Naming Your Doula Business

When you are starting a business, it can be shocking how many little things you hadn’t thought of become important. In the midst of getting everything in order, it becomes clear that you can’t do much until you have a name. But what should you name your business? Some people choose just their name, while others look for something creative or unique. Ultimately, the name you choose should reflect your brand and what you want customers to think of you. Before you settle on a name, read on to understand some of the considerations you should make.

State and Federal Requirements

If you are planning to register with the government, you will have to follow a number of rules. Most doulas will become an LLC, a limited liability company, which requires a state application and approval. States will have varying rules on what words can or can’t be included, but all states disallow two businesses to register with the same name. You can spend some time on your state’s website looking at current businesses to ensure yours isn’t taken and nothing nearly-identical exists.

There is no such federal registry for businesses. However, trademarks are done at a federal level through the United States Patent and Trademark Office. You can also search their registry to avoid infringing on a trademark.

Imagine Word of Mouth Marketing

For doulas, word of mouth is one of the most important elements of marketing. When you think of a name, you should imagine these scenarios. A client tells a friend at a birthday party about their amazing doula and the name of the business. The friend want to Google it later, but can’t remember the exact word, or doesn’t know how to spell it. This could lose you a client!

Any name you choose should be easy to say out loud, spell, and remember. This also means that if you have a very complex or long name, it may be better to choose something else.

Consider the Future

There are great benefits to including specifics in your business name, like your location or even the word doula. This can help with SEO, as well as being clear for the market. However, think about what you may want the business to look like in the future. What if you move- would you rename the business?

And what if you want to include more services is the future? Many people will choose to include the word “birth” or “birth services” to encapsulate doula work while leaving the door open for more.

Stay True to Yourself

It can be easy to get so caught up in choosing the right name that you forget about how to brand yourself specifically. What might be a technically “great” name is not at all great if it doesn’t convey something about who you are and what your clients will get out of working with you. That might mean you choose something that describes you or your services, and it might mean your name itself is the best way to feel connected to your business. Whatever you choose, remember it will be associated with your work and ensure that feels comfortable.