help! I need business name ideas?!

Just got back from a job and thought of see whats happening here, all great suggestions, i think I'm going to look into maybe registering a name when I decide on it. Well see what happens, anybody got any other catchy names?

 

Tru-weld

Multi-weld

One source welding


Sometimes the town, city or geographic location in the name is good for recognition.

ie: Twin City welding, Smithtown welding...

Just spouting off here...

Good luck on your journey.

 

If it is all under the table, let word of mouth do all your advertising. Best there is, right there.
And that way, you don't step on any established welding business's toes.

 

Shaggy,
I agree with yooperdave. Until you go fulltime just let everything go just to you. I just got back from putting up a handrail for a stroke victim. Took me 90 minutes. He paid me with a check made out to me personally. Nobody knows I did it. except him and me. That ain't goin thru the business the paperwork alone will just eat up what I charged him. I'm going to use that cash to buy something nice for my wife. Found money
Your right if it is over $2k then you better do something above the table. I would say more like $600. Once you do something for someone that they are going to expense it on their taxes, the Feds. have a paper trail. No claiming the expense no need to worry. IMO.

 

I hear you on those small jobs just paying the bills that come from owning a business, my short term goal that I have right now is just to pay off a loan or two, invest in nicer tools get some home improvement done, a new steel roof and new kitchen would be nice, then by the time I have that all done hopefully I'll have a decent enough customer base and offers for bigger jobs that I'll be able to establish an actual business, but that's getting into long term and stuff I don't even want to bother with right now.
I'm thinking that a few business cards to a couple guys will do wonders along with craigslist and maybe an ad in the paper. The guy I've been doing a lot of work for now seems to be tickled pink about what I've done so far, he said he would gladly be a reference for me! Also told me that he's gone through 5 or so other welders in the area and hasn't found one he likes yet, I just make sure he leaves with a smile and let him do the advertising for me

 

My aunt and uncle swore by using the service/product first in the business name, then something like unlimited, plus, so on... say Welder Unlimited, that way back in the day if someone looked for "welders" in the white pages, they would find your name, in the tech age, when welders is searched for your name come up quicker that say "Smith's Fabrication and Welding"... but with the way search engines work that is not always the case, if Smith's Fabrication and Welding has everyone they know searching for them and using the search link, that gets there name to the top of the search list.... it's all about site hit count.

When my dad named our company years ago, he did so with the hope that both sons would join him.... but my little brother hates construction... so don't get your hopes up of a family business until you know your family wants to be part of it.

 

Shaggy,
You're on the right track man. Stay the course. Pick a name you'll be comfortable with and that is easy to remember for most people. Trust me if you do good work the internet will just be a place for folks to get your phone number and see what types of projects you have done. After 20 + years ALL my new customers come to me from referral. When the job is complete and the customer says that we did a nice job and that they are happy, I simply say, " I appreciate the your nice compliments but the highest compliment you can give me is to refer me to someone that you feel could use my services." I have never paid anyone for any referral using that system. Sure I'll buy a customer a coffee or a beer but never hard cash for a referral. But, on the same token I never forget to ask for referrals and that is the key. Then, when someone does refer me to someone I always call the person giving the referral to personally thank them. Just my system. But find what works for you and what your comfortable with. I could go on and on. I call it "shirt sleeve" marketing. Cheap but effective. You can build your business based on doing good work... "the cream always rises to the top of the glass". My wife overheard someone talking about me once and they said, " he is not cheap, but it is done right" that is exactly what I want them to say. Some people call it "old school" maybe so but it works. People want it fixed, they want it fixed right. I better stop there. Sorry for the ramble.
Stay the course sounds like you got a good plan.
Marty

 

That's what I'd like, to let the customer do the "work"of bringing more business, I'm going to do my best to make sure that they have nothing to complain about, and at this point, being as this is kind of a hobby rather than a soul source of income I can spend the extra time to make sure everything is right. My buddy put it to me like that, do it as a hobby and you'll make more and be more stress free, try to do it as a full time job trying to pay all my bills with it and I'll go nuts. I'll just ease into it.

 

Thanks for the kind words everyone! Very encouraging! And it's a huge help, right now I'm leaning towards arc light welding, I don't know?! Why is this such a complicated decision!

 

Here's 2 pictures of a smoker for my main customer right now (if they load) a drip pan made from stainless and a tool box mount

 

Weld- done. Or some variation?
Weld-un, well done? Idk.

Just don't name it butt welding, or joint welding.

 

Weld done, that, is catchy!
Weld done horkn!

 

I'm not into the initials thing. Something catchy. Or easy to remember.
South Shore Welding and Fab
Lakeside Custom Welding
Molton Metal
Metal Craft
Noah's Arc

Weld Dunn

Dunn Rite

 

The problem with under the table is you will always be looking over your shoulder for the men with shiney shoes! For liability insurance they may require you to be licensed and legit also.

Gary

 

I own a biz. As said before, word of mouth is your best advertising...whether good or bad. Do a good job, they will tell a person or 2. Do a bad job, and they tell everyone who will listen.

Keep it simple until you go full time. Use your name and name only. Then you avoid having a biz bank account, biz tangible taxes, and lots of other paperwork associated headaches.

Do good work, only take checks, get deposits up front from people you don't know, and offer to help those in great need for a small discount....I've gotten more work than I can handle by following those simple rules.

A personal umbrella policy of 1 mil can be had for $200 a year or less. I recommend getting all the insurance you can afford. Commercial liability insurance tends to have more zeros on the bill.

 

good ideas Bo

 

Actually I'm not sure if you knew this but dunn county is where Menomonie is, that may fit very well, I'm going to think about that one. Weld Dunn, here to fit Dunn counties welding needs.
Yay? Neigh?

 

We have a young contractor here who did our bath and kitchen last year. He and his crew were really good and a pleasure to do business with. I'd hire them again in a minute and recommend them. I know his name and his phone number. Just food for thought. Your talent and work ethic will ultimately determine your welding work schedule far more than a business name...