Using my name as business name??? -> (DBA)

[Cognition]

I am not creative in creating business names, so I've taken an approach similiar to Donald Trump - using my name to the various businesses I will launch.

For example: Legal name, C.D. Allen, Inc; DBA, C.D. Allen's Internet Radio, C.D. Allen's Southwest Gospel-Fest, C.D. Allen Productions

Is there anything wrong with using this approach?

[NeeJam]

I don't see anything wrong with it.

Look at Sir Richard Branson (not many of you will be aware of him in the USA) but he owns "Virgin" basically he does what trump does except he doesn't do property developments.

Your giving yourself a brand which can be useful when launching new ventures as people will be associated with the brand and will use your services immediatley(if you have a good brand image that is) instead of a new startup where you have to build up the brand.

[JosiahMackenzie]

What if you dropped the "C.D." to make it just "Allen Productions"?

It may make your brand more memorable...

[SSM]

I went with my first initial and last name. "AWILD" and I would think "Dallen" would be more trendy than just using your last name.

[Cognition]

What if you dropped the "C.D." to make it just "Allen Productions"?

It may make your brand more memorable...

Allen is a little generic. But thanks for the suggestion.

[Cognition]

I would think "Dallen" would be more trendy than just using your last name.

Nah, but thanks for the suggestion.

[NeeJam]

I went with my first initial and last name. "AWILD" and I would think "Dallen" would be more trendy than just using your last name.

Dallen i like that. Its a trendy name and its easy to say off the tongue

i.e "Hey, where have you just been?"
"O i've just been in Dallen XXXXXXX"

[SSM]

exactly....C.D. Allen XXX vs. Dallen XXX is much easier. Think about it at least. Ask some friends.

[Cognition]

exactly....C.D. Allen XXX vs. Dallen XXX is much easier. Think about it at least. As some friends.

The more I think about it, I really like "Dallen".

Dallen, Inc
Dallen Productions
Dallen Internet Radio

[SSM]

The more I think about it, I really like "Dallen".

Dallen, Inc
Dallen Productions
Dallen Internet Radio

Now you can't put Inc at the end of a name unless you are actually a corporation. But the other two are easily useable. Have you considered going LLC versus sole prop DBA or Inc?

[Cognition]

Now you can't put Inc at the end of a name unless you are actually a corporation. But the other two are easily useable. Have you considered going LLC versus sole prop DBA or Inc?

I would never operate my business as a sole prop!...lol - That's asking for trouble.

Yeah, I haven't done enough research to know whether to Inc or LLC - but I have that on my priority list.

But I DALLEN. I am thinking that for Dallen, the logo would be a simple Trajan font. http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/linotype/trajan/

Or maybe Dallen in a Sloop Script II and the subsidiary name in Trajan. http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/fontbureau/sloop/

[SSM]

Not sloop - too hard to read

Not huge on trajan either...it's really really plain.

[Cognition]

Not sloop - too hard to read

Not huge on trajan either...it's really really plain.

I believe in elegance done with simplicity.