Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I am fairly new to SUN. I have posted once before. I am stuck on naming my business.  Briefly: It`s a baking business (cookies) that is not brick and mortar. I will be baking and selling to local stores, bed and breakfasts and online. I would like to choose a name that carries over to the web. I know how to do a url search (which I`ve done). I am more concerned with down the road if it got bigger. I know that lrg corporations can stop you if you do anything that resembles what they do. I took a food business startup class and found out you can be bitten down the road. (ie; if my last name was "Fields" or "Mcdonald"). In the class they spoke of a woman who started an organic dog food business and got quite far with it. She got the food onto shelves, etc. Her packaging had a cute little dog with a red and white checked scarf on. Five years into her successful business she got a nice little letter from Purina`s lawyers....end of business. Do I hire a patent attorney? How do I protect myself and cover my tracks? I`ve got a name that checks out as unused in my state and on the web. What is my next step? Thanks so much

Joan,

Craig has made some excellent observations so I won`t rehash his points. Let`s get on with it and get a name you like so you can "Start It Up."

You live in a beautiful state - Oregon - with lots of beauty and some excellent Pinot Noir wine (Archery Summit is heaven). I visited a couple of years ago and also made the long drive to Crater Lake - something I wish everyone could see - absolutely breathtaking! If I`d known you were just down the road, I would have stopped in to say hello

People know Crater Lake. How about Crater Lake Bakery? The domain is available, too - www.craterlakebakery.com. You also live near Siskiyou Mountain State Park - how `bout Siskiyou Mountain Bakery - www.siskiyoumtbakery.com? Also available. Or siskiyoubakery.com? Available. Get my drift? You spoke of starting off local, selling to stores and B&Bs and then online. Why not go for names that express the beauty of Oregon? Wonderful cookies with a beautiful name that taste like nature.

I don`t pretend to think that any of these names are the ones you will choose - just trying to show you that this is the easy part. Knock this task out and get on with it. You can do it.

Keep us posted. And there is a "law" at SuN that you have to send all members a free sample of cookies once you launch. It`s called the Cookie Law. I`m not kidding. Read the SuN Forum By Laws. Section VI, Article 11, paragraph 3.

BTW - who do you flew with as a F/A?

R@

Although Archery Summit wouldn`t normally conjure up images of wine, it`s not a giant leap for me lately.  I have been reading the forum by laws and am unable to find the language that states the "cookie rule". Are you guys sure it`s section VI? Will keep searching.

Richard, you bring up some interesting ideas about a name. Ashland is known for the Shakespeare festival that brings many tourists. I can start there. (King Arthur`s Choc. Chip, Taming of the Sugar Cookie, Macbeth Melts, Twelfth Night Brownies). Shakespeare probably has some pretty good lawyers though.  I guess I really need to figure out what I want my identity to be. It is true that Oregon is a beautiful place. I will give your ideas some thought.  BTW, United.

Craig, I do have some things that bring me joy. I am going to do some brainstorming while at work today. Thanks for all of your input. I have waited too long in sharing my anguish. All of the members get cookies? Are you also from Oregon? (a brother in Coos Bay).

The current name in the running is Sweet Waldo or Sweet Waldos. Waldo is my son`s middle name and his late Grandfather`s first name. (Yes, the photo is of a boy). The name allows me to add other sweets to my menu. (Is that overthinking it)? The name has not been taken yet. Thanks again, Joan