Question: I'm having trouble thinking of a name for my business. What is a "fictitious name"? Do I need one? How do I get one?

You have a winning business idea. You know you can get the resources and the workers. You have great ideas for marketing and distribution. Everyone you talk to about your idea believes you'll be very successful. Then they ask, "What are you going to call your company?" That should be simple, right?

Not necessarily. Your business name should be short, easy to remember and descriptive of your business. It should not be misleading in any way, i.e. imply you are a licensed professional if you are not. Depending on the kind of business you start, you may have to register the name with a local or state governmental entity. More about that in a bit.

But first, keep these guidelines in mind when naming your company:

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