Which do you think is the best/right/preferable word in a practice name? Think accounts, bookkeeping & tax practice for AAT person.
Name Accounting
OR
Name Accountancy
"Name" being your surname (or other word)
I'm already in practice and need to change my name - good reason for it, as it has an area of the country rather than name in it I'm sick of people thinking it's part of the local council or similar. Being associated by name with the local council does not seem to be sending the right message out!! I'm changing it to my surname plus one of the above.
I am always of the opinion, one should avoid, locality and personal names. Try and be unique (or different at least). Try an have a name that people will identify, create a brand name and be unique.
My company, just started is called accountsforme, (starting as a sole trader, but have also registered a dormant LTD company). The idea being, it conveys excatly what the company does and at the same time is a unique brand that if things go well can be expanded upon.
Things to consider these days is availability of domain name, facebook name, twitter name etc. These are quite important if you want your company to have an online presence and be unique.
Thanks, I need a traditional sounding name for the local part of my practice, the small business I deal with simple would not use a firm called accountsforme or similar - I don't want to loose them. However I'm already launching my cloud based arm of the practice and that does have a brand able name - I checked all the social media sites & domains as i was setting up.
Have you actually launched yet? Is it a local firm or?
I aim to have local clients as well as clients that are happy working in the internet age with distance. I am about to launch this month. Just getting all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together, before i launch properly.
Nice and simple, and think how many other professional firms do the same ... ok, some add "& Co"; others just add "-s" (with or without an apostrophe).
yep, I put an "& Co" on the end of mine as it says accountant without having to put accountants in the name.
On the business naming cunundrum much is down to personal taste but a couple of pointers :
1) Avoid at all costs the word Pheonix in any business name. It shouts risen from the ashes and used to win a free HMRC visit to any new company with the word in its name.
2) Avoid the word associates in your name unless you actually have associates. My original company name fell foul of ACCA rules that stipulate that words such as associates and partners are descriptive so may be misleading if in fact one does not actually have any associates or partners. I do not imagine that this rule is ACCA's alone so just something to be aware of there.
On the whole limited / sole trader arguement I work a lot with blue chips (banks, insurance companies, finance houses) and they will only deal with limited companies which sort of dictates my legal form.
However, as mentioned above, if your target market is only the lower end of the SME sector then there is no need to incorporate.
Hope that helps,
kind regards,
Shaun.
p.s. lol, those two avatars are doing my head in! I keep thinking that VIPs avatar is still loading and is Ginny's a purple ball down a tunnel / well or the nose of a cone... Does it defeat its own object when I have to put my hand over it to read the message (but then again I'm faulty (dyslexic) sure that most people are absolutely fine with it).
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
I use Needham Accountancy Ltd. It sounds traditional and I think customers still like that. I've had at least ten new customers this year that have deserted franchises and other practices with funky sounding names. It also means that people know that there is a actual person involved rather than random people.
I use Needham Accountancy Ltd. It sounds traditional and I think customers still like that. I've had at least ten new customers this year that have deserted franchises and other practices with funky sounding names. It also means that people know that there is a actual person involved rather than random people.
Works for me in any case.
I trust clients don't desert practices because of the name, one would hope the decision to leave/switch would be based on the lack of professional service provided.
I am always of the opinion, one should avoid, locality and personal names. Try and be unique (or different at least). Try an have a name that people will identify, create a brand name and be unique.
I'm interested what this opinion is based on? I used a personal name, then recently changed to a locality and both have served me well. Form an SEO point of view the locality name has served me better and after a short period I'm hitting number one spot on google for my area and the words "accountant" and "accountancy".
I don't think people choose our service based on a catchy name, but on professionalism, friendliness and reputation.
With regards to the main question I chose to use Accountancy. The reason for this is that I'm not an accountant but offer some of the services traditionally seen as accountancy services.
I originally set my business up with my name followed by payroll and bookkeeping services(sharon eyre payroll & bookkeeping services) -what a mouthful- I eventually changed it to accounting 4 based on the fact that my main services offered are 4 things-payroll, bookkeeping, vat and self assessment.
I haven't found any difference in clients by name change but I do feel it gives my business a more 'professional' touch than previously plus if like me you change your name due to marriage etc you have to change the business name and all your stationery
