Last Updated on October 18, 2020
Today, security services are a $39 billion dollar business with more than 14,000 security companies across the United States.
With that many businesses, it probably feels like all the good names are already taken, right? Furthermore, how do you find an excellent name representing your brand and speaking to your target audience?
How do you make the final decision?
If you’re struggling to name your security company, don’t worry. You’re in the right place. In this article, I cover some of the top tips for naming your new business as well as how to make sure it’s available for you to use.
Let’s get started!
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Helpful Tips and Tricks for Naming Your Security Company
Naming a business is hard, especially if you don’t have any ideas or a place to start. So, before you dive in, grab a piece of paper and a pen or open up a blank spreadsheet.
Then, use it as a place to brainstorm ideas and write down words or phrases that come to mind as you go through the tips below.
From there, we’ll talk about how to narrow things down and land on the perfect name.
1. Keep It as Short as Possible
Short business names are usually snappier, catchier, and easier to remember. Ideally, you want to stick to two to five syllables and hopefully no more than 25 characters total.
However, the shorter the name, the better.
With that said, there are exceptions to this, and it’s not a hard rule. But, when you think about huge, notable brands, which ones come to mind?
Nike. Apple. Ikea. Febreeze. Target. Honeywell.
They’re easy to remember because they’re short, simple, and brandable.
Obviously, there are exceptions to these rules. But typically, the shorter and simpler your name, the easier it is for everyone to remember.
2. Avoid Words That Are Hard to Hear and Pronounce
Voice to text and voice search is more popular now than ever before. So, it’s important to consider making your name easy to pronounce and hear.
To do this, avoid using:
- Commonly misspelled words
- Complex terms that are hard to spell
- Words that have several pronunciations
- Homophones like to, too, and two
Try to keep things as concise and simple as possible.
3. Consider Security Related Terms
Since you’re opening a security company, it might make sense to security-related words in the name, especially if you’re feeling stuck. It may help just to start brainstorming terms, phrases, and words to get all your ideas down on paper.
For a boost of creativity, expand use the thesaurus to find synonyms around the words of what your business does. You can either use the thesaurus function from your word processor or thesaurus.com to develop additional synonyms.
From there, you can cross off bad ideas or any terms you don’t like.
4. Phrases Your Customers Use
Your business exists for your target audience, so it’s important to consider phrases and terms they use when hiring a security company.
There are quite a few places you can look to see what they’re saying, including:
- Facebook groups, posts, and stories
- Forums related to the security industry
- Trade journals
Alternatively, you can ask friends or relatives in your target audience. Hearing it directly from them may help you brainstorm and narrow down your choices.
Remember to avoid anything limiting your business’s future growth if you decide to go in another direction down the road.
5. What’s Your Specialty?
Do you specialize in a particular service? Maybe you focus on security services for buildings or special events or even investigation services.
Regardless of your specialty, consider alluding to it in the name of your business.
6. Neighborhoods, Cities, and Nicknames
Including the name of your city, street, or neighborhood is an excellent way to encourage local shopping and create a strong sense of community in your area.
You can also think about nicknames for your city or neighborhood, as well. Here are some examples to use as inspiration:
- Southside Security Co.
- Wilmington Watchdogs
- Pittsburg Protection Services
With that said, make sure the name you choose isn’t limiting if you decide to move or expand your security company down the road.
7. Incorporate Your Name
If you’re still struggling to find the perfect name, consider using your name, a nickname, or something personal and unique to you.
This is a fantastic way to build a personal brand if that’s something you want to do. Some great examples of this in action include:
- Smith’s Security Services
- Chuck’s Patrol Co.
- Bubba’s Security Solutions
If you go this route, keep in mind it may make it harder to sell your security company later on since the buyer probably won’t share the same name.
8. Look at the Names of Other Security Companies
Here is a list of security company name ideas from existing businesses that may help give you some creative ideas. While many of these names may be available for you to use, be sure to check first to be sure it can be used.
Tips on how to check business name availability are after the list of names!
