Choosing a name for your cake business can be tricky. It has to suit you, your business and your Ideal Client, and it's something that you'll want to keep for a while. So what are the things you should think about when choosing Cake Business Names? Here are my 7 tips for choosing a name that you can keep, will make you happy and bring you business.
1. Choose a Cake Business Name You Love
Now I know this may seem obvious, but remember you have to live with this name day in, day out. There is no point in choosing a name because you 'think' it might work well only to want to change it 6 months later. When you are building your business you need to be consistent in all things, and that includes having a name people will remember.
You also want a name you can be enthusiastic about and proud to tell people. Being proud of who you are will give you confidence, which will communicate all the best signs to your customers.
When I started my business I went for my Dogs name. I loved my dog Daisy, I thought she had a great name and it definitely suited my business - even if it didn't suit her. (My Dad used to always comment on how we had named a big black Labrador after a tiny white flower - but we loved it!)
I would get asked 'why Daisy?' and I was always more than happy to tell people. It was a name I was very happy to live with and nearly 15 years later, am still happy to have. Cake Business Names, when you love them, will make both you happy and welcome your customers in.
2. Keep it Simple and Memorable
Having a name that is either hard to pronounce or hard to spell will do you absolutely no favours. People will forget if they find it difficult, and instead of using your business name you'll start to be known as 'The Cake Lady' or 'The Cake Maker', which when searching online will limit your sales.
Having a name that people can say and spell means people WILL both say and spell it. They will remember it, will search for it, and will know where to find you.
3. Avoid Limiting Names
Have you ever seen names such as 'Such and Such's Cupcakes' but when you look at their page there isn't a cupcake in sight? That's because they started with cupcakes, moved on from them year's ago and now their name bears no resemblance to what they make.
Likewise, you might think that have Wedding Cakes in your name sounds great. After all it's telling people exactly what you do. And it's aspirational. But say you also want to make birthday cakes as well in the times when there aren't many wedding's happening. Will people know you make other cakes, will they even think to come to you. Will that aspirational Wedding Cake name ultimately limit your sales?
Likewise, do you have your location in your name? Initially this can do wonders for your business as it will clearly identify you to your local market. However, if your business expands the what will happen? Having a location name in your cake business name isn't all bad, especially if it is a city or location people know and can identify with. However, if you live in a small village will that really mean anything when you're trying to expand and sell further afield?
4. Does your cake business name suit your Ideal Client or Target Market?
I'm going to give you an example of this point - one from my own experience. My business has always been called The Daisy Cake Company.
What do you think when you read that name. I think cute, pink, sweet, whimsical etc. Which was all perfect when I was making cupcakes, or pretty floral wedding cakes. However, a few years back I decided to ditch the cute, pretty, elegant cakes and started to make cakes for a slightly more alternative audience. One that was a bit more gritty, artistic etc.
I remember the first time I met my now good friend Lex Fleming (listen to her on the podcast here). We met at a business event and therefore she knew my business name. We got chatting and she suddenly said 'so Daisy Cake Company? Who exactly is your Ideal Client?'. And like a bolt of lightning I realised my name, and my Ideal Client were poles apart.
I therefore made the very big decision to change my business name to suit my cake making business.
5. Do you use your own name in your business name?
The above point, leads me onto this. When I started my business I was adamant I was not going to use my own name. I wanted to keep myself and my business separate. I was not my business, my business was not me.
However, that was 13 years ago. When I changed my business direction, I changed my mind on this. I decided that part of attracting my ideal client was them knowing who exactly I am myself. My ideal Client wouldn't have had a traditional wedding, and I understood that showing my own, non-traditional wedding would help me speak directly to them. That's when I decided to use my own name in my business, and I then had a very different relationship with my business and my clients.
Using your own name for your cake business is an entirely individual decision. But what I would say is base that decision on what your ideal client would associate with better - see point 4!
6. Is it wise to have a Witty or Clever Cake Business Name?
Being witty and fun with cake business names can feel like a great idea when you first start out. Puns on your name or what you sell can certainly get attention - I'm thinking of Beales Plaice, the fish and chip shop on Eastenders. It obviously worked, because I still remember it all these years later.
However, whilst a whitty name or pun may serve you well when you first start out, will it be able to grow with you? When you suddenly decide that Bespoke, High End Wedding cakes are your thing, does the pun still work?
7. Do you Research!
So, you've gone through all the above tips, and have made a decision. You have found your perfect name.....but can you get the website domain and/or social pages to match?
This is when you have to put in a little time to do some research and maybe be prepared to compromise a little. For example, I really wanted to use the name Daisy in my name. I actually wanted to be called Daisy Cakes. However, google Daisy Cakes and you'll get get pages and pages of results. Daisy Cakes was not a good choice. I was never going to get the domain, and I certainly wouldn't get the social pages. I therefore searched around the idea to find a name I both liked and still worked for me, hence Daisy Cake Company.
There is a very fine line between choosing cake business names that are memorable and one that you can actually have an online presence with!
Also, a word of warning some people Trademark their names, so if you choose the same name you could find yourself receiving legal documents asking for you to change, or worse pay. Doing your research is vital so you don't come a cropper!
If you have found this post helpful, you might also want to read:
Selling Cakes at Markets
Paying Yourself a Regular Salary as a Cake Maker
4 Ways to Niche Your Cake Business
How Much do Cake Makers Earn
