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Are you trying to choose a name for your handmade craft business? That’s a daunting task. Naming your business is like naming your child — it’s an important decision with lasting effects! You need to pick carefully because changing your business name down the line requires a huge effort. Let me help you come up with some handmade craft business name ideas.
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Step 1: Brainstorm Ideas
Your business name is the first thing customers see. It should be something catchy they will remember well. To come up with handmade craft business name ideas, start by brainstorming a list of words that describe your business and are relevant to your niche. Write down everything you can think of!
- Include descriptive words that relate to your business, like creative, indie, smart, and bold.
- Write down everything you want to do with your business — who you want to help, what you want to sell, etc.
- Consider using your own name.
- List out words that you love and that are meaningful to you.
If you can’t seem to get started, set a timer for three minutes and write down every word that comes to your mind. Don’t stop and don’t edit as you write. Hopefully, you’ll have a good starting point of keyword ideas when the three minutes are up.
After you have a list of relevant words, see if you can string any of them together to come up with a creative business name idea that makes sense for your brand.
If you have no idea where to start, look at your competitors and see what handmade business names they’re using. It might give you some inspiration.
Step 2: Choose Your Favorites
Hopefully, your brainstorming session gave you lots of great handmade craft business name ideas. The next step is to narrow down your list. Try to decide on two or three finalists. Here are some things to ask yourself to help you take names off your list.
Does the name accurately reflect your business?
Choose a name that gives people some sense of what your craft business is about. If your business name is unrelated to the products or services you offer, customers will be confused.
I named my business, “Sewing Society,” because I wanted to help others learn how to sew and I wanted to create a community where people could share what they’re working on and ask for help when they need it. I think people can tell what my business is about by my name.
Does the name limit your ability to grow?
It’s important to have a name that describes your business but be careful that it is not too limiting. You will probably want to expand your products and services over time. For example, avoid using places in your name because you could move. Also, avoid using specific products in your name because your product line will likely expand.
Does the name sound good and look good?
It’s easy to fall in love with a business name that has special meaning to you, but that’s not always the best choice. Customers often do not catch on to hidden meanings or pick up on your wit. Your craft business name should be easy to pronounce and be straight forward. Be sure to also check to see what it means in different languages, especially if you’re making up words.
The way your name sounds is important, but so is the way it looks visually. Create some mockup logos and banners to see if any look better than the others. Make sure your business name doesn’t look offensive or rude. If your name is more than one or two words, see how they look all smooshed together because that is what your website URL will look like.
Is the name easy to spell?
Ideally, you should choose a name that is spelled how it sounds. Avoid hyphens, apostrophes, and anything that is not normally included in a URL. This will help you with brand recognition and search engine optimization from the start.
Some businesses misspell a word on purpose to catch people’s attention. This is especially tempting for a creative business because you want to show your creativity. However, I caution against it. You could lose business when customers type your name into a search engine and can’t find you.
Is the name easy to remember?
If someone were to ask you to name the first business that comes to your mind, I can almost guarantee you’d name one that is only one or two words long. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, like Publisher’s Clearing House,” and “Kentucky Fried Chicken,” but the point is that shorter names are best because they are easiest to remember. Even the examples I mentioned go by shorter acronyms — PCH and KFC.
Rhyming words and alliteration help names stick in people’s minds, but be careful of clichés. Of course, don’t be afraid to break the rules if you come up with a handmade craft business name idea you love! A creative business should have a creative name.
My original business name was, “Sewing and Craft Corner.” I used that name for a few years, but I ultimately decided it was too long and rebranded with, “Sewing Society.” The new name is more succinct and easier to remember.
Is the name unique?
Don’t choose a name that’s similar to a competitor’s name. It can confuse customers and get you in trouble if the other business wants to file a trademark infringement lawsuit against you.
Check to make sure the name you want to use is available as a domain name. I recommend using bluehost.com. Also, look on Etsy and other creative selling platforms to make sure your name is not already in use. It’s important to choose a unique name!
Step 3: Get Feedback from Others
Asking for feedback is hard because it opens you up to criticism… but it’s an important step.
Once you’ve narrowed your handmade craft business name ideas down to three or four options, ask others what they think. You might have fallen in love with a business name that has drawbacks you can’t see yourself.
You can ask friends and family what they think about your potential business names, but I personally think this is a waste of time. Family and friends are sometimes overly supportive and may be reluctant to tell you their true opinions. Plus, they can feel hurt if you decide to go in a different direction instead of taking their advice.
You’re much better off asking potential customers what they think about your handmade business name idea. Forums in your niche are a great place to go. If you want feedback from other creative minds, join the Sewing Society Facebook Page! You can post your business name ideas and I will give you my opinion. Others in the community can also chime in. Hopefully, we can help you decide which name is best.
Of course, always use caution when sharing business name ideas with others. They might like one of your creative business name ideas so much that they try to steal it for themselves before you have a chance to claim it. So, don’t share unless you are ready to quickly snag the domain name as soon as you’ve gotten some feedback.
Above all else, you’re the one that has to be happy with your business name. Don’t choose something simply because others like it. The name needs to resonate with you because you’re the one that is going to be working on your business all the time.
Step 4: Register Your Domain Name
Once you’ve decided on a name for your business, claim the domain name before someone else does!
A domain name is your website name. It is the URL people type to find your business on the internet. Before you do anything else, you should register your domain name so that nobody can steal it from you.
Domain names cost around $15 per year. However, you can get a domain name for free if you sign up for hosting through Bluehost. By signing up through my affiliate link, you can get hosting and a domain name for only $3.95 per month. To run a website, you need both a domain name and hosting.
Creating a website for your handmade business is a good idea, even if you only plan to sell your products on Etsy. You never know when you’ll need to expand and it would be sad if you couldn’t use your business name as your website address because someone else had already claimed it. Always go with the .com domain name. It is the default everyone uses when they type in a URL.
Here’s my affiliate link where you can get web hosting for only $3.95 per month and a free domain name.
Bluehost makes web design easy with a one-click WordPress installer. You don’t need to have programming skills to use it. If you’re still scared, Bluehost also offers a service (for an additional fee) where they will set up a complete ecommerce site for you through WooCommerce. Then, all you have to do is upload your products to start selling.
You could just get the domain name for your business on Bluehost and worry about designing your website later when you’re ready to expand beyond Etsy.
Step 5: Register Your Business and Trademark Your Company
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and do not provide legal advice about registering or trademarking your business.
Each state has different rules for setting up a business. Most have a website where you can search for business names and find your state’s guidelines. Start by performing a search of your Secretary of State’s records to see if your handmade craft business name exists already.
Choose whether your business is going to be an LLC (limited liability company), an LP (limited partnership), a nonprofit, or a corporation. You also might want to trademark your company. Perform a search on USPTO.org to get a sense of whether you can trademark your name or not.
Conclusion
Running a handmade business is fun and could bring in a lot of money. I’m glad you decided to make the leap. You won’t regret it! I hope this post helped you come up with some awesome handmade craft business name ideas!
When choosing a name for your handmade business, you should try to check as many boxes as you can, but don’t go crazy in the process. Your name is important, but it won’t make or break your business. Your products are the most important thing.
There’s nothing wrong with letting your handmade craft business name ideas marinate in your head for a while. Don’t force it — step away from your brainstorming for a bit. Sometimes getting up and taking a short walk is a good way to reset your mind and come back to something new.
Next Read: 3 Things to Do Immediately After Choosing a Name for Your Handmade Business
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