07/13/2026
once you love a brand name or know what you want to call your product, it’s time to talk about trademarks! I see the most heartbreak when:
1) the name you thought was unique has already been used & registered by other companies in relevant categories, or
2) the truly unique name you gave your company or offering suddenly has copycats trying to beat you to registration.
what’s the best way to avoid heartbreak & wasted money?
before you fall too much in love with a brand name & invest in printed materials like business cards, brochures, t-shirts or product labels, talk to someone who understands trademarks. the best approach is having several possible names & ensuring the one you move forward with has not already been used.
what’s the risk of moving forward with a name that’s already been taken? first, no one wants to receive a cease & desist letter. second, no one wants to pay twice for printed materials or merch, which would be required if you can’t use the name anymore & you have to throw out everything referencing the taken name. third, in some cases you may have to pay up if you made money from the unauthorized use of the name.
so… let’s skip the ugly parts & start with longterm success in mind. I love to chat trademarks with entrepreneurs & business owners, especially when they are excited & ready to bring their ideas to life! //