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So you want to start a new plumbing business but you’re not yet sure what name to go for.
Now if you’re after a giant list of generic plumbing names then the best place to go is probably a random name generator or chatGPT. But if you want a thorough breakdown of how to choose a name, what to think about in the process and how to register your company, then you’re in the right place.
We will also provide some examples of quality names you can use and we will make sure to explain what makes them suitable.
When choosing a plumbing business name there are a few different areas you need to consider. These are the following:
If you have considered and catered for all four of these elements then you can be confident you have a good business name that will serve you well going forward.
Before you even start thinking about what company name to go with you first need to identify what kind of brand you want to set up.
Your goal is not to create yet another generic plumbing company, you need to have a clear vision of what kind of business you want to be. This means understanding the type of customers you want to go after, where you want to operate and what reputation you want to have.
Think of some of the best businesses you have interacted with, especially in the plumbing and heating world, and pick out three qualities that you particularly admire in each one.
Take the time to write down the core values you would like people to identify with your business and how you would like to make your company stand out.
Before choosing your business name ensure that you have answered the following questions:
These questions are all important as each plays a part in how you choose your company name.
For example, if your goal is to create a high-end, highly professional business that you intend to grow into a franchise in the next 20 years, then you will be after a name that reflects that.
In this instance, you want a name that isn’t tied to you personally, isn’t regionally specific (allowing for expansion) and appears professional.
On the other hand, if you want to operate as a sole trader and build a network of loyal local customers in your city, with the aim of retiring early, then a name that is more family-friendly and locally routed might be a better option.
Something like ‘Johnson’s Plumbing Bristol’ might work as it’s locally centred but is instantly identifiable with the owner Johnson.
For a further breakdown on how to decide your business branding, insurance, marketing and more, check out our article on how to start a plumbing business.
When deciding what name to choose it’s important that you do your due diligence and check that the trademark you are after is available.
In some instances, a name may already be trademarked by another business or, if your name and brand are too similar to an existing business you might be at risk of legal action against you.
There are some well-known cases of large businesses going after small companies with a similar brand name, logo design or even company colours, so it’s always a good idea to check what else is already out there.
If in doubt steer clear of anything that could be considered even remotely similar to a big established brand.
You can also check if a name is trademarked by going to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database in the US or performing a search via GOV.UK if you’re naming a business in the UK.
One of the most important parts of choosing a company name is making sure the name you select is available for your website domain.
These days if you want to operate a successful plumbing business, you need your own website and it’s very important that your business name and web address match up.
A customer should be able to search for your company and without any difficulty find your website.
To make sure the name you are after is available you can perform a domain search via a domain registrar such as GoDaddy, Google Domains or other domain website.
Ideally, you want a domain with either a “.com” or “.co.uk” (“.us” in the States) ending. Try to find an address that most resembles your chosen plumbing company name. If the available domains deviate too far from the name of your business then don’t use it as this will just lead to confusion.
If you are ambitious about growing your business, steer clear of endings such as “.org”, “.site” or “.ltd”. This is less of an issue if you want to stay small and local but as a general rule, it’s better to stick to the well-recognised endings. This is because these are indicators that your site is professional and safe to use.
You may find that the name you were after is not available. In this case, you will need to choose a different name. Please be aware that often the most desirable names are already taken or are much more expensive.
You can find some examples of potential plumbing names with domains that are currently available below.
As well as choosing a name that has a domain available, you also need to think about searchability. Does your name match the kind of searches your customers will be making?
Put yourself in the shoes of your ideal customer and think about how they might be searching for you online.
Are they looking for boiler services, plumbers or emergency pipe fixes? Maybe they’re looking local and mention a specific area. There are a number of specific queries a customer might search for when looking for a plumbing business and this might vary slightly depending on their demographic.
All this information is important as it allows you to anticipate how your customers will find you online and optimise your business name to fit this.
For example, if you are starting a plumbing business based in Bristol a name like thebristolplumbers.co.uk could be a good option. By having the location, Bristol in your name it instantly improves its searchability for people looking for Bristol plumbers.
Of course, you should also take into account future expansion and other possible developments as there’s no point in being called Bristol Plumbers if you want to expand to Gloucester.
However other keywords might be worth thinking about. Terms like “boiler”, “service” and “emergency” might all be words to consider including in your company name.
If your interested in learning more about how this works and the principles behind optimising for search engines, check our our article on SEO for plumbers.
