One of the first steps that you must take before you start a child care center is to come up with an appropriate name. A great child care center name, in hand with well designed logo will make up the foundation for how your company will represent itself in the market place. Your name will help you to create a brand image in the communities that you serve and a lot can be gained by developing a brand that people know and trust. Here are some ideas for naming your child care business.
Don't limit the future potential of your daycare too much by including too many specific details in a name such as the area that you operate within or the precise services that you provide. This can make it hard for you to change the direction of your business in the future if you ever wish to do so. On the other hand it is a good idea to communicate through your name the kind of business that you are in, so including the words 'daycare' or 'child care' can help to clarify this to people.
Try to avoid using your personal name, as the business owner, as part of the title. Think of names that are catchy, warm, inviting and maybe even cute or humorous. The children that attend your child care center will be spending a lot of time there so why not choose something that appeals to them. You could even go as far as to involve children that you know in the naming process. Make it a competition and ask for their ideas and you may be surprised at what they come up with.
Originality is important for several reason. Firstly you want to have a name that distinguishes you from your competitors and other local businesses. Make it unique to stand out in the market and to avoid customer confusion. Secondly, you should make sure that your selection is not trademarked for use by any other company before you decide to go ahead with it. Doing a name search is critical here so that you don't end up facing legal action further down the line. Do your own search first by looking in your local Yellow Pages and online. Once you think you have a name that is unique you can then double check by doing a formal name search at your county or city clerks office.
As a website will most probably come to be a key part of the marketing strategy for your child care center you should also make sure that a suitable domain name is available for registration.
Good names should be memorable and easy to pronounce. Come up with a short list of your favorites and then run them by friends and family. Get their opinions and then check back with them in a few days to see which ones they remembered and if they were able to pronounce them correctly.
Once you have gone ahead with a name and get your child care center started it can be nearly impossible to change. Not only will you have to change your stationary and other branded business materials but you will also lose some of the reputation that can be built up in a name over time. Make it easy on yourself and your business by coming up with a great child care center name right from the start.