Doing business under a fictitious name?

I've become fixated on business names!

My name is ridiculous and ill-suited for using in business IMO. I've picked a business name that may prove to be temporary (Bitsy Bay Photography), and tonight I've worn out Google looking into doing business under a fictitious name- to be more specific, (not my real first) (not my real middle/last) photography, etc. Without getting into the paperwork side of things, as I have a reasonable understanding of that- has anyone here named their photography business this way? Thoughts? Thanks everyone!

If I thought I could actually change my name and get everyone to go along with it, I'd do that and save myself a lot of trouble! Alas, I fear I'll be stuck with a boring, flat old name for the rest of my life. Except in business. Smells like compromise!

littlebay wrote in post #13606735
I've become fixated on business names!

My name is ridiculous and ill-suited for using in business IMO. I've picked a business name that may prove to be temporary (Bitsy Bay Photography), and tonight I've worn out Google looking into doing business under a fictitious name- to be more specific, (not my real first) (not my real middle/last) photography, etc. Without getting into the paperwork side of things, as I have a reasonable understanding of that- has anyone here named their photography business this way? Thoughts? Thanks everyone!

If I thought I could actually change my name and get everyone to go along with it, I'd do that and save myself a lot of trouble! Alas, I fear I'll be stuck with a boring, flat old name for the rest of my life. Except in business. Smells like compromise!

Not sure what the big deal is here. Thousands, probably millions of businesses are started under names that aren't the given names of their founders. It does seem to be a more popular trend with photographers but I hardly see how it is necessary. If you've found a catchy business sounding name to use then use it.

No big deal, really. It just seemed like a good idea to bounce it off of a group of people who have been there and done that. Thanks for chiming in!

If you form a corporation or LLC then you can name it anything you want (that isn't already taken).

If you simply work as an individual then the term is "doing business as" and it is commonly abbreviated as DBA. Search this section for "DBA" and you'll find a few threads that may be useful.

Thanks, Ken. Yes, I know about "DBA" and the paperwork I'll need to file. I was just hoping for some feedback re: using a "name" name not your own vs. a business name such as the one I'm using now.

littlebay...when starting out,it pays to give thought to your bus. name. Fast forward 10 yrs,and you've been working hard and built a good solid , profitable bus. then a change in your life means you have to sell your bus.! Its much harder to sell a small bus. with the owners name on it as opposed to a non personal name. i.e."bob jones photos" as opposed to" rainbow photos". Its not impossible,,just harder. The other down side to using a personal name for your bus. is some one with the same name as yours is a very shady character,,,or commits a vile high profile crime,,not good for bus. of same name. A long shot,,sure,but things to consider.

littlebay wrote in post #13606873
Thanks, Ken. Yes, I know about "DBA" and the paperwork I'll need to file. I was just hoping for some feedback re: using a "name" name not your own vs. a business name such as the one I'm using now.

What kind of feedback? You have yet to ask a question.

A business name is just that, a name that someone puts to an enterprise that they hope will garner attention. Whether you use your name or flim flam photo it is what you do with that name that counts. I agree with cdi, you haven't actually asked anything specific other than you want "feedback".

Microsoft is a "fictitious" name, but it seems to work.
As far as I know, there's no "Mr Microsoft", although Bill Gates might think differently.

Now, what's your question?

My question was whether anyone here had gone with a name like that themselves and whether anyone had any thoughts on the subject. Here yah go!

littlebay wrote in post #13606735
Without getting into the paperwork side of things, as I have a reasonable understanding of that- has anyone here named their photography business this way? Thoughts? Thanks everyone!

Again, I'm not talking about things like "Microsoft" or "Kodak" or "Sparkly Awesome Photos"; I wondered whether anyone here who had gone with a name like, say, "Sarah Beth Photography" when their name is Willimena Barkchips might be willing to share what they chose and offer any thoughts (although of course I'd like to hear from the rest of you too). Did you find that it confused your clients to be dealing with Willimena instead of Sarah? Or did you assume the other name completely for business purposes without bothering to correct people? These may seem like pointless questions to some of you, but I like to look into things as thoroughly as I can before making decisions, and I thought some of the good folks here at POTN might be able to point out some things I've overlooked.

Thanks for the posts so far! I appreciate the time you've all taken.

littlebay wrote in post #13608197
I wondered whether anyone here who had gone with a name like, say, "Sarah Beth Photography" when their name is Willimena Barkchips might be willing to share what they chose and offer any thoughts (although of course I'd like to hear from the rest of you too). Did you find that it confused your clients to be dealing with Willimena instead of Sarah? Or did you assume the other name completely for business purposes without bothering to correct people? These may seem like pointless questions to some of you, but I like to look into things as thoroughly as I can before making decisions, and I thought some of the good folks here at POTN might be able to point out some things I've overlooked.

Thanks for the posts so far! I appreciate the time you've all taken.

Peacefield has a business name after his sons first names I believe. It sounds like a regular name. It confused the heck out of me at first.

However, there probably aren't a lot of photographers using an everyday sounding individual name as their DBA if its not their individual name or somehow relates to their family. It'd be too...weird? Sketchy? Pointless?

Then again there is no Aunt Jemima or Betty Crocker.

I just posted right before reading your thread, I'm almost in the same quandary as you as far as using a name vs something else. I chose the city I live in. I have noticed more photog's using their name than not and posted a question about how important or why the importance of using your actual name vs something else. I have an unusual name and it gets mispronounced which is why I chose the city name. My question to you is, what is your name? Not sure if you mentioned it earlier. Might have some better feed back.

cdifoto wrote in post #13608222
Then again there is no Aunt Jemima or Betty Crocker.

And Samuel Addams didnt start the beer company.

Samuel Clemens, it seems, might agree with you.

My business name is Fixed Focus Photography. Obviously not my real name. My real name isn't catchy enough and I don't think my real name is brand worthy either. I have seen a lot of business names where those people use their real name but need a phonetic spelling to be able to pronounce it. If you say your name and someone says... "Can you spell that for me?" Probably not a good idea to use that for a business name. IMO.

There is a lot of trendy names out there now with the explosion of newbies so keep in mind that what may sound neat, fresh, modern, exciting, now... Could be terrible in 5-10 years.

Personally I believe that if you cannot brand your own name into something catchy, then don't use your real name. We are in a creative profession, get creative and come up with something original, unless you think your real name is that original.