Changing Business Name?

macrocarpa

macrocarpa

Branched out member
Location
Midwest
I have thought about changes the name of my tree service, but fear I would lose business.

But if the phone # is the same, what would be the consequences?

Only issues I can see would be customers finding me in the phone book or on the internet.

Any experience with this?
 
I changed the name from 'Canopy Tree Service' to 'Canopy Tree Care'. That was so subtle but, the first client to acknowledge the change was a lady who was legally blind. She could see in other ways though. she made sure that she hired someone who cared not just someone who serviced.
 
I also thought of changing my business name but fear loss of customers. My business name isn't indigenous to the area. Like macrocarpa said my number would stay the same, no difference in work quality, just a new name maybe a little more catchy.
 
I want to change it because i started the business 6 years ago using my 1st name. Now I just don't like having my 1st name in there and I think something else would sound more professional.
 
You'll have to develop a solid marketing plan. Advertising on your bills of the pending change, direct mailings or emailings to clients specifically telling them of the upcoming change and doing a follow up when it occurs. Retain the old website address and set up a redirect to the new sight.

Explain the point of the change, i.e., your growing and the name is going to reflect the higher level of professionalism that the client expects, etc....

Not changing the phone number is a real benefit to facilitate the change since many of your clients will still be using old business cards for your contact info. Be sure to answer the phone with a reference to the old name so as not to confuse the caller.

In some ways this can actually be a boost to your business since it's a way to contact dormant client accounts.
 
That's funny I wish I'd called my company after my own name. That shows your not hiding from the personal responsibility for product quality. I did put arborist in the title cause the area didn't know how to spell the word when I started. You know the saying "there is no bad press". You could use the name change to create some buzz for yourself. As part of your advertising for a couple years. Whatever it'll be Super Duper Tree Care formerly Joe's Tree Care, same great people and service, new name. Could be a seller.
 
The name of my business is "Aaron's Tree Specialists, LLC" A benefit to the double a's is it puts me at the front of the yellow pages.

Do you guys think a name change to say "arborist services llc" or "professional tree care llc" or something like that would be more appealing? more professional/quality sounding?

Or do you think it really matters?
 
[ QUOTE ]
... she made sure that she hired someone who cared not just someone who serviced.

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting view point she has. I can understand that reasoning. I like it.

I'm going to change my business name soon too. I can't reveal the full name, but it will end in "Tree Care."

I'm not worring about loosing customers. I have found a great way to gain new customers.

Besides, you can prepare your customers with post cards months in advance. I'm just finished my first stage now. I will sent out 3 stages of post cards to be the reveal. This way they will know for sure.
brows.gif
 
What's the specific name change? Are you moving from Aaron's Tree to Aardvark's Tree in order to jump ahead of that pesky Aargon Tree? You don't want to head down that road; you'll always battle the A-1 Trees, AAA Trees, and of course the most irksome of all, the 1/16A-1AAA/Pi² Tree Guys. Thank God for the death of Yellow Pages advertising!
 
No, the whole point would be to put the words "tree care" or "arborist" in the title.

I'm just weighing if it is worth the hassle or not?
 
Aaron's Tree Specialists, LLC...where we are arborists specializing in tree care and preservation

What about your established name with an emphasis on a slogan that can go into all your marketing?
 
I worked for a company that used their last name... I hated it. When I would have customer interaction they would always ask "are you a (insert last name)?". When I said no, they were offended or blew me off....

Whatever name you choose make sure you can get a matching or appropriate web address. I think that this correlation is important and will just get more important!


P.S. I will sell you my name and web domain for 1 million dollars!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Aaron's Tree Specialists, LLC...where we are arborists specializing in tree care and preservation

What about your established name with an emphasis on a slogan that can go into all your marketing?

[/ QUOTE ]

This may be the best route.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Aaron's Tree Specialists, LLC...where we are arborists specializing in tree care and preservation

What about your established name with an emphasis on a slogan that can go into all your marketing?

[/ QUOTE ]

This may be the best route.

[/ QUOTE ]

Totally agree--good name as is, just get a punchier line under it that communicates your passion.
 
I did this 3 years ago. I bought this company "A & A Tree Service", it was owned by husband and wife Ashby and Ashby for 12 years. I never cared for the name, it sounded like someone trying to be 1st listing in the book. 3 years later, a company "AAA Tree Service" came into town, and I was getting lots of hate calls from people thinking I was them. They were ripping people off, damaging property, stealing, etc. I decided to change my name to All About Trees, LLC. I like the name a lot better, it says who we are. I was not prepared for the expense of changing. I ran phone book ads under both names for the first 2 years. I sent out postcards to all of our customers. I had to get new logos on all the trucks, uniforms, brochures, cards, estimates, credit cards, checks, federal ID number, registered name with secretary of state, etc. etc. It ended up costing me somewhere around $15,000 total to do it all. It has totally been worth it. We have branded ourselves as the tree experts in our town, and have continued to grow even in this economy. Feel free to call me if you have questions about it, I may be able to help you with some of the planning, anyway.

Noel. 417-838-3933
 
[ QUOTE ]
Retain the old website address and set up a redirect to the new sight. Explain the point of the change, i.e., your growing and the name is going to reflect the higher level of professionalism that the client expects, etc....


[/ QUOTE ]
That's a great idea.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom