence.
Have your contact details on each page, does not need to be so obvious as on the first page but always have them easy to get at.
Avoid lots of pages and different sections to jump to, just the basics.
Do not go overboard on pictures and backgrounds they waste time and space, be clear and check your spelling and layout on different operating systems.
Adverts should be clear about what you do and your contact details, add other things as necessary, but that is the key thing "electrician on this number" the rest is eye attraction.
Try and get a basic standard of background, logos, etc. so that you have a brand presence throughout your website, adverts, clothing, business card.

There are companies out there that will do this all for you and if you are lost then it may be worth contacting some of them and getting it sorted, depending on how much you want to pay!

Just some top of the head ideas to get you started.

 

[atm84]

Start with something simple and easily recognisable. When you start to build your business and attract bigger contracts then that may be the time when you may want to rebrand the company. I used to always think one man bands only ever used their own name as the company name but many large contracting companies still use the same name that they used when starting out.

 

[Kate]

Being drunk/happy isn't such a great idea!! I didnt spend more than 5mins on company name. i used my initials. My surname starts with S so I changed that to become K Sparks. Thought it was quirky at the time...now not so much but too late!! People assume my surname is actually sparks, which it isn't. And I get jokes on site about my work causing sparks!!

 

[HandySparks]

I used my name and it is a nuisance.

Why's that then?

I generally use just my name. The only time it looks odd is on forms, where you sometimes end up entering the same info in two boxes: Name.... Company....

I did make up a simple logo and trading style for electrical work as I wanted something to go on the top of my certs.

For domestic work, I think there's some advantage in trading under your own name. Quite a few of my customers pick me out because it's clear that I'm a sole trader rather than a larger company, so they know exactly who's going to be doing the work in their house.

 

[Richard Burns]

I generally use just my name. The only time it looks odd is on forms, where you sometimes end up entering the same info in two boxes: Name.... Company....

That is the one, if you applying for an account it looks like you do not have a company and are just using your name twice. Explaining to customers to make cheques payable to my name, when they are expecting a company name is slightly inconvenient. Nothing major, just a nuisance.

 

[atm84]

Then choose a company for example Joe Bloggs Electrical Services. That way it uses your name but the company name is distinguished from your own name.