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How to Name a Catering Business:
Step-by-step guide to coming up with a distinctive, compelling, and professional name for your catering business.
Start a list.
Write down any ideas you already have.
You may already have some ideas for a catering business name. If so, go ahead and write them down.
Highlight or star your favorites as you go.
This will make it easy to narrow down the list later, while letting you jot down all ideas that may spark something later on.
The words you add to the list don’t have to be fully formed catering business names. They can be words or concepts related to catering that help you get to the final name.
Perform essential research before you name your catering business.
Review your business plan.
If you’ve got a business plan for your catering business, the research there should give you ideas for words, phrases, and concepts that fit your brand.
Talk to likely customers.
This is something you’ll want to do, no matter what, to learn more about the people you’ll be catering to. While you’re meeting with them, be sure to write down words, phrases, and concepts that they associate with catering services.
Look up the competition.
Research other catering companies and food service businesses to get an idea of what the competitive landscape looks like. Some names might also spark ideas for your business name.
Review words specific to your catering business.
Think about the type of food you will offer.
Write down words that describe or relate to the type of food and cuisine you plan to offer. Hinting at your specialty in your business name can give you an edge and make your business more searchable for people looking for a particular type of food.
Consider the type of events you want to cater.
If you plan on specializing in a specific type of event, such as weddings, corporate functions, or social events, this can be reflected in your business name to make you instantly recognizable to your target clients. List words and concepts you associate with the specific type of event.
Brainstorm region-specific vocabulary.
If your cuisine is region-specific or you only plan on operating within a specific geographic area, you may want to consider incorporating this in your business name. For example, "Southern Savor Catering."
Use literary devices.
Puns, alliteration, and similar literary devices can make a business name more compelling and easier to remember.
Create more name ideas from your list.
Combine words from the list.
Try combining various words from your list to see if they form any interesting names.
Use a name generator.
NameSnack can help combine your ideas and make associations that you wouldn't have thought of.
NameSnack's AI will prompt you to add different words. You can try adding them all, or go with smaller groups.
Write down any catering names you like.
NameSnack will also tell you if the domains are available. Check the ones that have domains off on your list.
Review and reflect.
Read through your list again.
See if there are any others that stand out, and mark them.
Set the list aside for a day or two.
Come back with fresh eyes and see which names stand out. Also, see which names you still remember. This may give you a clue as to which ones are most memorable.
Get feedback on your top catering business names.
See what potential customers think of the names.
See how your target audience reacts to different names.
Look up event planners for the particular type of occasions your business caters to and ask for their feedback.
Test the names on friends and colleagues.
Read your names to friends and colleagues, and get their take on your catering business names. Come back a day or two later and see which ones they still remember.
Check availability.
See if the web domain name is available.
Use a site like Namecheap to see which of your top business name ideas have related URLs available.
See if the name is already in use in your state.
If the business name is already in use for a similar business in your state, you likely won't be able to use it.
Check the names on Google.
Google your favorite catering business names to see if there are any other well-known catering businesses with the same name, or if there are some associations you hadn’t thought of.
Check if the names are trademarked.
Search the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) trademark database to see if any of your top choices and similar names are already trademarked.
Get the name.
Buy the domain name.
You can do this through sites like Namecheap.
Register the business name with the state.
You'll need to register the name in your state once you've chosen it. In most states this is fast and easy, and can be done online.
Consider trademarking the name.
This offers additional protection from other businesses using your catering business name.
Learn more about trademarking your business name.