It may feel a little premature to start thinking about selling your business before you’ve even decided on a name but taking the time to do so can save you a lot of pain down the road.
The reality is that some businesses are much easier to sell than others, and it’s not just about how much profit they’re turning over.
One of the core requirements to making a business sellable is making sure you are not the business. But what does that mean?
Well if your business relies on you for it to function then it is going to be very difficult to sell. If the company is built off the back of your customers' relationships with you and you alone it’s not going to be easy to shift that.
Furthermore, if you’re managing every aspect of the business and have a finger in every pie, then taking you out of the equation becomes incredibly difficult. Better to have a business set up in such a way that you are working in it rather than as it.
But “How does this relate to my business name?” you might ask.
Well, if your business is called Paul’s Plumbers and your logo is a picture of your smiling face, then selling that brand to someone else is going to be hard to do. Instead, you want to go for a neutral name that isn’t tied to you.
By choosing a name that isn’t connected to you, you help create a professional separation between you and the business and thus make it easier to sell.
The importance of coming up with a unique name is often overstated. While it is a good idea to have a memorable and distinctive business name so that customers will remember you and to make you stand out, this is less important than all the other factors we’ve covered above.
In fact, it’s important to be careful when picking a unique name so that you don’t end up compromising some of the primary objectives when naming a plumbing business.
If you’re trying to present yourself as a professional and respectable company then a funny or crazy name is unlikely to give the impression you’re after. Furthermore, while a unique name might look noticeable if it’s not appearing up on Google when your customers are making searches, then it’s failing to achieve what you intended it to.
What you should do is try to come up with a name that is distinctive enough while also staying true to your values as a company. It’s perfectly fine to come up with a wacky name, just make sure you understand why you have chosen that name and how you are going to leverage it to your advantage.
Because a crazy name will stand out and if you decide to lean in on that it can be a good way to build a customer base. If for example, you were planning on pushing your business big on social media this might be a good option. The key is having a plan and sticking to it.
When registering your business, you can either register as a sole trader or as a limited company.
As a sole trader, this means you own the business by yourself and can keep all the profits after you pay taxes on them.
To do this, you need to tell the tax office in the UK, known as HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), that you're working for yourself.
This process is called registering for Self Assessment.
You do this online at the HMRC website. Once you're registered, you'll get a letter with your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), and you'll need to fill out a tax return every year to pay your taxes.
If you want to keep your business separate from you, as if it is its own person, you might set up a limited company.
This means if the business owes money, your personal belongings (like your house or your vehicle) aren't at risk.
To create a limited company, you need to go to the Companies House website and fill out some forms.
You'll need to pick a name for your company that no one else is using, decide who will be in charge (directors), and who owns it (shareholders).
There's a small fee to pay to set it all up. Once it's done, you'll get a certificate to say your company officially exists. Your company will also have to pay its own taxes, separate from your personal taxes, and you'll need to keep track of your business finances carefully.
When setting up as a plumber you can choose to operate under your own name as a sole proprietor or set up as a Limited Liability Company which will give you more protection between your personal assets.
This is the simplest way to get started, essentially you can just start offering your plumbing services right away.
Legally, there's no separation between you and your business; if your business owes money, you're personally responsible.
Furthermore, if you use your own name for the business, then you're all set and don’t need to perform any further registration, although check with your local state authority if there are any specific licenses or permits you need.
If you want to use a different name, such as "Super Speedy Plumbing," rather than “John Smith's Plumbing” you might need to file a "Doing Business As" (DBA) name at your local county or city office.
When tax time comes, you'll report your business's income and expenses on your personal tax return.
If you want a bit more protection between your personal assets (like your house or car) and your business, you might consider setting up a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a corporation for your plumbing business.
To do this, you will need to choose a unique name that no other business is using, fill out some forms called "Articles of Organization," and file them with the state where you're working.
There is also a fee, which changes depending on where you are.
Once the state approves your registration, your plumbing business is officially its own entity.
You might also have to let your local community know about your new LLC by putting a notice in a newspaper, depending on local laws.
Here are some plumbing business name suggestions you can use and that have available domains.
Despite everything we’ve said, whatever name you decide to go with is not going to make or break your business.
The name you go with is just one aspect of starting a new business and while it will make a difference it is not the most important part of that process.
Choosing a business name is not something that you should spend too much time dwelling on as at the end of the day you can change it.
Do put some thought into it, and considering the points we have shared above will help you to come up with the best choice available, but don’t let it stop you from getting started.
Whatever you go with, good luck.
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