Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello,
I have a business name and some designs for note cards.  What is the next step in creating my brand?  I was told that it`s not necessary to have my business name trademarked but that I will need to have every design I do copyrighted.....is it true that I will also need to get a license?

Thanks!

Think about Hallmark. When you buy a Hallmark card, every one of them has the name of the company. But more importantly, the way the name *looks* is exactly specific. The font, shape of the letters, size relationships, and so forth. In other words, look at the word "Hallmark" as a graphic image. That`s their logo.

You can see the same with Coca-Cola, IBM, Target, Nabisco, FedEx, and every other logo. That`s your "mark"---the picture that represents how you`re going out there and plying your "trade." It`s for people who can`t read, or for people in cars whizzing by on the freeway, when letters are too hard to read.

When you come up with this logo, that will be a central gathering point for all that you do with your company. Each card you sell will have that mark, as will each box of stationary, calendars, or whatever else. The cards themselves will have their picture design on the front, and whatever inside messages. But on the back, you`ll have your trademark.

If you personally create the designs and artwork for a particular card, then you can protect your "right" to own it and prevent anyone from making a "copy" of that design without your permission. That`s your "copy-right" or "copyright." Each unique design can be copyrighted.

That trademark is a legal process, meaning nobody else can have a name that looks like "Hallmark." If their name is too similar, like "Hillmark," and the shape of the letters is too close, then Hallmark can sue them and have them remove their mark from the business world.

Your question is whether or not you should build your mark, then start your business. Or; should you build your business, and assign it a mark that makes sense. It depends on your overall strategy, how many ideas for designs you already have in place, and how organized is your idea for the business.

You don`t need a license to start a business like this, as far as I know, but you should consult with an attorney to make absolutely sure. Particularly in your geographic area, in terms of local ordinances. There are advantages to having a business ID number, but far more important is that you have a *product* you`re trying to sell, and a way to track each sale and customer.

thank you so much for your highly informative response!
It`s much appreciated and very helpful.

Best,
Anne

Good. :-) Now go start a business! 

thank you, i will!
is it crazy of me to leave a secure, full time job at a great company with a bonus coming in about five months to go to a position that`s only a few days a week, no benefits but will give me the time and freedom to work on my business?  I know this is such a personal choice but I would love to hear of others who have taken a leap of faith and left something secure for the unknown  - and were successful.

Only you can decide what you want out of life. And that depends on your tolerance for risk, your desire for adventure, and your concept and philosophy of quality of life.

It`s not crazy to re-define your core values, nor is it crazy to take steps to change your life in a way that makes you a better person. It might be crazy if you were to make this change by simply walking away from all previous contracts, promises, and long-term obligations (e.g., raising children, husband/wife, etc.).

Thanks for sharing this information about starting a stationery line, I found this post really helpful as well as informative. Keep sharing more such posts.

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 Isn't that good...It would be kind of representing our business through "Hallmark"...

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