Best name for my new business?
June 30, 2020 2:59 PM Subscribe
I’m starting a conflict resolution and engagement business and need feedback / ideas on a name!
I am planning to start my own consulting business. I am in the process of working towards a conflict resolution (mediation) certificate and gaining Qualified Mediator status. In the meantime, this Fall I want to start my business with my existing skills of community/public engagement and facilitation. I am currently working on a business plan and would like to decide on a business name sooner than later. I’d like to secure and build a website and my social media presence.
My main question is about a possible name. The reason I want to do this work is because I care about community (both interpersonal, family, work, and the larger community) and how we communicate and interact with each other. My mediation practice wouldn't focus only on directly community-related areas (such as neighbours or planning and development matters), I’d also be doing business and personal mediation.
The name I am toying with is Community in Practice. I’m concerned though that it might pigeonhole me in people’s minds to only deal with the wider community disputes, and not individual or business. I like it because it shows that I want to practice community building, and that it is about more than just the individual - it’s about how we interact with and live with each other. Thoughts on this name or other suggestions?
Secondarily, if you have any advice or tips for starting your own consulting business (bonus points for Canadian context), and/or for mediation as a career, please feel free to comment.
I am planning to start my own consulting business. I am in the process of working towards a conflict resolution (mediation) certificate and gaining Qualified Mediator status. In the meantime, this Fall I want to start my business with my existing skills of community/public engagement and facilitation. I am currently working on a business plan and would like to decide on a business name sooner than later. I’d like to secure and build a website and my social media presence.
My main question is about a possible name. The reason I want to do this work is because I care about community (both interpersonal, family, work, and the larger community) and how we communicate and interact with each other. My mediation practice wouldn't focus only on directly community-related areas (such as neighbours or planning and development matters), I’d also be doing business and personal mediation.
The name I am toying with is Community in Practice. I’m concerned though that it might pigeonhole me in people’s minds to only deal with the wider community disputes, and not individual or business. I like it because it shows that I want to practice community building, and that it is about more than just the individual - it’s about how we interact with and live with each other. Thoughts on this name or other suggestions?
Secondarily, if you have any advice or tips for starting your own consulting business (bonus points for Canadian context), and/or for mediation as a career, please feel free to comment.
Community in Practice is very broad – if I heard that name I'd be positive and curious about it, but I would never guess it was a mediation business without further explanation. Best to have a business name that doesn't require a subtitle or an explanation.
If you called it something like Community Centered Mediation or Community Focused Conflict Resolution, it would be clearer (though it might evoke too narrow an idea of your business, for example that you have a collective discussion-based / restorative justice focus).
posted by kalapierson at 4:16 PM on June 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
If you called it something like Community Centered Mediation or Community Focused Conflict Resolution, it would be clearer (though it might evoke too narrow an idea of your business, for example that you have a collective discussion-based / restorative justice focus).
posted by kalapierson at 4:16 PM on June 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
I like it. You can use one of the other ideas above as a descriptive tagline—for example:
Community in Practice
Mediation & Conflict Resolution
Your web copy can explain who your service is for. Remember, your name doesn't have to explain everything.
posted by ottereroticist at 4:55 PM on June 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
Community in Practice
Mediation & Conflict Resolution
Your web copy can explain who your service is for. Remember, your name doesn't have to explain everything.
posted by ottereroticist at 4:55 PM on June 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
Let's Settle This.
Mediation and Conflict Resolution
posted by jennstra at 4:57 PM on June 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
Mediation and Conflict Resolution
posted by jennstra at 4:57 PM on June 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
Heart of the Matter
posted by ottereroticist at 5:07 PM on June 30, 2020
posted by ottereroticist at 5:07 PM on June 30, 2020
Mending Fences
posted by sallybrown at 5:18 PM on June 30, 2020
posted by sallybrown at 5:18 PM on June 30, 2020
Finding Peace: [My Kryptonite is Worry] Mediation Service
posted by bearwife at 5:39 PM on June 30, 2020
posted by bearwife at 5:39 PM on June 30, 2020
Right side of the Fence
I know of two uk companies/collective who do similar work and their names resonate with me
Rhizome
Proboscis, I would love to work for the latter
A friend who's a licenced facilitator simply uses their own name - very upfront.
ottereroticist "your name doesn't have to explain everything"; your company name doesn't have even have to be explicit about what you do, it just has to convey the idea of what you do which is what proboscis is doing.
posted by unearthed at 5:42 PM on June 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
I know of two uk companies/collective who do similar work and their names resonate with me
Rhizome
Proboscis, I would love to work for the latter
A friend who's a licenced facilitator simply uses their own name - very upfront.
ottereroticist "your name doesn't have to explain everything"; your company name doesn't have even have to be explicit about what you do, it just has to convey the idea of what you do which is what proboscis is doing.
posted by unearthed at 5:42 PM on June 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
One of the reasons most small practices have bland names is that the more information a name conveys, the more limiting it is.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:47 PM on June 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by SemiSalt at 5:47 PM on June 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
I would recommend Wordoid as a useful service for anybody looking for a name. Its focus is on helping you create a word to use in a domain name. If you want an name which is concise, pronounceable [possibly in more than one language], unambiguous to spell, available as a "x.com" domain name and which somehow resonances with what you are trying to do - then it can help yo find it.
I'd agree with those who suggest that your company name and what you do need not bee the same thing
posted by rongorongo at 11:31 PM on June 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
I'd agree with those who suggest that your company name and what you do need not bee the same thing
posted by rongorongo at 11:31 PM on June 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
Confluence \ Confluent - con suggesting joining, fluent about becoming better at something and talking together
posted by unearthed at 12:53 AM on July 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by unearthed at 12:53 AM on July 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Creating Harmony?
Something using the word "Harmony" anyway.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:25 AM on July 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Something using the word "Harmony" anyway.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:25 AM on July 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks all! I can't yet mark a best answer because I'm still thinking/researching, but some really helpful ideas and thoughts here.
posted by My Kryptonite is Worry at 8:38 PM on July 2, 2020
posted by My Kryptonite is Worry at 8:38 PM on July 2, 2020
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