- 1st Guard Service
- 24/7 Global Security
- A To Z Property Assurance
- A-1 Security Solutions
- Abeck House Watch
- Accel Protection
- Acorn Security Patrol
- Active Guard Security
- Advance Guard Service
- Affordable Security & Patrol
- Airborne Security Patrol
- Alert Security Services
- All Point Security
- All Protection & Security
- Allegiant Protective Service
- Alliance Guards
- Allied Security Service
- Alpha One Security Solutions
- American Bike Patrol Service
- American Guard Service
- American Protection Group
- American Shield Patrol Service
- Apollo Private Security
- Armed & Ready Security Guards
- Backroad Security
- Bessings Security Service
- Best Patrol Services
- Big John’s Security Service
- Blackstone Security
- Bold Guarding
- Brothers In Arms Security
- California Advance Patrol
- Capital Guard
- Capital Protection
- Capital Security Group
- Captain Dan’s Security
- Century 1 Security Service
- Code 4 Private Security Company
- Committed Elite Response Team
- Condor Security Solutions
- CPA Security Solutions Corp
- Criminal Watch
- Dawson Security & Investigations
- Digital Security Guard
- Diplomatic Security Escort
- Eagle Claw Security
- Eagle Eye Protection Service
- Eagle Vision Security Tech
- Eastern Valley Security
- Elite Force Protection
- Elite Global Security
- Elite Luxury Security
- Elite Patrol Agency
- Elite Protection
- Empire Security
- Event Security Consulting
- Everglades Security
- Excelsior Patrol & Security
- First Alarm Security & Patrol
- First Alert Security
- First Call Security Service
- First Defense Security
- First Response
- First Security
- First Team Security Agency
- Florida Church Security
- Forge Road Security Solutions
- Freedom Security Service
- Global Guardian Group
- Golden Security
- Guaranty Security Service
- Guard Now
- Guard One Protective Service
- Guard Ready
- Guardian Security Agency
- Hammerhand Security
- High Impact Security Service
- Homeland Private Security Service
- Instant Security Co
- Integrated Security
- Iron Protection Group
- Just Us Security Solutions
- Keep Safe Security
- Krown Security Service
- Last Shadow Security
- Level 1 Private Security
- Level 3 Security
- Liberty Bell Security Service
- Lock Security Service
- Maximum Control Guard Agency
- Midwest Security Solutions
- Mobile Guard
- New Age Security
- Nightwatcher Security
- Nor-Cal Private Security Service
- North Coastal Patrol
- Ocean Security
- Off Duty Officers
- On Guard For You
- Onyx Armor
- On Your Mark Security
- Paramount Security
- Patrol Power
- Peace of Mind
- Peacemaker Defense Group
- Pelican State Protection
- Pentagon Guard
- Piece Of Mind
- Premier Security Agency
- Premium Security Service
- Private Executive Guards
- Pro Tek Security
- Professional Security Guard
- Protect Us Security
- Protection America Security
- Protection Connection
- Raven Tek Security Service
- Red Oak Security
- Red Talon Cybersecurity
- Reed & Associates Protection
- Rent-a-Guard Security Services
- Risk Mitigation Service
- Safe & Sound Security
- Safe Haven Security Service
- Safe Security Solutions
- Safe Zone
- Safeguard Protection Service
- Safeway Security Service
- Scooter Patrol
- Security & Surveillance
- Security Boston
- Security First
- Security Mitigation Group
- Security On The Spot
- Security Patrol Agency
- Sky Patrol
- Sky Security & Technologies
- Smartguard
- Spartan Strategic Defense
- Special Security Service
- Squadron Protective Service
- Stanley Security Solutions
- Star Pro Security Patrol
- Stryke Security
- Tactical Advance Group
- Taurus Guard
- Teknik Driving & Security
- Terminal Security Solutions
- Third Eye Security Service
- Thousand Eyes Security
- Top Security Service
- Total Security
- Triad Security
- Tristate Security & Patrol
- Ultimate Guard Protection Service
- United Protection Security Service
- United Security Solutions
- Vacant Property Security
- Veterans High Risk Security
- Vetted Security Officers
- Vigilant Tiger Security
- Warrior Security Contractors
- Watchmen Patrol
- West Coast Security & Patrol
- White Falcon Security
- Whole Armour Protection
- Wise Security Group
Finding the Perfect Name: Putting It All Together
By now, you should have a lengthy list of words, phrases, and terms you can use in your business name. At this point, I highly recommend going through and removing any that are hard to spell or pronounce.
