Need advice on my business name

[TattooedAffliction]

I'm just getting started with the business end of photography, and I've mainly only been focusing on night club promotional photography. It's what I love to do since I love the night life scene.

I needed to quickly get some business cards printed up to hand out, and I didn't put a lot of thought into what I wanted to call myself, so I went with the first thing that popped into my head, "Xtreme Angles Photography".

Now that I've thought about it a little more, I'm thinking the name is a bit on the cheesy side. Plus, since I'm not using my real name, I'd have to register my business under a fictitious name.

I need some advice on whether you guys think I should stick with what I have, or simply use my real name, "Tom Krupp Photography". That way I wouldn't have to register under a fictitious name.

[PMCphotography]

Yeah, I think Xtreme Angles photography is a bit cheesy as well.

I have no idea what the rules are about business names in the states, or what advantage/disadvantage a fictitious name incurs.

[TattooedAffliction]

Yeah, I think Xtreme Angles photography is a bit cheesy as well.

I have no idea what the rules are about business names in the states, or what advantage/disadvantage a fictitious name incurs.


Yeah, I'll probably just stick to using my real name as my business name then. That means I need to get some new cards printed up.

In Pennsylvania, based on the research I've done thus far, says you need to register your business name under a fictitious name if you're not using your real name. So, as far I know, if I stick with my real name, I don't need to do anything as far as registering it with the state. I'm not sure of the advantages/disadvantages either, but at least if I stick with my real name, then I don't have to pay the fees to register.

[DDCSD]

I use my real name for my business name but use sdsportspics.com for my sports sales website. You can use something funky for your website but still have your actual business name be your real name.

[PMCphotography]

I use my real name for my business name but use sdsportspics.com for my sports sales website. You can use something funky for your website but still have your actual business name be your real name.

I know in Australia you can call your business anything you like. If you want to dig into the business you can see who it's registered to.

[TattooedAffliction]

I use my real name for my business name but use sdsportspics.com for my sports sales website. You can use something funky for your website but still have your actual business name be your real name.

That's not a bad idea. I already have the domain bought for it, so I might as well still use it.

[FlyingPhotog]

DBA (http://www.legalzoom.com/legal-dba/dba-doing-business-as-overview.html) = "Doing Business As"

[Todd Lambert]

Yeah, if you stick with your real name, you won't need a ficticious business license, which will make it much easier and cheaper to setup a business account for banking, etc...

I'm not doing professional work currently, but mine is todd lambert photography.

Now, if your name sucks, well.. there's always a legal name change, eh? ;-)

Rock Hard Photos by "Rock Hard" has a good ring. I always liked the name "Rock". Maybe "Burnt Sienna"? Burnt Sienna Photography.... hmmm... heheh

[DDCSD]

I know in Australia you can call your business anything you like. If you want to dig into the business you can see who it's registered to.


Same thing here, its just easier when you use your real name.

[TattooedAffliction]

Yeah, if you stick with your real name, you won't need a ficticious business license, which will make it much easier and cheaper to setup a business account for banking, etc...

I'm not doing professional work currently, but mine is todd lambert photography.

Now, if your name sucks, well.. there's always a legal name change, eh? ;-)

Rock Hard Photos by "Rock Hard" has a good ring. I always liked the name "Rock". Maybe "Burnt Sienna"? Burnt Sienna Photography.... hmmm... heheh

Yup, that's pretty much exactly what my research has been telling me. Just seems like it would be a lot easier to use my real name, unfortunately, my real name does suck, so I may need to take your advice and change my name to Rock Hard :lol:

[PMCphotography]

Same thing here, its just easier when you use your real name.

Ahh, I must have misread an earlier post then. I've just never heard the term "ficticious name" before in any dealings here, or had to do anything besides registering my business and getting a tax I'd number, and my business name isn't my own name.

[DDCSD]

Ahh, I must have misread an earlier post then. I've just never heard the term "ficticious name" before in any dealings here, or had to do anything besides registering my business and getting a tax I'd number, and my business name isn't my own name.


Registering a fictitious name is what you have to do when you are doing business under a name that is not your legal name. Just a goofy way of saying it. :lol:

[PMCphotography]

Fair enough, I guess that's why I'm not an accountant!

[TattooedAffliction]

I decided I'm going to scrap using the existing Xtreme Angles Photography website and go with my name as the domain, but I'm having a hell of a time trying to find one available. Apparently Tom, and the intials "TK" are popular :lol:

I've tried photosbytom.com, tkphotography.com, and tomkphotography.com. They're all taken. Pretty much the only one available is tomkruppphotography.com; however, I'm not liking that it has 3 p's in a row. It could be confusing for someone trying to type it in. Any suggestions?

[damonb]

Most of the pros I've worked with in some capacity use their real name, unless they're working for an agency of sorts.

"tomkruppphotography.com"

What about tomkpa.com? Is that available?

Could you shorten the above to something like:
tomkphoto.com

or tkruppphoto.com?

or getting cute

http://www.teakupp.com/ (missing some vowels and consonants), or teakrupp.com.

Domain names can be a b**ch because of domain squatters. Short advice: the lesser number of characters, the better.

[TattooedAffliction]

Most of the pros I've worked with in some capacity use their real name, unless they're working for an agency of sorts.

"tomkruppphotography.com"

What about tomkpa.com? Is that available?

Could you shorten the above to something like:
tomkphoto.com

or tkruppphoto.com?

or getting cute

http://www.teakupp.com/ (missing some vowels and consonants), or teakrupp.com.

Domain names can be a b**ch because of domain squatters. Short advice: the lesser number of characters, the better.


tomkphoto.com is already taken. I suppose I could do tomkruppphoto, or tkruppphoto.com, but you don't think that it would cause confusion having those 3 p's in a row?

[sevillafox]

tomkrupp-photography.com ?

[TattooedAffliction]

I ended up going with photosbytomkrupp.com. Thanks for the help everyone.