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New business issues (Naming, llc, pllc,ect)

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Electro500kv

Electro500kv

Electrical
Jul 1, 2020
6
I want to make a go at things on my own during this COVID downturn.

I will be doing power engineering (maybe mostly relaying) and compliance work for industrial, utility, and renewables.

I got two names in the running. I don't want my name included in the event I attract a partner. A lot of company names seem meaningless so I sort of want something easy to remember but not a set of three letter acronyms of pcr Pcs. There are a thousand companies that are an acronym of power engineering relaying controls. There are a ton with some play on 'power engineers. So, unless I am wrong it will be easy to get lost in the bunch.

My two names that I am considering is:

Seven Volts Engineering or Seven Volts Consulting. The logo is 7V. The name is more simple to remember. Maybe too simple? No one has a name like it. I don't work at seven volts (480-345kv) but it goes well with the logo and seven is lucky. There are no names like it. It is different enough that people might remember it even if the name doesn't describe the work but most company names describe nothing.

Citadel Power Consultants. There are no firms of this name. It feels pretty by the book. The logo will probably be a rook chess peice. It feels clean but nothing really unique. It has no made up words.

Which seems better? Got any suggestions?

I am talking with a lawyer over putting together a llc or pllc? Which is more suitable? How does it work if I register in one state but am doing work in other states?

I am currently trying to find a mentor in SCORE. I really want to avoid banging my head on the wall if I can.


 
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Electro500 said:
Seven Volts Engineering or Seven Volts Consulting. The logo is 7V. The name is more simple to remember. Maybe too simple? No one has a name like it. I don't work at seven volts (480-345kv) but it goes well with the logo and seven is lucky. There are no names like it. It is different enough that people might remember it even if the name doesn't describe the work but most company names describe nothing.
Click to expand...

That depends on your interpretation of nothing "Like It"

sevenconsulting.com
7energy.com
BIT 7, Inc.

So I guess I like Citadel better.
 
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Of the two, I'd say Citadel. But don't be surprised when people think you went to school there (one of the more famous pseudo military academies in the US). I'm not a big fan of 7Volt - sounds more like a smash up of soft drink brands. And as a former mid-voltage tech, calling yourself 7 volt while actually working on high voltage is a bit baffling.

How about High Volt Consulting?

As for the corporate structure, talk to the lawyer - they should be able to answer that better than anyone on this forum.
 
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How about "Kilovolt Consulting"? It, at least, conveys some connotation that you might know about power engineering; I like the idea that a company's name conveys some indication of what they do.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list
 
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If regular voltage (120-480) could be a future option - I wouldn't put some high voltage in my name.
Our city has an East side and an West side. there is a swim company on the West side called "Swim west". Then they started opening more locations, until they also branch out to the East side. Now that will be confusing or they will come up with a totally new name. Or if they get really successful, they couldn't do a national franchise with such a limiting name.

7 volt? why? Most nerds will think you specialize in slowing PC fans down by applying the 12V-5V trick. Everyone who is not a PC nerd, will have no idea why you chose it or what it stands for.

Good for not including your own name. Unless your own name is Siemens, Westinghouse, Disney etc., it will be hard to sell the company later with a regular name. No one who is called smith will want to own a company called Snyder.
 
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My vote is for Seven Volts. Please just don't put a lightning bolt in the logo.

Citadel is totally obvious and lame. It's the name of a famous hedge fund.
 
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Grounded Consulting?
Electrifying Results Engineers?
Sparkys with a Purpose?

So many Pun options!!!!! I agree that the 7v abbreviates nice, but if it has no meaning, why have it? so does any two character abbreviations 8D, 4H, 5P...

I have learned that my firm's name really doesn't matter in getting customers or retaining business. It really matters most to the employees, so pick something that you like. It is yours. Do it for you, your work is what you do for the clients.
 
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No one's mentioned Engineering vs. Consulting. In my state, a firm that offers engineering or has engineering in the name must have a licensed PE on record be registered with the state board which incurs an annual fee. Also, an engineering company pays a minimum tax in my "county." I put together an LLC a few years ago as a backup plan in a down market. I named it [###] Engineering, LLC because I could. It was costing me a lot in taxes and board fees when I wasn't actually doing anything yet so I shut it down. If I did it again, I would name it [###] Consulting, LLC to avoid board fees until I was planning to start performing actual engineering work. Also, I could turn the fees and taxes on and off if I got into other markets or let the expire. Might be a consideration for future flexibility.

I think some play on Pole Volt would be a good play on words. You could say you are raising the bar. You could have a silhouette of a pole vaulter as your logo along with the obvious electrical tie-in.
 
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