Choosing the Right Name for Your Home Inspection Business

How will you go about choosing the right name for your home inspection business? Don’t just pull any old name out of a hat — this is about your service, your personality, and now, your brand. You won’t just have to find something that sounds good, though. There are steps you’ll need to take to make it official and avoid any legal trouble.  Don’t worry, it isn’t as intimidating as it sounds. We’ll walk you through it. 

How to Name Your Home Inspection Business 

First things first: do you want to name your business after yourself? Do you want to build a bigger company with many inspectors? Once you have a good understanding of what this business will aim to accomplish, you’ll be able to find a name that suits it, that no one else has, and that you can have legally recognized with a trademark or registration. 

Balancing Creativity with Legality in Naming Your Business 

While you’re brainstorming your business name, you don’t only want something that hasn’t been taken. Think about what’s catchy, easy to remember, or fun to say. Here are some fun ideas (with examples) to make your business name stand out for the right reasons: 

• Rhymes — Used cleverly, rhymes can be catchy and unforgettable. “RoofProof Inspectors” and “Cellar Dwellers Home Inspection” are two ideas that are a little funny but give your audience an idea of the services you provide in a memorable way. 
• Alliteration — It’s catchy when the words begin with the same sounds. “Humphrey Home Inspection” has a familiar, tried and true sound to it. 
• Onomatopoeia — The most daring of the three, this trick will bring your business name to life. “Drip Seekers Inspection Co” has a fun name that your clients can envision and hear. 

Now, if you were to combine all three of these — like “Drip Detector Home Inspectors” — you might end up with something pretty cool, but maybe a little over the top. Run your ideas by your trusted friends, family, and most importantly, your industry peers for honest feedback. 

How to Conduct a Business Name Search 

Let the fun begin! At this point, you might have several ideas for what to name your home inspection business. To help you decide, you can say the names out loud, write them down on paper, even bounce ideas off friends and family. Once you’ve narrowed your options down, check for their availability. 

How to check online: 

• Run your name through online domain checks 
• Search social media for your preferred handles 
• Run your business name through government trademark databases 
• Type your names into search engines to make sure there aren’t any negative associations 

Introduction to Trademarks in Home Inspection Businesses 

Once you have your name, you’ll want some way to make things “official.” For starters, it would be lame to have your name and business all planned out only to find that some other inspector is using the same name — oh, and it you’d probably face some ugly legal repercussions. The legal realm can feel like a jungle, so let’s break it down. 

Copyrights 

On the other hand, a “copyright” refers to a different kind of intellectual property: original creations. The Catcher in the Rye is copyrighted, because it is, in its entirety, an original piece of art. This doesn’t apply to your business, so focus on registering or trademarking your name instead! 

Trademarks 

In simple terms, a “trademark” is a legal identifier that makes your business yours. Your name, your brand, slogans, and so on can all be protected by the trademark, so you have legal grounds to stand on if anyone else tries to use the same ideas. For example, the name “Big Mac” is trademarked. Lots of people can make and sell burgers with the same ingredients, but no one else can call that burger a Big Mac. 

The downside to trademarking a business? It’s a long legal process. Sometimes it can take over six months. But there is another way to have your business legally protected so that it can’t be used by another business within your state 

Business Registration 

Registering a business name essentially means that your business is its own legal entity. When you register your business, you get: 

• Limited personal liability 
• Tax deductions for business needs 
• Brand credibility 

Steps to Register Your Home Inspection Company’s Name 

Registering your business name is a simpler, faster process than trademarking, in order to be legally recognized in your state. You won’t get the exact same, broad protections that a trademark can offer, but registration ensures no one else can use the same name within your state. 

Step 1: Determine Your Business Structure 

Regardless of where you register your business, you will need to choose its business structure. This determines the way your taxes are handled and other legalities. 

Some common options are: 

• Sole proprietorship 
• Partnerships 
• Corporations 
• S Corporations 

Step 2: Apply for an EIN 

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is how the IRS identifies your business for tax purposes. Think of it as a social security number for your business. You can apply for your EIN online. This is the step you absolutely need to properly file your taxes as a business, and you may need your EIN when filling out registration forms for your state, so don’t skip this step!

Step 3: Apply for Business Licenses 

Next, you’ll need to submit some paperwork to apply for your business licenses. This part can depend on your state, and of course your business type. Check the US Small Business Administration (SBA) for more detailed information based on your state and business license type. 

Step 4: Register With State Agencies 

Now that you have your EIN, you don’t need anything else to be federally recognized as a legal business. However, registering your business in your state can ensure that you get legal and tax benefits, and it comes in handy if you ever face liabilities, like a lawsuit. 

The rules on registration may vary slightly state-by-state, so take a look at the SBA’s helpful checklist to get all the background information you need. 

Your Business Awaits! 

Listen to your gut. It hasn’t let you down yet! You’re well on your way to owning and operating your home inspection business. And you’re not alone; we’ve got all the resources you need to fall back on, from professional development to courses to help you expand into commercial inspection, business and marketing guides, and beyond. Oh, and you know you can still hit up your instructors, right? Where you go, we follow. And where you’re goin’ is looking brighter every day.