Now, you can start combining pieces until something stands out. It may help to create a list of potential names you can use. From there, you can narrow things down to your favorites.
But before you make your final decision, it’s important that your new name passes a few tests.
Say It Out Loud
Make sure you say your new name out loud. It may look great as a logo, domain name, and on a business card. But it also needs to sound good when you say it out loud.
You can also sit down with someone and talk about your business. Does saying the name in casual conversation sound natural? If not, you may want to consider something simpler or easier to say.
Logo Design
Lastly, think about how to incorporate your new name into a logo. Logos should be simple, memorable, and indicative of your brand.
Take Apple, for example. Their business name easily incorporates into a logo. And today, it’s a household symbol that everyone immediately recognizes.
A logo is an important part of your brand identity, so don’t forget to consider turning your name into a memorable logo as you make your final decision.
Related: .
Checking the Availability of Your Top Considerations
At this point, you should have several top considerations to choose from. And the best way to narrow it down further is to check each one for availability.
This step is vital because using a name that someone else is using could be very costly, time-consuming to rebrand your business, and possibly embarrassing. There are several places to look to check whether a name is available to use, so let’s walk through each one.
Trademark Search
Trademarks are the most critical, so we’ll start here.
If a name or phrase is trademarked, you’re not allowed to use it in a similar capacity. So, run a trademark search for each business name you’re considering and cross off those that aren’t available.
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Local Search
Just because there isn’t a federal trademark on a name doesn’t mean the name you want is available. That’s because there is a trademark known as a common law trademark. A common law trademark isn’t filed anywhere but provides someone who uses that name in commerce some limited rights in their geographical area to use the name. It can be hard to define how far geographically these rights extend as each industry is different. Still, at a basic level, someone can’t open a business and name it the same or similar name as a competing business in town. If you think the name could potentially create confusion with customers, it is usually best to just find another one to use to avoid potential legal issues down the road.
To do a local search, open up the phone book (if you still have one), and do a Google search to see if there are any local competitors with a similar business name to the one you want to use.
Cross off any similar names from your list and take the rest and let’s keep checking.
State Entity Search (If Applicable)
If you plan to register your security company as a corporation or LLC, you must register with a unique business name. Each state requires every corporation or LLC to register a unique name for their entity. This doesn’t necessarily protect your name from anyone else using it, but nobody can register a corporation or LLC under the same name in your state.
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If you find the name is in use, cross it off your list and move on.
Domain Name Availability
Website addresses aren’t as critical as the first three searches, but it’s still worth doing. Typically, you want your domain name to be “yourbusinessname.com” without any numbers, dashes, etc.
It’s easiest for customers to remember, but these are hard to come by.
However, you can explore other configurations and extensions if your preferred domain name isn’t available. Just remember your customers may have a more difficult time finding you online.
You can start with . Type in the domain name you want to use to see if it’s available. The tool also returns other possibilities you may want to consider.
Social Media Profiles
Next, especially if you are stuck between a couple of names, check and see if anyone is already using your potential security company names on social media. Consider which platforms you plan to use and start with those.
Keep in mind you may have to shorten your company name for some platforms. Twitter only allows 15 characters, for example.
Start with your preferred platforms and do a quick search for your name. If nothing pops up, that likely means no one is using it, and you’re good to go.
Example: Someone is using startingyourbusiness on Instagram, so I would have to choose a different handle, making it more difficult for customers to find me.
Hopefully, you now have some good name ideas for your security company. Once you have this list narrowed down to just a few and researched that they are all available, start asking friends, family, and potential customers their thoughts to get feedback, and then pick your perfect security company name!
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