Name change appropriate?

[pistol pete]

I have doing part time tree work since 2005. As of this month, I am doing tree work full time. We Have been operating as the sole proprietor, "Smith Tree Service". On Tuesday, I am starting a corporation, for legal protection and tax purposes. I would like to change the name of my company to "Smith Tree" or "Smith Tree Care". Prefer "Smith Tree", but worry it may be to simple.

What do you think?

 

[lone wolf]

I have doing part time tree work since 2005. As of this month, I am doing tree work full time. We Have been operating as the sole proprietor, "Smith Tree Service". On Tuesday, I am starting a corporation, for legal protection and tax purposes. I would like to change the name of my company to "Smith Tree" or "Smith Tree Care". Prefer "Smith Tree", but worry it may be to simple.

What do you think?

Make it something that comes up on an internet keyword search so when you build a website it works out. Like the town or county name included.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

As I'm looking through the yellow pages or online as a customer, what would make me choose sny of those? I'm sure it's your last name, but as a potential customer that doesn't tell me much about the company.

 

[Yaxyakalagalis]

If you've built a name in and around your area using "Smith Tree Service" and there's no one else with that name, stick with it! If a customer from two seasons ago says, to his new neighbour, "I use Smith Tree service and he was great!" and you are no longer Smith Tree Service, but changed to "Pistol Pete's Arborist" then you will have lost that customer and many more will not find you based on what you were calling yourself.

But that all depends on how many part-time customers you had, the relationships you've built and the size of the area you have been working. I'f you've simply been known as Pete the tree guy, then by all means find a name that represents what you do and is meaningful to you, and also makes sense regionally. When i google a service, i search, "tree cutting vancouver island", because that's the area where i live and that's what i want.

 

[DMD]

I like Tree Smith. Kinda has a double meaning. I'm seeing a tree logo in the shape of an anvil. Good luck.

 

[BuckmasterStumpGrinding]

When I went from buckmaster stump grinding to buckmaster tree service it didn't make a difference. I still get calls from all my old customers. If you want to change it radically this would be the time to do it. You don't want to change it when you have a decade of name recognition.

 

[mike515]

I don't think minor changes will make a huge difference one way or another. But one thing you might want to think about is whether or not you want/need to incorporate just yet. I would talk with an accountant and weigh the pros and cons.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Tree Smith is actually really good. You can do a lot with that.

 

[pistol pete]

Thanks for the input gentleman. It's very tough to know what to do. I am planning on doing this for the rest of my life, and I want to make sure the name is something I can live with.

 

[gary courtney]

Smiths' Tree Service LLC

 

[ATH]

Have you made sure the name you want isn't taken? Not sure how to do that in OK, but in OH, you can just search the secretary of state website (that is where you apply for LLC).

 

[jefflovstrom]

Use the word 'Care' instead of 'Service'.
Jeff

 

[HuskStihl]

I thought pistol Pete was a pretty good name. Better than Dol-varna, or something stupid like that

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Keep in mind, your last name is important to you, and meaningless to your customers. Set yourself apart. The last thing you want is that customer to ask his wife next year, " Honey, remember that great tree guy we used last year? Was that Smith tree service, or Jones tree service? I can't remember..."

 

[BC WetCoast]

Arbor Smith Tree Care

 

[TheJollyLogger]

I still really like tree smith, or maybe the tree smith. It keeps your name in there, but with the right logo makes it very memorable, and that's key.