Let’s say you’re ready to go out on our own, and start your own independent Salesforce consulting business. This is already a big decision, and it’s the first of many.
One of the first is choosing a name. The question is, should you register a company and website in your name, or in another name?
When I started my consulting firm in 2003, I wanted to give the impression I was bigger than a one-person show. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted employees or not, but most of the cool companies had them. So I wanted to keep my options open.
Also, since I was a big fan of Dungeons & Dragons as a kid, I picked a name that was a nod to my youth. Hence Dryad Consulting was born.
However, Alexander Lapa Consulting would have been just as good. In fact, now that I offer personalized coaching & mentoring, I believe this name would serve me better.
If you plan to have employees, and/or want to build something that you can sell one day, then having a company name makes sense. You are building something that is more than just you.
However if you plan to just offer your services, and may or may not have sub-contractors, then using your name makes sense.
Just keep in mind that neither option is really wrong, and you can always change it later on.
The takeaway
Whether you choose to use your name or a company name, be sure to have a good origin story. Stories are what people remember most.