How to Name and Brand a New Business

Business Name, Slogan, Colour Palette, Favicon and Business Card Generators

To brand a new business you need a name people can remember, a domain that matches it, a line that explains what you do, and a look you can repeat everywhere. These eight tools take you through it in order, and each one runs free in your browser with no account.

The tools, in order

  1. Business Name Generator

    Generate a long list of names, then cut it to the five you can say out loud without spelling them.

  2. Domain Name Generator

    Check which of the shortlist can still get a short, clean domain before you fall for one.

  3. Slogan / Tagline Generator

    Draft a tagline that says what you do in under eight words.

  4. Colour Palette Generator

    Pick a palette of two main colours and one accent, and keep the hex codes somewhere safe.

  5. Favicon Package

    Turn your logo mark into every favicon and app icon size a website needs.

  6. Business Card Maker

    Lay out a print-ready card with the name, palette and contact details you just settled.

  7. QR Code With Logo

    Make a branded QR code for the card, packaging or shop window that points at your site.

  8. Invoice Generator

    Send your first invoice under the new name, with the same colours and details.

Why the order matters when you brand a new business

Each step narrows the next. A name you cannot get a domain for is a name you will rename in a year, so check domains before you commit. The slogan comes after the name because a good tagline fills the gap the name leaves: a descriptive name needs a memorable line, and an abstract name needs a plain one that says what you sell.

Keep the brand to a short list of decisions

A small business brand is really five decisions: the name, the tagline, two or three colours, one typeface and a logo mark. Write them down on one page with the hex codes and font name, and reuse that page every time you make a card, a social banner or an invoice. Consistency is what makes a small brand look established, far more than an expensive logo.

What to check before you print anything

Say the name out loud to someone and ask them to type it; if they misspell it, so will customers searching for you. Search the name with your town or trade to see who already uses it. Check the colours for contrast so text stays readable, and print one business card at home before you order a box of five hundred.

FAQ

How long should a business name be?

Short enough to say in one breath and spell after hearing it once. Most strong small business names are one or two words and under fifteen characters, which also keeps the domain, social handles and email address easy to type on a phone.

Do I need a logo before I start trading?

No. A clean wordmark set in one typeface, in your main colour, is enough to trade under for months. Spend the early money on the domain and a few printed cards, and commission a proper logo once you know what the business actually looks like to customers.

Should my slogan describe what I do or how I do it?

If the business name does not say what you sell, the slogan should, in plain words. If the name is already descriptive, the slogan can carry the promise instead, such as speed, price or care. Either way, keep it under eight words so it fits on a card.